Momentum: TREO's Newsletter

Blueprint Mobilization Progress Report
What's happening for plans to mobilize the Economic Blueprint's Power of Five?  In July, TREO announced its Blueprint Mobilization Plan, a very detailed and inclusive strategy for engaging and linking together economic development stakeholders - you, our investors - with area organizations that can provide leadership and resources to support the Blueprint's strategies and goals.  All of our Investors form this new Mobilization Council, which will represent TREO within these outside groups as our "liaison," to provide the economic development perspective and help develop effective action plans to achieve the Blueprint's goals.

What Can We Learn from Richard Florida?


Dr. Richard Florida speaks with Anne Doris of Cox Communications during TREO's Annual Luncheon Sept. 27. Cox Communications sponsored Florida for the event.

On September 27 nearly 500 people attended TREO's Annual Luncheon and were addressed by keynote speaker Dr. Richard Florida, one of the world's leading intellectuals on economic competitiveness, demographic trends and cultural and technological innovation.

Florida's message to the group came through loud and clear: while Tucson has a strong population of youth and retirees, the "creative class" -- 25-34-year-olds -- is largely absent and Tucson's inability to retain enough university graduates will likely be one of the biggest obstacles to achieving a competitive and creative economy.

According to Florida, Tucson ranks 207th on what he calls the "Brain Drain Index" - the ability to retain the young talent that drives a competitive economy. In contrast, Tucson ranks high on several other Florida indexes: No. 2 for creativity, No. 3 for technology, No. 5 for talent and No. 6 for tolerance.

Florida noted that TREO's Economic Blueprint is a great plan to improve on what is already a great, "hip" city, but a real emphasis must be placed on the attraction and retention of young professionals. His next book will focus on research that indicates members of the "creative class" often choose the city they want to live in before they choose a job. This means that to attract and retain the "creative class" Tucson must have a vibrant downtown, it must have an abundance of arts, culture and entertainment, and it must plan new and innovative transportation options.

Florida summed up his message by advising Tucson leaders that economic success can be achieved through what he calls the 3 T's: Technology, Talent and Tolerance. You can learn more about Richard Florida at www.creativeclass.com. 

Click here to see what Richard Florida had to say about Tucson after his visit here.

What do you think?
Did you attend the Richard Florida presentation? What do you think about his message? What are your ideas for attracting and retaining the "creative class" in Tucson?

Send your thoughts to erin.coulter@treoaz.org and your comments may be published in the next TREO investor newsletter.


TREO Publishes Annual Report
TREO's 2006-2007 Annual Report is now available and a copy is being mailed to all Investors.

In it you will find letters from Joe Snell and TREO Co-Chairs Mayor Robert Walkup and Supervisor Sharon Bronson, as well as an updated list of TREO Investors and overall goals for the coming year. In addition to a summary of TREO's financial activity, you will find a new report on the total annual economic impact of relocations and expansions in the Tucson region for Fiscal Years 2005-2006 and 2006-2007. Also included is a summary of goals for each department at TREO.

If you would like an additional copy of TREO's 2006-2007 Annual Report, please contact Erin Coulter at (520) 243-1935 or erin.coulter@treoaz.org.


New Streamlined Economic Development Partnership Launched Statewide
On Oct. 4 Governor Janet Napolitano unveiled a new private-public-nonprofit collaboration geared toward streamlining, unifying and enhancing Arizona’s economic development efforts. Rather than competing with one another, Arizona companies will work together to ensure Arizona’s position in the global marketplace.

The new model for Arizona has already begun to take shape. AERO will work with the presidents of Arizona’s three universities, and collaborate with representatives from the CEDC, GADA, Commerce, Science Foundation Arizona, AGN and others. AERO will operate as a nonprofit, 501(c)(6) and be funded by private and other dollars. Click here to read the full press release.


TREO Awarded by IEDC 
On Sept. 18 TREO was presented the General Purpose Website award by the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) during its Annual Conference, held this year in Phoenix from Sept. 16-19.

"Economic development efforts have always played a vital role in shoring up the nation's economy, one locality at a time," said Ronnie L. Bryant, IEDC chairman. "As our population grows exponentially and as we continue to overcome challenges, both new and longstanding, these efforts have taken on an even greater importance. The award serves as a salute to pacesetting organizations like TREO for leading the charge."

IEDC said TREO was a "clear standout" in the category of General Purpose Website by organizations serving a population of more than 200,000.

TREO was also recognized by IEDC with an Honorable Mention award for the TREO Signature Brochure, a collateral piece often used by the TREO Business Development Department to promote Tucson to site selectors.


IdeaFunding 2007 - Nov. 1
The 10th consecutive IdeaFunding day-long workshop will be held Nov. 1 at the historic Manning House, 450 W. Paseo Redondo. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. and the workshop runs from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

IdeaFunding will present “Resources for the Southern Arizona Entrepreneur,” a day-long workshop focusing on the vast range of resources and services available to new and emergent entrepreneurs and business leaders seeking to build and expand their business.

IdeaFunding will feature concurrent workshop sessions that target information and resources within each of the venture development phases, including idea creation, idea assessment, business organization, and business launch. The event also features a mini trade show, a resource matrix and service provider database, interactive kiosks, and a business builder tool for customized business development needs.

Click here to visit the IdeaFunding Web site to register or get more information.


TAA Announces New Nonstop Services
From Tucson Airport Authority: On Nov. 4, Southwest Airlines will begin non-stop service to Oakland, CA. Southwest has also added a fourth nonstop flight to San Diego, bringing its number of daily departures available from Tucson to 21.

The new Oakland departure leaves Tucson at 7:55 a.m. and arrives in Oakland at 9:20 a.m. The return flight departs Oakland at 6:10 p.m. and arrives in Tucson at 9:25 p.m. This is the only nonstop service available to Oakland from Tucson. In addition to the new flights, Southwest Airlines offers two daily nonstop flights to Albuquerque, and six each to Las Vegas and Los Angeles. In May they added a second flight to Chicago Midway.

In October, ExpressJet Airlines announced three new nonstop destinations from Tucson: Reno, Spokane and Omaha. Click here to read the press release.

There are 12 airlines currently serving Tucson and effective Nov. 4 they will provide 86 daily departures to 25 destinations. Those airlines include: Aerolitoral, Alaska, American, Continental, Delta/SkyWest, ExpressJet, Frontier, Northwest, Southwest, United, and US Airways.

Nonstop destinations from Tucson include: Albuquerque; Atlanta; Austin; Chicago (O’Hare Airport); Chicago (Midway Airport); Dallas-Ft. Worth; Denver; El Paso; Hermosillo, Mexico; Houston; Kansas City; Las Vegas; Los Angeles; Minneapolis/St. Paul; Newark; New York; Oakland; Ontario, CA.; Phoenix; Sacramento; Salt Lake City; San Antonio; San Diego; San Francisco; Seattle/Tacoma; Washington Dulles (seasonal).


Business Spotlight 
Inside Arizona Business:
Arizona's Business News Leader
With an integrated portfolio of television and on-demand Internet and permission-based email business news products, Inside Arizona Business delivers superior journalism trusted by an educated and affluent audience.

Launched in 2005, "Inside Arizona Business with Dana Cooper" is Arizona's most watched weekly business television program and can be seen Sunday mornings at 9:00 on KVOA TV 4 (NBC, Tucson). Every week, the interview-based television program covers the business news important to the southern Arizona economy.

The company's growing interactive division allows business leaders to be connected to important business news throughout the week with updates found at www.InsideArizonaBusiness.com. And, they can benefit from free business news updates by subscribing to the Inside Edge e-newsletter, featuring the most important news they need to stay informed and to get ahead.

Visit www.insidearizonabusiness.com online to learn more.


Welcome New Investors
Town of Sahuarita
PO Box 879
Sahuarita, AZ 85629
Ph: 520.822.8800


7225 N. Oracle Road, #202
Tucson, AZ 85704

17 W. Wetmore #102
Tucson, AZ 85705
Ph: 520.888.9752

Peto & Company CPAs PLLC
2525 E. Broadway # 102
Tucson, AZ 85716
www.petocpas.com
(520) 326-0496

Thank you to the investors who have renewed since August:
Cox Communications
GEICO
Northern Trust, NA
Pella Corporation
Sargent Controls
Sundt Construction
VantageWest Credit Union

Did you know?
TREO's website features Success Stories and photos from local businesses and organizations in the Tucson region. Click here to read the Success Stories.

Would you like your business or organization to be featured on TREO's website as a Business Success Story? Contact Erin.Coulter@treoaz.org or call 520-243-1935 for more information.

                  
                  120 North Stone Ave., Suite 200
                          Tucson, Arizona 85701
      520.243.1900 * 1.866.600.0331 * Fax 520.243.1910
                       www.treoaz.org