River Cities Business Journal: Cover Story

Who doesn't find the idea of shopping for boats, cars, RVs, motorcycles, ATVs and big screen televisions interesting?

The only problem is I came away with a list of toys I want and I don't think Santa Claus is going to bring me any of them.

It started when I saw a 1957 Willys pickup.

I love old pickup trucks, but although I've had some pretty well used pickups I've never had what could be called a classic.

But, the Willys is out of the question. I'd have to give up either the family car or my pickup for an old truck that isn't very fast, is difficult to get parts for and doesn't have air conditioning. When I went by the bank in Bullhead City today the temperature said 117. I want AC.

Next it was a motorcycle.

It was gorgeous.

But, not only do the same things that apply to the Willys apply to the bike, but there are other issues as well.

I already have a number of what can be called “big boys toys.”

So if I got a motorcycle would I have to give up my hay burner (horse)? My horses are like part of the family.

Anyway, the list goes on. There is the ATV that is a street legal dune buggy, the pontoon boat and that 40-inch plasma TV.

But, if I get those things I have to pass on the new Nikon lens and a host of other smaller things that really do top my list of want/needs.

It was a fun theme and entertaining to work on, though.

However, the real education, as usual, came from the more serious stories I worked on this month.

If there was a surprising fact that came to light it was when Carol Smith-Carter of the Mohave County Drug Education & Prevention Program came by the office.

The program is coming up with some new approaches and new ideas to combat drug abuse (see New approach to combat drugs, Page 15).

But, when she pulled out a sheet of Arizona drug abuse statistics one thing jumped out at me.

“The state average for meth use is 4.3 percent.”

That is exactly the same number as the unemployment rate in Mohave County.

Coincidence? I wonder.

Another thing that really caught my attention was from the construction industry.

I've spoken to quite a few people involved in commercial construction in the past few months.

They are all very enthusiastic about the market in the county.

The Bullhead City area is seeing a fair bit of commercial construction with the mall where Target will be and a dozen new buildings in the offing at the airport.

Jim Nelson, of Nelson Development, LLC, (see Developer finds ready market, Page 12) had 35 percent occupancy slated for a building that broke ground two weeks before I spoke with him. He said that was a first for him. He had never had such a quick response.

More positive notes include Colorado Place announcing about 10 new tenants in the past two months.

And El Rio Professional Plaza is filling out 35,000 square feet in three buildings very quickly in Mohave Valley.

Kingman and Lake Havasu City are seeing similar growth in commercial properties, which can only be a good sign for the housing market.

As I have discussed with several builders, when the housing market booms it will be followed by a slump. Then commercial construction will boom to serve all the new residents.

That means more jobs. More jobs mean people are needed to work at them.

That, in turn, means more houses will be sold and that market will rebound.

It may already be happening in Havasu.

Home sales jumped upward 27 percent in May.

Whether we're about to see a rebound in the housing market or not, we almost certainly are due for an influx of new residents.

With all the commercial construction that is going on a lot of new jobs are being created.

Remember that 4.3 percent unemployment rate? People who work in the job market tell me that means just about all the people who really want a job are working.

That means most of the people who will take the new jobs in the county are going to have to come from somewhere else.

And that means continued economic growth.

And that is good for the whole region.

Ric Swats is the editor of the River Cities Business Journal. His opinions are his own and may not necessarily reflect the views of Journal. He may be reached at (928) 704-6245 or by e-mail at rcbj@npgcable.com