The little county that could

Pinal County borders Arizona’s top two most populous counties — Maricopa County and Pima County, respectively — but is growing rapidly, attracting both people and businesses. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Pinal County’s population has grown approximately 23.5% since 2010, approaching half a million residents.

AZRE sat down with James Smith, director of economic and workforce development for Pinal County, to discuss why this tract of Central Arizona is experiencing a boom in economic activity.

The following responses have been edited for length and clarity

AZRE: You’ve been leading economic development efforts in Pinal County since late 2021, having worked in similar roles for Chandler and Fountain Hills. What have you learned about the economic development in the county since you started?

JAMES SMITH: People are realizing that Pinal County is a great place to do business thanks to a strong workforce and a strategic location between California, Texas, Phoenix, Tucson and Mexico. We’ve got communities that are eager to grow their economies and support these businesses, along with a supportive Board of Supervisors that is constantly looking for ways that we can be of assistance to make sure we’re competitive. There are so many people pulling in the same direction, and we’re seeing the fruits of that.

AZRE: Can you talk more about why proximity to other locales and business is a benefit for Pinal County?

JS: I think that what used to be considered proximity as far as supply chain was maybe three to seven miles so you could get parts and materials rather quickly. As we’ve seen land prices go up in the Phoenix area, companies are willing to have their suppliers a bit further away.

AZRE: Have recent investments in transportation infrastructure helped make that more feasible for companies?

JS: Absolutely. The idea of “close” is being redefined because of transportation improvements and the cost of development in the Phoenix area. The extension of the Loop 202 around South Mountain is huge. Now, a company in Casa Grande can bypass the airport, the Broadway Curve and Tempe and get out to [Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC)] in a reasonable amount of time, making Pinal County a good option for businesses that supply companies such as Intel and TSMC.

AZRE: Pinal County is located between the two largest economic centers in Arizona: Phoenix and Tucson. What are businesses missing out on if they overlook Pinal County during the site selection process?

JS: We have a lot of the same quality of life benefits that people look for in Arizona at a much cheaper cost for housing and land, plus a great workforce. You’re not really sacrificing anything by coming here. No matter where you’re at in Pinal County, you can get to airports or sporting venues either in the Tucson area or the Phoenix area.

AZRE: Tell me more about the qualityof-life in Pinal County. Why are people moving there?

JS: Some of our new housing stock is very modern with nice parks and amenities such as libraries. A lot more retail and commercial entertainment options are here now, which gives a well-rounded quality of life that people expect. Many of our communities are exactly what you would find in Phoenix or Tucson. We also have different types of housing stock, so there’s a choice in how you choose to live. Some people want a yard, some don’t. We also have large agricultural lots in the more rural areas where you can keep animals.

AZRE: Education is a high priority for families when looking for a place to live. It’s also important as a workforce pipeline for businesses that want an educated workforce. Can you talk about what education looks like in Pinal County?

JS: Many of our schools are very highly rated and provide the basis for the future workforce. Central Arizona College has been a great workforce development partner with both the state and the county through the Drive48 program, and something similar is being created with LG Energy Solution. These partnerships are a tremendous recruiting tool, because companies know that there’s history of the community college helping to provide that workforce and that will continue in the future.

AZRE: Any thoughts you’d like to share about Pinal County going forward?

JS: There are going to be so many jobs coming from these announced projects, and more will come as spin-offs from those. For example, we expect LG Energy Solution and Proctor & Gamble will begin construction in 2023. There’s lots of skilled jobs — electricians, plumbers, pipefitters — that will be in demand for these projects. There’s more than $6 billion in investment just from those two projects, so there’s a lot of opportunity in Pinal County.

Resolution Copper is developing one of the world’s largest untapped copper deposits. Once in operation, the mine could supply up to one-quarter of the nation’s copper demand.

Creating New Jobs

Resolution Copper expects to directly employ about 1,500 workers, paying around $134 million per year in total compensation. The project will also generate approximately 2,200 indirect jobs, meaning it could support some 3,700 jobs at full production.

Boosting the Local Economy

Studies show Resolution Copper could produce up to $61 billion in economic value for Arizona over the 60-year life of the project. Resolution Copper will boost state and local tax revenues by between $88 million and $113 million each year of operations, while the federal government could see an extra $200 million in tax revenues per year.

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Copper is an essential component in mobile devices, medical equipment and clean energy technologies, and demand is growing worldwide. In fact, the World Bank estimates global copper demand could rise by 200% by 2050. Having a steady home-grown copper supply will be a competitive advantage for US manufacturing companies.