By Julie Engel, President/CEO

Yuma is not just a great destination, it's an attractive and affordable place to do business. Your local partner, the Greater Yuma Economic Development Corporation, represents Yuma County, the cities of Yuma, San Luis and Somerton, and the Town of Wellton.

Our mission is to attract commerce and industry, create a healthy business environment, make policy recommendations to civic leadership and track economic growth indicators.

GYEDC has identified five primary target sectors for outreach:

• Logistics - distribution of goods

• Renewable energy - solar and alternative fuels

• High-end manufacturing - supply solar, automotive and construction industries

• Aerospace - support for regional military presence

• Maquiladora - twin plant operations

At the borders of Arizona, California and Mexico, the Yuma region is ideally positioned for just-in-time delivery. San Diego and Phoenix are within three hours, and Las Vegas and Los Angeles less than five hours away.

With the exception of a seaport, Yuma offers the widest range of transportation options available. Interstate 8 offers easy access to the interstate highway system via seven interstate carriers, and a main line of the Union Pacific Railroad runs through the area.

The U.S. Port of Entry at San Luis is among the country's ten busiest border crossings. A brand-new commercial port and four-lane, restricted access highway provide a direct connection from the border to the interstate, facilitating import and export of goods.

Our "Bi-national Strategy for Greater Yuma" recognizes that communities on both sides of the border are linked economically and culturally, and that fostering cross-border relationships and activities benefits the business climate of the entire area.

Assets aplenty for renewable energy

Sunshine (average 350 days/year), abundant flat land, access to transmission lines and ample ground water provide a winning combination for utility-scale solar production. Yuma County has been short-listed for both Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) and Photovoltaic Power (PV) projects.

With utility-scale solar generation will come the need for parts and assembly. These critical components are now made primarily in Spain and Germany, but GYEDC is working to attract component makers based on projected needs.

Motivated and evolving workforce

Through the efforts of the Yuma Manufacturers Association (YMA) and GYEDC, Yuma County's workforce is evolving to meet new needs. Accredited training courses taught by YMA managers and supervisors address identified workforce skill deficiencies, with hundreds participating in training. The program is being replicated elsewhere as Yuma companies share successes with their corporate operations.

Aerospace and defense center

Yuma is home to Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS), designated the best overall installation in the corps and tops for energy management in recent years. MCAS Yuma is now using its new Range Operations Control Center to improve airspace management and environmental stewardship of 2.8 million acres of ranges.

GYEDC is working to position Yuma as a stationing and training location for the new F-35 joint strike fighter, and for its national or regional maintenance and logistics center.

This is also the site of the U. S. Army Yuma Proving Ground (YPG), a unique defense asset that includes 1,300 square miles (827,000 acres) of land surface and 1,976 square miles of airspace. YPG's research and development facilities are capable of testing nearly everything in the Army's combat arsenal.

YPG also expanded its capabilities recently with the opening of a joint-use hot-weather vehicle test track developed in partnership with General Motors. This state-of-the-art facility is a model for public-private partnerships and enhances Yuma's growing reputation as an up-and-coming technology center.

Email jengel@greateryuma.org, call 928.782.7774 or visit www.greateryuma.org