River Cities Business Journal: Cover Story

River Cities Business Journal

March was an amazing month for Mohave County. So many good things happened during the month it should be commemorated in some way.

The most noticeable things were the malls that opened in Bullhead City and in Lake Havasu City.

In one two-week period in March Kohl's, Target and Office Depot opened in Bullhead City.

During the same time frame J.C. Penney and Dillard's opened in Lake Havasu City.

These five stores brought in about 1,000 new jobs and more importantly filled a gap by offering more shopping opportunities locally. Fewer people will now feel they have to travel to Las Vegas to shop for clothes or household goods.

In a normal month that would be enough to get excited about, but March was no normal month.

Dick Adams, head of the Bullhead Regional Economic Development Authority, let the cat out of the bag about two new bottling companies plan to locate in the Tri-State Business Park in Fort Mohave when he spoke at the “State of the Community” presentation.

Then we have North American Pipe Corporation buying property in Yucca where it plans to build a PVC manufacturing facility.

Then there is the deal struck between Northern Arizona University and Mohave Community College. The dual enrollment program means students can stay in the county, attend MCC, pay MCC tuition and earn a four-year degree from NAU.

It also bestows upon the students all the privileges of NAU students like access to the NAU library and counselors - or student prices for football or basketball tickets.

But, the best thing for Mohave County is that it now has de facto four-year schools at four community college campuses - at community college tuition rates.

Good news just popped up everywhere I went and with nearly every conversation.

NationWide Homes sold the last of its 350 houses in Laughlin Ranch.

That goes along well with what I've heard from Realtors and brokers. Most Realtors I've talked to said they've been busier in the last month.

A mortgage broker I spoke to said they've been busier lately than they have been in a long time.

Then there is the development of the Havasu Air Center. The pipes are in, the retaining walls are up, the concrete is poured. It won't be long at all before walls go up and that means it won't be long before the $8 million project comes to fruition.

The foundation has been laid for a stronger future for Mohave County and much of it fell into place in March.

Our young people can grow up and get a college education at home.

Soon there will be very little reason left to have to leave the county for shopping.

Thousands of new jobs will be created. Some won't pay as well as others, but some will pay very well.

Manufacturing is coming to Fort Mojave and Yucca and bringing with it hundreds of jobs that will pay a livable wage.

It isn't happening tomorrow, but it is happening.

We have to wait four years for those college degree holders to hit the work force.

We have to wait until later in the year for all the stores to open in the malls.

We have to wait until buildings can be built in Yucca and Fort Mojave.

But, I've got to say - the future may have never looked brighter for the economy in Mohave County than it does right now.