Business View Civil & Municipal | Volume 2, Issue 11

84 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 2, ISSUE 11 located just outside the city limits. “Their president has the exact vision that needs to be there for the role of a community college to be able to help and assist in these areas of economic development,” says Huish. “He’s geared up to be able to help in all areas of the port expansion. They are already looking into warehouse manager certificates, operations manager certificates, even offering truck driver classes, and truck mechanic classes.” The college has also secured funding from the state legislature to expand its law enforcement training. Providing education for the foundation of careers is highly valued in Douglas. The city works in partnership with ARIZONA@WORK, to host job fairs and provide retraining to individuals in need of work, and has also joined with the newly formed Douglas Educational Council to provide books to local school districts and libraries. “We see the value that education is going to make their buildings to help complete the overall look of the downtown. “I firmly believe that we’re not going to run your business and we’re not going to redo your building for you, but we’re going to do everything else on the outside so that people want to be able to go to your place,” Huish says. “Now, it’s up to you to use your business savvy and be able to make it a place that somebody wants to visit because my nature is ‘government get out of the way.’” To incentivise businesses, Douglas offers quick turnaround time for plan approval and service calls, as well as small tax incentives. They also have a grant coordinator on staff, who can help point business owners in the direction of grants, historic or otherwise, that they may apply for to help fund any improvements. To prepare the local workforce for the changes brought about by the new port, Douglas has worked closely with Cochise Community College, www..cqch.org Bisbee Primary Care Clinic (520) 432-2402 Palominas Primary Care Clinic (520) 366-03002 Tombstone Primary Care Clinic (520) 432-2042 Douglas Primary Care Clinic (520) 805-6800 Bisbee Emergency Department (520) 432-5383 Douglas Emergency Department (520) 805-6883