By Jon Johnson
SAFFORD — Community leaders from across the Gila Valley gathered Thursday morning for the annual “State of Economic Development in Graham County”, highlighting infrastructure improvements, new commercial and residential developments, and collaborative efforts to strengthen the local economy.
It was a refreshing sight for the movers and shakers in the audience to see all the community managers seemingly getting along and supporting one another. Safford City Manager Eric Bejarano showed a couple of examples of how Safford has reached from below the earth to the skies to help its neighbors, with the city’s assistance to Thatcher in relocating utility lines underground to flying its Li-DAR drone over Pima’s proposed park improvement area to capture needed data for its project, saving the town thousands of dollars.
Danny Smith, with the Graham Economic Partnership, opened the event by reflecting on the valley’s history of self-reliance and resilience while looking toward the future.
“I hope you enjoy the fun back 50 years on the newspapers on the table,” Smith said. “We are the beneficiaries of Graham Economic Partnership’s 24 years of studies on economic development, and we intend to do the work that is in those studies. In general, we are a resilient community, a resilient county, a resilient little Gila Valley. … We as a community have done some amazing things that we often don’t give ourselves credit for.”
Smith emphasized that economic development must come from within, citing past community achievements like Eastern Arizona College, the Mount Graham Regional Medical Center, and the Graham Development Corporation. He also previewed ongoing initiatives, including a new “Experience the Gila Valley” website and expanded social media efforts to attract visitors, workers, and businesses.
Pima Town Manager Vernon Batty detailed significant strides in his community despite lower per-capita sales tax revenue compared to neighboring towns. He reported a substantial jump in sales tax collections in 2024 and 2025, enabling key projects.
Batty celebrated new businesses, including the recent grand opening of Suds Up laundromat and an upcoming Circle K, which is expected to capitalize on increased truck traffic from Freeport-McMoRan’s operations.
“Thanks to grants, we are able to move forward and get a lot done,” Batty said. He highlighted renovations to the Pima pool, progress on a World War II memorial (set for dedication on Veterans Day), a new library, and major infrastructure like a new school road with Pima’s first stoplight and sewer upgrades. A $2 million grant will fund ball field revitalization, including pickleball courts and other amenities.
“Pima … is actually growing faster than the rest of the Valley and it’s growing faster than the state average,” Batty noted. “We need to be more self-sufficient, and that’s our goal.”
Thatcher Town Manager Heath Brown provided an upbeat overview of the town’s commercial and residential growth.
Recent completions include O’Reilly Auto Parts, a rebuilt Burger King, U-Haul storage and rental, Southwest American Credit Union, and Marriott TownePlace Suites. Under-construction or upcoming projects include an Eastern Arizona College Cosmetology Center and adjoining medical clinic, a Culver’s restaurant, a Circle K with high-speed pumps, and a new traffic signal.
On the residential side, Brown listed multiple subdivisions and the 78-unit Stadium Place Apartments.
Public projects include new ball field lighting, sidewalk improvements, Third Avenue widening, and power line burial. Future plans include enhancements to the recreation complex, pickleball courts, and wastewater treatment plant upgrades.
“I really enjoy seeing things develop and improve and look better,” Brown said. “It has been a fun past 12 months with things going on in the town of Thatcher.”
In his first major panel appearance as Safford’s permanent City Manager, Eric Bejarano stressed a holistic approach to economic development encompassing infrastructure, public safety, and recreation. He highlighted a new “how do we get to yes?” attitude at City Hall and promoted the Zoom Prospector tool on the city website for potential investors.
Bejarano showcased ongoing projects, including the Mayor Kouts Park development, Owens Family Park, customer service area remodeling, street maintenance, and major utility upgrades. The city’s library hosted nearly 9,000 visitors this spring, and the golf course is gaining a Top Tracer driving range and has opened “The Last Hole” outdoor event center, which has hosted weddings.
“Economic development … deals with infrastructure, public safety, recreation,” Bejarano said. “We have a new attitude at the city of Safford. … If you haven’t been by in the last six months, come and give us a chat.”
He also celebrated increased collaboration between valley communities.
Graham County Manager Dustin Welker focused on countywide economic indicators and major infrastructure and recreation projects. He presented sales tax data showing steady growth since 2019, driven by activity at Freeport-McMoRan and online sales tax collection reforms.
Key projects include the Tally Wash Bridge near the mine, Central Park improvements in Central with ramadas, sidewalks, and pickleball courts, and extensive upgrades at the Graham County Fairgrounds. These include new parking lots built with recycled materials (saving an estimated $1.5–2 million), building renovations, reclaimed-water infrastructure, and plans for additional sports fields, a dog park, and an action-sports area.
“Parks … [are] a huge part of economic development,” Welker said. “When Freeport is trying to recruit professionals, and the hospital is trying to get a doctor here … they really want to know what we have to offer.”
Sean Wenham, Social Performance Manager for Freeport-McMoRan Safford, provided an update on the company’s operations, which employ approximately 6,000 people across the region. The company is on track to produce 300 million pounds of cathode copper this year, supported by a fleet of haul trucks nearing 60.
Wenham noted recent leadership changes, including the retirement of Vicki Seppala and the return of Casey Clayton as General Manager of Safford Operations. He emphasized the company’s commitment to transparency and community partnership. During her final years at Safford, she notably led the site in earning the 2024 NIOSH Mine Safety and Health Technology Innovations Award for integrating robotic cathode stripping technology to reduce worker exposure to hazards.
Casey Clayton, who previously spent nearly four years at the site as the Operations Manager – Hydromet from 2017 to 2021, now returns as the General Manager.
“Our employment remains pretty close to 6,000 across the Graham County region,” Wenham said. “We want to be good stewards, not only of the resource but of the surrounding areas that we operate. … We’re stronger together than we are apart.”
The meeting underscored a shared sense of momentum across the Gila Valley, with leaders pointing to self-reliance, strategic investments, and inter-community cooperation as keys to continued economic vitality.
