Mayor Wilcox Cano, who is starting her third term, said Winslow is wide open for business.
Mayor Wilcox Cano, who is starting her third term, said Winslow is wide open for business. One challenge, however, is that the town needs more electric power to support major employers. To resolve this, she and others are working with APS.
“We’ll figure this out because we have everything else in place. We have the land and we have the water, thanks to having one of the largest aquifers in the state nearby.”
She is also focused on creating more opportunities that will make young people want to stay in town or return to town after going to college. She notes that the Northland Pioneer College Winslow branch offers classes in trades, such as welding, that students can take while in high school, so that when they graduate, they will have a high school diploma and an associate degree. And, she adds, when a major employer comes to town, NPC will be there to help train employees for those careers.
She wants this not only for Winslow, but for the neighboring Navajo and Hopi nations. Wilcox Cano is the first Native American mayor in Winslow and proud of it. She is Navajo, San Juan Pueblo, Scottish and Irish.
“Tribal people often don’t feel like they have a seat at the table,” she said. “I’m not a politician, but I saw things that needed to change. Whether you’re Native American, a woman, or any minority or any marginalized group, you want to be able to feel that you can be a trailblazer. We’ve got some great ideas.”
After she graduated from Winslow High School, she left the area because she felt there wasn’t much of a future for her in Winslow. She doesn’t want today’s youth to have that same feeling. She went to work for the Arizona Department of Corrections in Yuma and married a police officer. That, she says, made it easy for her to return home and find employment because of the state prison in Winslow.
Wilcox Cano recalls that in the 1990s, Winslow experienced an economic downturn when Interstate 40 bypassed Winslow and motorists no longer had to drive through town. Many of the buildings were closed and boarded up.
However, Winslow began an economic comeback in about 1999 when the Standing on the Corner Park was constructed. The Eagles’ lyric “…standing on the corner in Winslow, Arizona…” in the hit song, “Take It Easy,” drew attention to the town.
“This has become one of the most sought-after destinations in the U.S. as people come from all over to stop and have their photos taken there,” she said. “But there’s always room for improvement, as we still have some dilapidated buildings. Before this, the locals were apathetic, but they are now energized. We’re in a position to come back. We can mix the old historic feel with new opportunities for business and industry.”
In addition, Mayor Wilcox Cano says the town has become more business friendly. “If a new business is coming in, they want it to take 36 months, not five years,” she said.
One problem that is close to being solved is an outdated levee on the Colorado River that, if not fixed, could flood about 80% of the town, she said. The project is estimated to cost more than $100 million, with the federal government providing about $65 million from the Biden administration’s infrastructure act, about $35 million from Yavapai County and other contributions from the state and the town. The last flood was in 1993.
“This is one of the largest infrastructure projects in the region,” she said. Already, land surveys are underway, and work is scheduled to begin this summer, with project completion expected in 2029. U.S. Senators Mark Kelly and Reuben Gallego support the project.
The mayor says she loves Winslow because both sides of her family are here and the community comes together for various events. “It’s that everybody knows everybody and when issues come up, we work together. The best thing about Winslow is the people.”
Another economic engine, she said, is tourism. The Route 66 Club draws visitors with music and art festivals. Also, Winslow is a central location for other destinations, with Strawberry to the south, Petrified National Forest to the east, Navajo and Hopi lands to the north, and Meteor Crater to the west.
Mayor Wilcox Cano understands that some residents are traumatized from past job losses. Part of her job, she says, is encouraging residents and convincing them that they deserve the opportunities and thriving community that can come with growth. FBN
By Stan Bindell, FBN
Courtesy Photo: Winslow Mayor Roberta “Birdie” Wilcox Cano, the city’s first Native American mayor, is leading efforts to boost infrastructure, attract new business and build a future where local youth want to stay and thrive.
Leave a Reply