October 2004

ASSESSMENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

IN LAKE HAVASU CITY, ARIZONA

DISCUSSION POINTS

Input from business and community leaders is very important at this time as the Lake Havasu Partnership for Economic Development (PED) and Lake Havasu City are working on strategies to diversify the local economy. As a leader in the community, your personal, candid and confidential comments in the following areas will be extremely helpful in crafting the PED’s final strategies.

  1. What is your understanding/impression of economic development efforts in Lake Havasu? How would you rate its effectiveness?
  1. In your view, what are the priority issues/problems which currently impact Lake Havasu’s economic growth potential? Which local organizations should be responsible or are best positioned to effectively implement solutions to these issues/problems?

ISSUES/PROBLEMSORGANIZATION

A.)

B.)

C.)

D.)

  1. What are your thoughts regarding the proper role and responsibilities of the PED in Lake Havasu’s economic development efforts?
  1. What are your thoughts regarding the role of local organizations to influence important development issues and where should specific responsibilities lie?

ISSUESLEAD ORGANIZATION(S)

  • Image Enhancement______
  • Strategic/Land Use Planning______
  • Workforce Development/Training______
  • Marketing Lake Havasu ______
  • New Business Recruitment______
  • Retention and Expansion Support______
  • Product Development (Business and
  • Industrial Parks)______
  • Retail Attraction______
  • Other Initiatives______
  1. What are the key measurements, benchmarks and return on investment criteria that you would like to see incorporated to grade the PED?
  1. (If a member of the PED) – Are you satisfied with PED’s programs? What do you want the PED to do better in order to keep you as a paying member?
  1. (If not a member of the PED) – What would you want the PED to do in order for

your company to become a paying member?

  1. Which of these development initiatives will deliver the most benefits to your industry/business?
  • Image Enhancement______
  • Strategic/Land Use Planning______
  • Workforce Development/Training______
  • Marketing Lake Havasu ______
  • New Business Recruitment______
  • Existing Industry and Expansion Support______
  • Product Development (Industrial Parks/Sites)______

(Please apply the following benefit rating: 1 – High……… 9 – Low)

  1. What are the most important issues that will impact your business over the next 3 to 5 years?
  1. The City owns approximately 84 acres at the southern end of the City Airport runway. In order for Lake Havasu to compete with other municipalities and regions to attract businesses to diversify the local economy and bring higher paying jobs, there is a plan to create a business and industrial park in two phases.

Phase 1 on 20 acres and phase 2 on the remaining acres.

What are your thoughts of a business and industrial park to diversify the economy and bring higher paying jobs?

  1. The cost for Phase 1 will be approximately $5 to $6 million. If the PED raises $2

Million from the private sector, Lake Havasu will contribute $2 million and the U.S Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration (EDA) will award a grant for $1.8 million.

What are your thoughts regarding the capability of PED raising $ 2 million from the private sector over 3 years? Over 5 years?

12. Would you provide the names of some key business and community leaders who you would recommend we ask to serve as a member of our Campaign leadership team?

13. Are there any issues, which we have not yet discussed, which are important to you?