Pinal Partnership president briefs Florence council on county growth, water and energy priorities
Loading...
Summary
Craig McFarland, president and CEO of Pinal Partnership, updated the council on membership, county economic trends, water and energy committee work, and a regional transportation planning effort that will use ASU's Decision Theater.
Craig McFarland, president and CEO of the Pinal Partnership, updated the Florence Town Council on countywide economic and policy developments during the Oct. 21 meeting.
McFarland said Pinal Partnership now has more than 210 members across municipalities, industry and utilities and highlighted work by eight policy committees including economic development, transportation, water and energy. He described recent policy achievements, such as water legislation (including an Ag‑to‑Urban bill) and an energy/education breakfast. McFarland also said the Pinal County Decision Theater at ASU will help the Partnership develop a data-driven Pinal County Transportation Plan.
The presentation stressed regional growth trends — McFarland said the county could grow by roughly 32–40% over the next decade — and named several regional employers and projects affecting the county including Lucid, TSMC supply chains and multiple copper mining developments. He urged municipal participation in committees and noted the Partnership's new lobbying efforts to pursue transportation funding.
Council members thanked McFarland, highlighted the value of committee participation and urged outreach to state legislators to improve knowledge of Pinal County priorities in Phoenix.
