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Real AZ presentation draws strong support and sharp criticism at Navajo County meeting
Summary
Navajo County's economic development director outlined Real AZ's regional strategy and recent wins, and public comment that followed split between municipal leaders praising jobs and residents demanding investigations, moratoria and greater county oversight.
Chris Pastors, Navajo County's economic development director, told the Board of Supervisors that Real AZ is an "informal regional economic development organization" that promotes and assists businesses across Navajo and Apache counties, and that it has helped recruit 38 companies and supported projects ranging from a housing manufacturer to a small carbon-utility firm.
Pastors said Real AZ operates as a program of the county's Economic Development office and is funded through a mix of membership dues, grant support and an initial county allocation of American Rescue Plan Act dollars. "This area is open for business," Pastors said, describing efforts to market workforce, private land and infrastructure to prospective investors and to coordinate federal and state funding for local projects.
The presentation prompted an extended public-comment period during which local elected officials and business leaders praised the group's networking, site-selection and workforce work. "Real AZ presents a really special, open, transparent, collaborative forum," said Jesse Groner, CEO of Triple Oak Power, who said his company appreciates Real AZ's role in shaping proposals and partnerships.
But many residents urged the board to investigate Real AZ and to impose moratoria on large renewable projects. Speakers alleged opaque finances, possible conflicts of interest and environmental risks from solar, battery and wind projects. "It is time to completely shut down any remaining influence Real AZ has in our county and demand a full accounting of where that money went," one resident told the board. Several callers also repeated complaints about the county's 2024 election operations and urged precinct-level hand counts in 2026.
Supervisors responded by urging legal staff to review any asserted violations while describing the limits of county authority. "Private property rights matter," one supervisor said, noting that the county cannot bar private landowners from engaging with prospective businesses but can enforce ordinances and require mitigation. Several supervisors asked staff to follow up on the public comments and asked legal staff to flag any potential legal problems.
What happens next: Supervisors asked staff and the county attorney to review the issues raised about Real AZ and to notify the board if any legal or statutory concerns are found. The meeting record shows no formal action to change Real AZ's structure or funding at this session.
