La Paz County, Arizona

LA PAZ COUNTY , AR I ZONA relocations from the California area.” “Because of our size and our manpower, this is an opportunity we haven’t put in full force yet, but our location makes us ideal for warehousing,” says Drake. “A business could warehouse here in Quartzsite, which is on I-10. That’s four hours from Los Angeles, and then two hours to Phoenix. You could have one run a day from L.A., warehouse here right over the border—so we’re talking about money saved—and then two runs a day into Phoenix, morning and afternoon. And then you have the State Road 95 that goes north and south to Yuma, or up to I-40, which heads into Vegas.” The Colorado River Indian Tribes along the Colorado River are a major economic driver supporting two of the area’s key industries – agriculture and tourism. They also operate the stunning BlueWater Resort and Casino, located about two miles from downtown Parker. “It’s rather unique in that it has 200 rooms, all with balconies overlooking the Colorado River,” says Wilson. “And some incredibly beautiful scenery across the river into Earp, CA, where Wyatt Earp prospected for gold after his Tombstone days.” Although plenty of county-level economic development strategies include diversity, few make it more than a buzzword. For La Paz County and La Paz Economic Development Corporation, diversity is built into their core values. They’ll continue to diversify in terms of industries, particularly eco-recreation. “Two clear advantages come to mind when I think of La Paz County,” says Wilson. “The first is location, because we’re highly accessible from the Phoenix area and Southern California. The second is diversity of recreation. We haven’t even touched on the national wildlife refuges that are here, which provide fantastic opportunities for birdwatching. The fishing opportunities on the Colorado River, Lake Havasu, Alamo Lake—there’s just a lot to do.”