Panel: Education key to attract business

What is important to Yuma business expansion is not merely increasing education funding but convincing residents of the importance of education says a keynote speaker for the Yuma and Business Education Council.

Donna Davis, outreach and mobilization coordinator for Expect More Arizona, stressed what actions they can take to improve business prospects to YBEC members Tuesday at the Yuma Private Industry Council board room.

YBEC is a group of 35 business leaders and educators who formed their organization four years ago to revitalize education. Expect More Arizona is a public-private partnership on a state-wide campaign since last spring that aims to better prepare students for future employment.

Davis said Arizona students are falling behind in the global race for quality jobs and it is up to all residents to help students succeed. One way of doing that is by increasing student expectations through programs such as AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination), a federal grant that targets at-risk youth in middle and high school and gets them on a college track path.

"We have to make all students realize they're not competing just against others in Yuma but the world over. We have to increase the numbers going to college and the academic achievement of all kindergarten through 12th-grade students. But to do that we have to increase education funding."

Davis also said without a strong education system in Yuma, employers will not relocate here, impacting the quality of life because something as basic as staffing YRMC with doctors will be difficult in the future unless medical professionals are convinced there are quality schools for their children.

She says people can support education by volunteering for school committees or running for school boards. But the most powerful way to support education is by voting for people and policies that support education.

Russell McCloud, owner of Accurate Automotive, says from a small businessman's perspective he thought the current economy would boost his business but auto repair has declined similar to most other industry during the prior two years.

McCloud has five fewer employees now and has noticed a change in people's driving habits. When gas hit nearly $5 dollars a gallon last year people drove substantially less and put off repairs which impacted his business.

He said he has eliminated overtime and frozen raises but still found ways to increase employee pay in part by reducing or eliminating equipment purchases; yet he was surprised he still turned a profit.

"I'll tell you our taxes are high enough. It sucks the life blood out of your business and we all know who pays for it — your clients."

McCloud added he appreciates the state lowering commercial property taxes from 24 to 20 percent a few years ago but he would hate to see them increase. Arizona needs to adopt policies to encourage companies to locate here, especially in the rural counties.

"When jobs are available commerce flows and it increases the level of local government services. Attracting business to Arizona is a huge thing for everybody but you need to remove the barriers for small business to thrive."

Marc Nigliazzo, AWC president, said more than 50 percent of students enrolling in college now are opting in favor of community college, but despite that AWC funding is down to 2005-2006 levels, it will not raise tuition this fall.

He added colleges cannot rely upon the state to provide support but need to secure new and creative funding mechanisms to steer higher education. He also said students come to college expecting it to offer them a better quality of life and administrators must keep the door of access open.

William Roller can be reached at wroller@yumasun.com or 539-6858.