FLORENCE, AZ – Economic development is a two word catch phrase for a really big job that is complex and vital. Economic Development is also one of Pinal County’s eight strategic priorities that guide county leaders’ decision-making and resource allocation.

The Board of Supervisors is pleased to announce that Timothy Kanavel is Pinal County’s new Economic Development Manager. He will work closely with all the disciplines in Development Services to attract new enterprises and support the growth of existing businesses.

“Tim brings more than a decade worth of experience in working with chambers of commerce, the Arizona Department of Commerce, economic development councils and in private industry. His experience positions him well to lead Pinal County’s economic development efforts,” said County Manager Terry Doolittle.

Doolittle said that up to now, economic development was handled through partnerships with area economic development foundations, cities and towns and the Arizona Department of Commerce. Employees in a variety of county offices aided and supported these efforts.

“The time is right to make this a full-time endeavor so Pinal County gets its fair share of new living-wage jobs,” Doolittle said. “We’ve always had a focus on growth that brings jobs but we need to ratchet up the effort to help our communities recover from the economic downturn and ensure that we gain as much as we can during the economic recovery.”

Business development gurus often say that the biggest source of new business comes from existing businesses that find ways to grow and thrive. While that may be the subject of heated debate, economic development certainly involves a focus on the growth and health of existing businesses as well as attraction of new businesses.

“Our Business Retention and Expansion Program (BR&E) will be a major aspect of our overall countywide economic development initiative,” Kanavel said. “BR&E, allowing with a supply chain development program will consist of creating a positive, aggressive business atmosphere whereby local, existing and new businesses thrive in our county. We can help ensure that by mitigating the many hurdles that inhibit local business growth and also by fulfilling and possibly relocating to Pinal County a company’s production materials resource needs.”

Major enterprises often work with site selection consultants who strive to match the needs of a relocating or expanding business with the strategic and natural assets of a particular community. For example, a facility that builds roof trusses needs to be near a rail line so it can efficiently ship its end product to market. It also needs access to a good supply of lumber and workers who have the skills to design, engineer and assemble the lumber into trusses. And they may want to know that the workforce they will need in 20 years is going to be available for hire from the nearby communities. Lastly, before they choose a location for their new facility, they may want to know what medical facilities are nearby in case of an accident.

To capitalize on Pinal County’s strategic assets and attract businesses that match them, Kanavel will work with site selection consultants, economic development foundations, cities and towns, business owners, advocacy groups and the state. The goal, he said, is to ensure that Pinal County is positioned as a great place to work, live, raise families, get an education and grow businesses.

Kanavel was the President and Director of Economic Development for the Wickenburg Regional Economic Development Partnership, a position he held since 2007. Prior to that, he worked in sales and marketing positions in the private sector. He also has four years’ experience working in Southern Arizona for the Arizona Department of Commerce.

Kanavel’s credentials include a Bachelor of Science degree in Regional Development from the University of Arizona along with two Associates’ degrees. He is a graduate of the University of Arizona’s EDI Economic Development course at the University of Arizona.

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