Governor Promoting Community Colleges, Desalination, Broadband Expansion, Non-Profits

Arizona Governor Doug Ducey assured Flagstaff area businesspeople he was not on a good-bye tour when he spoke during the Greater Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting on Friday, Feb. 18. “The state of the state is strong. Our manufacturing sector is on fire,” he said, vowing to leave Arizona stronger than he found it when he took office in 2015.

He said Arizona is building a new economy that is not relying so heavily on tourism and construction. “We are no longer a fly-over state. Arizona is the destination and will be the destination,” he said. “Let’s invest in the workers, starting with our community colleges.”

The governor said his budget adds $30 million for Arizona community colleges, including $1.8 million for Coconino Community College to support six new workforce accelerator programs to advance manufacturing jobs for the high-tech industry. He also said he is urging the legislature to wave college tuition for veteran’s wives, as has been done for veterans.

The governor discussed his $1 billion desalination plan to make Arizona’s water future secure. The plan involves removing salt from sea water to use in Arizona, involving technology that made Israel the world’s water superpower.

He also announced the next step in the state’s efforts for rural Arizona to receive fast, affordable and reliable high-speed internet, an investment of $68.1 million to expand broadband connectivity along Interstate 40 West from Flagstaff to the California border. “This critical infrastructure will give more homes fast internet, improve public safety, increase access to education and help more Arizonans get the care they need through telemedicine.”

In partnership with the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT), Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) and Sun Corridor Network (SCN), the expansion sustains the momentum of the Statewide Middle-Mile Network, which is currently underway adding connectivity along I-17 and I-19.

According to the Arizona Broadband Statewide Middle-Mile Strategic Plan released in January, I-40 West is a priority corridor for broadband network development to bring connectivity to Coconino, Yavapai and Mohave counties, as well as the underserved communities of Flagstaff, Bellemont, Williams, Ash Fork, Seligman and Kingman.

Regarding the impact that the pandemic has had on tourism, the governor said the Arizona Office of Tourism (AOT) is supporting organizations across the state through the Visit Arizona Initiative Partnership. Local nonprofits receiving AOT grant funds include Flagstaff Blues & Brews, the Flagstaff Dark Skies Coalition, Lowell Observatory and the Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra. FBN

By Bonnie Stevens, FBN