Release Date: Wednesday, March 9th 2011
Report points way for Scottsdale in 21st century
by Beth Duckett - Mar. 7, 2011 02:35 PM
The Arizona Republic
Scottsdale must collaborate with its neighbors and bridge gaps in the community if it wants to compete successfully in the 21st century, according to a report released this week about its development.
"Next Steps Scottsdale: Building an Action Plan for Economic Growth" compiled information from community and business leaders to stimulate dialogue about the city's economic future.
The findings were based on responses during a September forum.
The report, prepared by Arizona State University's Morrison Institute for Public Policy, shed light on key issues, such as the need for regional participation and the ability to attract talent.
In the report released Thursday, only 15 percent of participants in the forum sessions rated the city as excellent or good at attracting young, diverse entrepreneurs.
Other areas of concern were the dwindling amount of land for development and the ability to cultivate higher-paying jobs in a tourism-heavy community.
An overwhelming number of participants - 92 percent - believe the city should be a part of the Discovery Triangle, a regional planning effort that Scottsdale's elected officials so far have refused to join.
The triangle encompasses a region bound by downtown Phoenix to the west, Tempe and the ASU Tempe campus to the southeast and Papago Park to the northeast.
A key goal is to build support and funding for the region's long-term vision, according to the Discovery Triangle Development Corp. website.
"We have to agree to be a key regional player," said Jan Gehler, Scottsdale Community College president, in a follow-up forum this week. "The fences have to come down, if there are fences."
Gehler was among several high-profile speakers during a "Scottsdale Forward" gathering at the college's Performing Arts Center on Thursday. Local leaders highlighted the city's progress and results of the "Next Steps" report, a continuation of the 2003 report, "Which Way Scottsdale?"
Business leaders commissioned "Which Way Scottsdale?" to provide a framework.
