GYEDC November 2023 Newsletter

MISSION STATEMENT

To expand economic activity within Yuma County by attracting commerce and industry to the region, and by assisting in developing the region's existing industry to its fullest potential.

VISION STATEMENT

Greater Yuma will be recognized as a globally competitive region - one that embraces advancing technology, attracts and retains human capital and continues to develop & foster the amenities that make the Yuma Region a great place to live and work.

Message from the Interim President & CEO

Hello Esteemed Investors,

October was a very active month at GYEDC! We had the pleasure of hosting 172 amazing investors at our annual luncheon, traveled the globe via Zoom, showcased our Yuma students to the wonderful world of manufacturing and welcomed a new company to the City of San Luis.

I hope you enjoy our November newsletter. Please take a moment to learn about what's happening in your community, how our investors are improving the region and what's on the economic horizon.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Greg LaVann

GYEDC's Highlights

GYEDC Goes Global

As part of our Foreign Direct Investment Campaign, GYEDC hosted companies from around the world in September and October. We had very productive Zoom tours with Trade offices in Israel, Europe and Asia. Foreign companies want to invest in Arizona; specifically in Yuma due to our unique location, climate and desert research activities. We had the pleasure of showcasing our region to agritech, green manufacturing and Aerospace & Defense companies. Our goal is to attract new investment, offer our state of the art desert testing capabilities (YPG, YCEDA, AWC) and connect our existing industry to new contracts abroad. We will keep you posted on future success stories.

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Welcome GYEDC's Newest Investors

Gold: B & G Foods North America, Inc (October 2023) Better Business Bureau (September 2023)

Silver: Carol Engler P.C. (July 2023) Center for the Future of Arizona (July 2023) Cocopah Indian Tribe (July 2023) Yuma Headwear (October 2023)

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GYEDC's Annual Investor Luncheon

172 people attended our Annual Investor Luncheon. Speakers included Reetika Dhawan CEO of Entrepreneurial College & Vice President of Workforce & Healthcare Programs AWC, Trudie F. Milner, Ph.D. Senior Vice President & Chief Operating Officer YRMC, and Fernando Garcia Senior Vice President of Business Development and Team Lead Arizona Commerce Authority.

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GYEDC Organizes Yuma Manufacturing Association Meeting

The Yuma Manufacturers Association held its first meeting in over 10 years. Companies in manufacturing, distribution, food processing and warehousing met to discuss partnerships, resource sharing and ways to improve the greater Yuma manufacturing environment. If you are an industrial company interested in joining the YMA, please contact our office for more information. Companies in attendance were, Bose, LRC Coil, Shaw, Sarah Farms, B & G Foods, Clarios, Alside, Insultech, Michael Foods, and Somerton Manufacturing. Community Partners included Yuma Union High School, Arizona Western College, and Arizona at Work.

INVESTORS MAKING NEWS

YRMC Honored with the 2023 Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association (AzHHA) Quality Award for Community Engagement

This award recognizes healthcare organizations that have demonstrated exceptional commitment to community by aiming to improve access to healthcare services and enhance the overall health of the community it serves. AzHHA recognized YRMC’s project, "Keeping Patient-Centered Care in the Community,” which helps improve the care experience for children with complex medical conditions. The initiative has helped improve the experience of pediatric oncology patients who visit YRMC’s Emergency Department. By creating two full-time patient navigator positions, offering free flights from volunteer pilots and collaborating with local home health organizations, pediatricians, and YRMC’s infusion center, YRMC streamlined the process and improved the overall care experience for some of our youngest patients and their family members.

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GYEDC's Vice Chair and Wife Named Outstanding Benefactors

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Grand Opening: Oncology Center in South Yuma County!

Vice Mayor Luis E. Cabrera joined Regional Center for Border Health, Inc. and Southwest Oncology Centers for the grand opening of the first state-of-the-art Oncology Center in South Yuma County!

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City of Yuma Publication Wins National Award

Activities Guide earns 3CMA’s Award of Excellence. The City of Yuma earned an award for its communications efforts from the City-County Communications and Marketing Association (3CMA), a national organization that supports local government communications professionals.

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AEA Federal Credit Union Announces Agreement to Acquire West Valley National Bank

A.E.A. Federal Credit Union (“AEA”), headquartered in Yuma, Arizona, has entered into a purchase and assumption agreement with West Valley National Bank, headquartered in Goodyear, Arizona, and its parent holding company, West Valley Bancorp, Inc. (“West Valley Bancorp”). Pursuant to the agreement, AEA will purchase substantially all assets and assume substantially all liabilities of West Valley National Bank.

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Yuma Regional Medical Center and Arizona Western College Pairing Up For New Building

“AWC and the hospital partnering together not only are they attracting students but once they come to Yuma they’ll fall in love with it and the intention is hopefully they’ll stay in our community to service everybody here so that we don’t have to go out of town to get the medical help that we need,” said city council member Art Morales.

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Women of Impact: Dr. Tanya Hodges GYEDC Board Member

Dr. Tanya Hodges, Regional Academic Programs Manager at the University of Arizona at Yuma, has been honored with a Women of Impact Award by the University of Arizona Office of Research, Innovation & Impact.

EVENTS/BUSINESS RESOURCES

New Federal R&D Funding Opportunities

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE__Specialty Crop Research Initiative: The National Institute of Food and Agriculture is accepting pre-applications to support research and extension that address key challenges in sustaining all components of food and agriculture. Successful applications will address stakeholder involvement, communication to producers and the public, and transdisciplinary approaches to meeting priorities.

Learn More

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Small Business Boot Camp

This session will dive into how business valuation plays in effective succession, retirement, and estate planning illustrating why having a value isn't enough. Participants will learn best practices and understand what the value is and how to focus value growth for effective business planning.

Register Here

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Yuma to Hold Tribute of the Muses Awards Nov. 17

Tribute of the Muses, considered the biggest night of the year for the Yuma Art Center, honors the nominees and recipients in four awards categories. The main award, also called Tribute of the Muses, honors an outstanding member of Yuma’s arts community who has shown exemplary devotion and excellence in the arts. Previous winners have included artists, performers, educators, advocates and patrons.

COMMUNITY

Yuma Manufacturing Companies Offered Tours For Local Students

GYEDC's Nina Lopez worked with 6 Local Manufacturing Companies, MPW, NWI, Yuma Head Wear, Somerton Manufacturing, Michael Foods, and Gowan Milling to offer tours to Yuma Union High School CTE Students. Around 100 local CTE students participated in the event. Thank you to all 6 companies for participating in this one-of-a-kind opportunity for Yuma County's future employees!

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University of Arizona program in Yuma help Fort Yuma coffee roaster grow his business

Governor Hobbs, Elected Officials Celebrate Water Conservation Efforts

“Almost every challenge has a solution,” Hobbs said. Along the Colorado River Basin, that solution, for now, is coming in the form of a wet winter, a bit of collaboration between stakeholders in the region and billions of dollars from the federal government to entice users to conserve water.

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Yuma Manufacturers Walk to End Alzheimer’s

Taking the Walk to End Alzheimer’s to a different level as Yuma Manufacturer’s come together to support the cause. So much support was shown as our associates showed up with their families & friends to walk together on this beautiful Yuma day this past Saturday and raise funds for this event. Way to go Yuma Manufacturer’s!

BINATIONAL

Fernando Garcia Speaks at GYEDC's Annual Investor Luncheon

Fernando Garcia Senior Vice President of Business Development and Team Lead at Arizona Commerce Authority speaks at GYEDC's Annual Investor Meeting. Fernando was born and raised in San Luis Rio Colorado and his family had not had the opportunity to see Garcia speak in a public forum. Garcia's parents beamed with pride as they watched their son from the crowd.