Chamber hopes it can recruit college to area

The Green Valley Sahuarita Chamber of Commerce hopes to recruit institutions of higher learning to the community and is looking to the city of Goodyear as its model of success.

The Chamber hosted a luncheon Friday with Goodyear Mayor James Cavanaugh, who two years ago spearheaded a movement to recruit private colleges to Goodyear, a city of 58,000 just west of Phoenix, and the fourth fastest-growing suburban city in the nation.

So far, Goodyear has received commitments from three private liberal arts colleges: Franklin Pierce University of New Hampshire, San Antonio’s University of the Incarnate Word and Illinois University of St. Francis.

The city, already home to one public community college and an Arizona State University campus, plans to recruit up to three additional private institutions to create a consortium much like the prestigious Claremont Colleges, a Southern California institution made up of eight colleges with adjacent campuses.

The consortium would be part of Goodyear’s brand-new 200-acre downtown site, awarded the Arizona Planning Association’s “Best Project” in 2007.

Goodyear is also one of 17 finalists for the National Civic League’s All-American City Award.

Why the recognition?

“Because our community has demonstrated a real appreciation for education,” said Cavanaugh. “We believe it impacts the community and changes it for the better.

“Goodyear has a strategic plan to better their community by increasing the opportunities available to their citizens,” said Edie Webber, who heads up the Chamber’s Education Subcommittee.

“And like us, they are an incredibly fast-growing community. Green Valley will benefit from their example,” she said.

The colleges could be viewed as “a source of sustainability” for a community, said Cavanaugh. who says Goodyear’s population is expected to triple in the next 10 years.

“Growth is a catalyst for success, but you have to manage that growth responsibly,” he said.

The Chamber has been appealing to local corporations such as Raytheon, Caterpillar and Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold to get a feel for the types of institutions that would most benefit the area, but is still in the very early planning stages of the process, said Chamber President Jim DiGiacomo.

The Chamber will, however, be taking definitive steps within the year, he said, starting with a type of meet-and-greet conference to introduce prospective colleges to Green Valley, and vice versa.

“This will be an asset to everyone in the community,” DiGiacomo said.

jrichardson@gvnews.com | 547-9726