La Paz County Board endorses Courtside/Quartzsite tract for Opportunity Zone 2 recommendation

The La Paz County Board of Supervisors voted to recommend that the state designate the Courtside (Quartzsite-area) census tract as the county's Opportunity Zone 2, following a presentation from the La Paz Economic Development Corporation and statements of local support from Quartzsite officials and civic groups.

Zafar Gensch, introduced by the chair as EDC president, briefed the board on Opportunity Zone 2 criteria and the program's intent to attract capital gains investment for infrastructure, business and housing projects. Gensch said the Courtside/Quartzsite tract appeared most infrastructure-ready and that some investors had already expressed interest. "It is the most infrastructure ready, the most potential for investors to come in and already have the interest," he told the board.

Quartzsite Town Manager Jim Ferguson and representatives from the Quartzsite Women's Club and the Quartzsite Chamber urged the board to back the Courtside tract. "We ask for your formal support for advancing census tract 04012020503 as an opportunity zone," Ferguson said, noting the tract's strategic location at Interstate 10 and existing infrastructure needs.

Supervisors clarified that Parker did not qualify for the recommended tract boundaries and discussed the geographic makeup of candidate tracts. After brief discussion, the chair moved to recommend the Courtside tract to the state; the motion was seconded and carried by voice vote.

Next steps: the board's recommendation will be forwarded to the Arizona Commerce Authority/state officials for final selection as part of the Opportunity Zone 2 process, and local partners signaled readiness to support housing and infrastructure projects if designation is confirmed.