Sahuarita’s population has grown 622 percent since the 2000 census and has had double-digit growth since 1995. For having only 2.3 percent of Pima County’s population, Sahuarita issued one-fourth of all housing permits in Pima County in 2008. The town also drew a dozen new businesses last fall in one shopping center.
“It’s been significant even with the downturn ,” said Kathy Ward, the town’s economic development manager. “I think it may level off some this year due to the economy, but we are still underserved when it comes to more service commercial companies.”
 Joe Pangburn photo |
“The Shell station is new, the McDonalds has only been in for four weeks,” he said. “Additional lands across from the McDonalds is going to be commercial development. We’ll see some additional national retailers over next year and a half. Even in this economy there is tremendous interest.”
In order to try and target its growth, Sahuarita has been surveying its residents for the past three years to understand the workforce they have so they know industries to target.
“We have a highly skilled workforce,” Ward said. “We found 52 percent have a bachelor’s degree or more.”
Sahuarita has a workforce of 9,200 full time employees and more than 11,000 when part time workers are included.
“We are committed to creating a local diversified and sustainable economy for our residents here in Sahuarita,” Ward said. “So many of them have to leave for work. But in the most recent survey we asked how many people would want to work in the town if there was a job that matched their education and skill levels. And 66 percent said they would.”
Using Tucson Regional Economic Opportunities’ targeted industries – aerospace, biotechnology, solar and transportation – as a base, the town is looking to recruit companies where the workforce strengths are.
According to its strategic plan, Sahuarita has 10 percent of its workforce in management occupations, 9.25 percent in architecture and engineering occupations and 8.3 percent working in healthcare.
“We are also looking at our proximity to Mexico and what that might mean to our development,” Ward said. “We definitely have our work cut out for us.”
Ward said Sahuarita has been blessed with this growth due to the high quality of life and the value for the money paid.
“Rancho Sahuarita is the largest development in town and it provides so many options for people,” Ward said. “There is a lake within the community, which is an anomaly in Southern Arizona, and we stock it with fish. They have a park system, pool, clubhouse teen center and many more amenities that are family oriented. The town also has a great park system throughout town. We also have a great school district. We opened a second elementary school two years ago and we are opening a second high school in two years.”
Krawitz, with the Rancho Sahuarita Company, said he believes most people in the town agree with and are supportive of the vision of the future.
“It’s very important that all parties can see it and support it,” he said. “It’s a very attractive environment, but for it to work, you have to have the infrastructure to support it. There’s been both a public and private partnership to facilitate that growth.”
In the town’s concept plan for the future is a Town Center that will spread across 350 acres and have approximately three million square feet of office, multi-family, entertainment future medical services and the library.
“The town has also identified 16 sections, or 16 square miles to annex for long-term future growth,” Ward said. “The council has already approved a general plan amendment in Oct. along those lines.”
Ward said she does believe things will slow down for the town in 2009 and 2010, but expects the rapid growth to return in 2011.
“We are just hunkering down and getting our plans in place so we can capitalize on growth opportunities when the market turns around.”
Contact reporter Joe Pangburn at jpangburn@azbiz.com or at (520) 295-4259.
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