Commerce Press Release

NEWS RELEASE: Friday, September 26, 2008
Contact: Pati Urias or David Drennon, 602.771.1163

(Cave Creek-Carefree, AZ) – Winners for the 2008 Excellence and Main Street Awards were today announced at the 34th Annual Governor’s Rural and Regional Development Conference, which took place this week in Cave Creek-Carefree. The awards were presented by Governor Janet Napolitano during a luncheon on the final day of the event.

The Excellence Awards honor partnerships, organizations, associations, service clubs, and companies that have created and implemented community and economic development strategies for regions in the past year. The Main Street Awards recognize outstanding projects, activities and individuals in Arizona’s designated Main Street communities.

Economic Development
Superior Wireless Broadband – Superior, Arizona’s wireless broadband network opened the door for this community’s link to the world, providing access to educational applications and training; strengthened critical communication infrastructure for community services; and encouraging development of valuable small-office-home-office entrepreneurship. This template is now being duplicated in other rural and regional communities statewide, and recognized nationally.

Community Development: Infrastructure and Environmental
Yavapai-Apache Housing Infrastructure - This project involved $26 million in infrastructure improvements and housing for the Yavapai-Apache Nation, obtained through federal, state and Nation funding. The project is enabling tribal members to purchase affordable housing with access to clean, safe water.

Community Development: Cultural and Recreational
Eagar Ramsey Park Pavilion – This project involved constructing a large Ramada-style, timber-framed public building. Locally sourced and manufactured “small wood” materials were used, along with thousands of hours of volunteer labor to educate contractors and involve the community in rebuilding local industry while restoring forest health.

Energy Efficiency
Tucson Solar Initiative – The Tucson Solar Initiative, geared toward expanding the solar energy market in Southern Arizona, will create solar-friendly policies and programs that can be replicated by other Southern Arizona cities and counties: installing solar on city property, reducing financial and informational barriers for area residents and businesses, and developing a plan for more solar projects and new solar industry.

Future Leaders
Bullhead City Youth Advisory Commission - The creation of the Bullhead City Youth Advisory Commission provides an innovative opportunity for young leaders in rural northwest Arizona to be involved in their community by offering policy recommendations to the City Council and learning about local government structure and services.