| West Phoenix, AZ growing at an alarming rate. | | | | homes going up right now. It is 22% Hispanic and |
| During our heated visit recently, we studied the | | | | that number is being diluted, but future growth |
| economic vitality of Avondale, Goodyear, Litchfield | | | | should be equal under that ratio in my opinion for |
| and Tolleson. This area is the fastest growing | | | | the next decade. As more and more Hispanic |
| area of all of Phoenix which is the second fastest | | | | Families enter the middle class we will see them |
| metro DMA area in the United States of America. | | | | turn Republican and buy into the area of |
| Maricopa County is #2 next to Clark County in | | | | Goodyear with an average home price of 142K |
| Las Vegas NV metro. Surprise, Glendale and | | | | and climbing. |
| Goodyear are breaking all kinds of records as the | | | | Goodyear as you might have guessed is named |
| Governor looks at the issues of water and future | | | | after the Akron Rubber Baron, which you can |
| resources. We of course do our homework on | | | | learn more about on the second floor of the |
| economic factors before we attempt to enter a | | | | Goodyear Building outside Akron in the World of |
| region as most seasoned veteran business people | | | | Rubber Museum at Goodyear original HQ. In |
| do. | | | | Goodyear they made rubber for the US Navy |
| In Avondale the population is growing and | | | | Seaplanes, now that facility is Lockheed Martin. |
| currently about 36,000 population. 33% of which is | | | | The area is mixed now with Retail, Food |
| Hispanic with HS education average education | | | | Processing and lots of Aerospace, we talked to a |
| level. Agriculture and Agriculture processing is the | | | | maintenance supervisor for Timco who said their |
| biggest industrial sector although that too is | | | | newest contract would require an additional 140 |
| changing as light industrial is taking advantage of | | | | people to be hired. Luftstanza Airlines has its |
| the labor supply. Many new car dealerships are | | | | training center there also. Del Monte and Poore |
| assisting the city coffers with sales tax revenue | | | | Brothers process there. Snyders of Hanover, |
| although some of that has been given up short | | | | Rubbermaid, Walle Corp, Cavco. |
| term as incentives, but all that kicks in two years. | | | | The Goodyear Airport is a major plus along with |
| Beam Corp is a major employer there says | | | | the neighboring business parks. The runway is |
| Jeffrey Fairman, Economic Development Director. | | | | over 8500 feet and can land and takeoff any |
| Avondale is just South of Luke AFB and derives | | | | aircraft known to man. The city has attracted |
| much income from military employees who buy | | | | many companies and is business friendly and has |
| good and services there. Also in the area is an | | | | online applications for just about every permit. |
| 80,000 square foot Medical Center. Also major | | | | They have attracted; Aviation-Plastics and |
| employers include; LP Steel Industries, Cashion | | | | Composites, Sun Cor Development, Chariot Eagle, |
| Tank and Steel, California Materials, Bio Scientific | | | | Wal-Mart Dist contractor McClane, West Valley |
| and several new projects in progress. Average | | | | Medical Center. The weather is hot in summer, |
| house price has risen 10% in the past year and is | | | | but year round workable if you are able to handle |
| still good at; $132K which is average for the area. | | | | the average daytime summer temps; |
| The housing growth once again is incredible. The | | | | [ . |
| permit processing is helped by the City | | | | June to September it is 100-105 degrees. Greater |
| Streamlining Committee. | | | | Phoenix Economic Council has some interesting |
| Kids in the area enjoy the local water park, | | | | stats for the area as well. All the cities in the |
| bowling alley, church youth groups and Pop | | | | West Phoenix are charge an additional 2% sales |
| Warner Football and lots of soccer teams. The | | | | tax and the schools are considered great, even |
| MAG-Maricopa Association of Governments is | | | | with all the non-english speaking students struggling |
| spending 15.5 Billion on new transportation | | | | at first. |
| infrastructure of which much will be for expanding | | | | Litchfield has about 4000 population with only 8% |
| freeway widths through Avondale on I-10. The | | | | Hispanic, but is growing exponentially. Some of the |
| 22-member panel is about 1 billion over budget but | | | | major employers include; Conklin Rose, Wig Wam |
| that will be picked up as the housing is not slowing | | | | 4-star Resort, Goodyear Family grew cotton |
| down. About the only big draw back is the | | | | there and then sold the land to Litchfield, who |
| problems of auto theft which Phoenix area is | | | | grew Egyptian long-staple cotton for use in the |
| number two only beaten out by Tucson AZ. Most | | | | processing and manufacturing tires for Goodyear. |
| of these cars find their way to Mexico. Of all the | | | | Water of course brought in by SRP. We will in the |
| West Maricopa cities there is severe fire risk in | | | | future do a complete study of the history of |
| the hot summers until the Summer Monsoon | | | | SRP-Salt Water River Project. Average Home |
| season starts, at which time the on-call fire teams | | | | price in the area has grown to 310K. The city is |
| and hot shot crews move to Colorado, Idaho, | | | | pro business and allows grading of at risk soil |
| Montana, Washington, South Dakota. | | | | before final permits to test the ability of the land |
| In Goodyear, AZ things are a bit different. The | | | | to support the project. These four cities on the |
| population has absolutely exploded and is | | | | West side of PHX average 16.8% of the |
| continuing to. Many people work out at the | | | | population at 25-34 meaning labor supply and good |
| Prisons on Palos Verde Rd and the newest prison | | | | customer base. 16.2% has 35-44 age grouping. |
| that you can see from I-10, some people we | | | | 46% Hispanic and similar to Los Angeles. Labor |
| talked to worked at the Nuclear Power plant or | | | | force is 29% less than HS education. 23% have |
| for SRP or Betchel all of which work there at the | | | | HS only education and 24.8% have some college |
| Power Plant. There are about 20,000 people in | | | | but no degree. Prevailing average wage for labor |
| Goodyear but there are also some 5000 new | | | | is $9.86 per hour. |