Gila County approves $5,000 to help sponsor governor's rural Arizona event

The Gila County Board of Supervisors on Jan. 27 approved a $5,000 economic development agreement with the Rim Country Regional Chamber of Commerce to help sponsor a governor-hosted "State of Rural Arizona" event in Pace.

Curtis Mattingly and Craig Swartwood, representing the Rim Country Chamber, told the board the event will bring state officials and a security entourage to northern Arizona and that the chamber was asking local governments to help sponsor meals and distribute tickets. "It's nonpartisan. It's no cheering, no booing. It's listening," Swartwood said.

County staff said the requested $5,000 would come from state revenue-sharing funds rather than local tax dollars. "It will be coming from our state revenue sharing. So it will be non-tax dollars," county staff member James told the board.

Supervisors discussed increasing the total sponsorship; several members offered to contribute additional amounts from their constituent funds if the board agreed to supplement the $5,000. The motion to fund the chamber was made and seconded, and the board approved the agreement by voice vote.

The board also assigned the county manager's office to handle ticket distribution for elected officials and staff, and asked that Gila County be acknowledged during the Feb. 25 event and given an opportunity for a brief county representative comment.

The decision was taken at the board meeting in Globe; staff and chamber representatives said they will follow up on logistics and ticket counts.