Economic Development Efforts Win City of Prescott Statewide Award

City of Prescott Economic Development Department team members have been honored by the Arizona Association for Economic Development.
City officials were presented a Golden Prospector Award in recognition of excellence, innovation and creativity in economic development. The award cited the introduction of the PrescottBiz.com website as a creative means to create more awareness of economic opportunities in the area.
Wendy Bridges, City of Prescott economic development coordinator, said the website was the result of the collective efforts of she and city Webmaster Kenny Scott, working with the development tool support from Dave Parcells and tech firm Localintel. She said staff spent hours in research and data gathering to be certain the website was comprehensive and informative.
“Our website is designed to be regularly updated as we receive new data and other information. Statistical data — demographics, trends and the like — are automatically uploaded from Localintel as they become available. Other content, such as ‘Prescott’s Best’ recipients and other stories, are manually added by our City staff,” Bridges said.
Bridges also explained the website expanded a rather common slogan — “Live Work Play” — by adding a fourth word, “Learn.” She said what makes Prescott unique from many smaller communities is that it is served by four institutions of higher education: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Northern Arizona University, Prescott College and Yavapai College.
“Golden Prospector Awards were established by the AAED to encourage and recognize economic development excellence,” said Joyce Grossman, the association’s executive director. The group, now 45 years old, has as its primary mission the assisting of Arizona communities and organizations in developing responsible economic development through professional education, public policy and collaboration.
The award was presented during formal luncheon activities as a part of the AAED’s multiday fall forum in Prescott in late October.