Tucson, Arizona

3 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 3, ISSUE 10 IZONA T he second largest city in the State of Arizona, Tucson has a population of more than 540,000 people and is the county seat of Pima County. Located only 60 miles north of the U.S./Mexican border, and 108 miles southeast of Phoenix, the City of Tucson offers an attractive option for larger industries, while also supporting small businesses and entrepreneurs. Rich with history, Tucson is a city that understands its identity, showcasing this through a diverse range of arts and cultural experiences. Economic Initiatives Director Barbra Coffee shares, “When you’re on the ground in Tucson, you have a very distinct notion of where you are. Our community resonates with its history and its heritage. There’s 4,000 years of history here in Tucson, and it is still evident in our architecture and in our food.” The first North American city to be designated a UNESCO City of Gastronomy, Tucson promotes a tradition of agriculture and food, with a variety of programs in place to support independent restaurants and food-based businesses. “We use and we leverage that designation by UNESCO to attract people,” says Coffee. “Visitors will seek out foodie towns, they will seek out experiences, they will come to Tucson and find a whole lot of opportunity around festivals, around food, and local restaurants that are independently owned and operated.” AT A GLANCE TUCSON, ARIZONA WHAT: A vibrant city of 540,000 WHERE: Pima County, Arizona WEBSITE: www.tucsonaz.gov