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Copper Corridor Economic Development Coalition
The Copper Corridor Economic Development Coalition will not meet in December due to holiday events throughout the corridor. The CCEDC will resume a regular meeting schedule in January.
The board has set a strategy for the 2016-17 budget year, which includes two main goals: Preserving the Rural Quality of Life and Increasing Non-Mining Employment by 5%. The organization will be hosting a business forum on Jan. 16, 2016 in Superior titled, “The Business Environment We Want.” It will be an open forum on growing a sustainable economy for the region. The event will be held at the Superior Chamber of Commerce and will be a half day forum. Topics of the forum will be job creation, education, workforce development, and economic diversity.
The CCEDC will be partnering with the Central Arizona College Small Business Development Center to start a program to aid local skilled workers to become licensed and bonded. In addition to this program CCEDC will be working with the USDA to help local homeowners access funds for home repairs.
“These programs are aimed at growing a sustainable economy one small project at a time,” explained CCEDC President Michael Carnes.
Beginning in January, the CCEDC will be working in conjunction with the Southern Gila County Economic Development Corporation (SGEDC) on a Food Hub development study. This study is funded through the USDA. The study will help to determine what food hub programs are needed for the Copper Corridor. Meetings are scheduled throughout the Copper Corridor:
Copper Basin Area Food hub meeting will be on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2017 at Constitution Hall in Kearny. Aravaipa and Mammoth meeting will be held at Central Arizona College on Thursday, Jan. 12, 2017. Outreach meetings are also scheduled for Miami and Globe on Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2017 at Bullion Plaza in Miami and in Superior on Thursday, Jan. 19. A meeting for the Tri-Community area (San Manuel, Reddington, Mammoth and Oracle) will be held on Thursday, Jan. 26, 2017. The meetings will start at 2 p.m. for the food consumers and at 5:30 p.m. for the food producers. The meetings will be data gathering meetings and listening sessions to determine what is needed in the region.
For more information on any one of the CCEDC projects please contact Mila Besich-Lira at 520-827-0676 or discovercoppercorridor@gmail.com.
Mila Besich is a resident of Superior with two children. She volunteers for many local organizations. She is an experienced fundraiser and event planner for Copper Corridor Economic Development Coalition. She covers some of the area town councils and schools.
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