The Douglas community continues to show signs of growth during the recessionary economy. The city is investing in infrastructure and developing partnerships and progressive economic strategies to create and maintain a sustainable community. These economic development efforts, particularly the expansion of the Douglas Port of Entry, will be key to the development of a new Douglas.
In 2008, Advanced Call Center Technologies (ACT) chose Douglas as their fifth call center location. At full capacity, ACT will employ nearly 700 people and will be the area’s largest private-sector employer, with an average wage of $12 per hour. As of early 2010, ACT has reached 400 jobs, becoming the city’s largest private sector employer. In addition, ACT is occupying a renovated 40,000 square-foot former grocery building that had been vacant for more than 17 years and been blight on the 10th Street commercial area. Since its opening, five other businesses in close proximity have made substantial renovations to their storefronts and interiors.
The Economic Strength Grant program through the Arizona Department of Commerce provides funding to communities for road projects to assist businesses creating jobs in Arizona. The city was awarded a $275,000 Economic Strength Project grant for the widening and reconstruction of six road intersections near the ACT Call Center. That project is scheduled for completion in November 2010.
In late 2009, a new commercial development was completed that includes a 2,500 square-foot Carl’s Jr, a 5,500 square-foot commercial retail strip, and the opening of Falles Paredes, a National Stores Inc. apparel company. The new three-story, 45,000 square-foot Best Western hotel opened in November 2009. The 66-room hotel has a meeting room, swimming pool, Wi-Fi, Jacuzzi suites, and a fitness center.
In June 2010, the city and Cochise County reached an agreement on joint use of a renovated Phelps Dodge Mercantile building in the downtown area as a regional government service center. The renovation of this historic building, built in 1905, will be a key development in the economic revitalization of Douglas’ Central Business District. The county will move its justice court, public safety, and health services to the building. The city will locate a museum and a community center in its portion of the building. Additionally, in 2010 the city received grants to refurbish two 500,000-gallon water tanks, construct over 2 miles of curbs and sidewalks, and purchase a fully equipped new ambulance.
The city also received an Arizona Department of Transportation and U.S. Department of Transportation pledge of $3 million to complete commercial access to the Douglas Port of Entry. The expansion and configuration of the Douglas Port of Entry will continue to be a major project for Douglas and the region in the coming year. The feasibility study by the U.S. General Services Administration was completed in September 2007. The current schedule calls for port design in 2011-2012 and $60 million in infrastructure construction in 2014. The Douglas International Port Authority (DIPA) has been formed to serve as the leading agency for port infrastructure development. DIPA, a nonprofit public/private entity, is representative of Douglas-Agua Prieta port users, the City of Douglas, and Cochise County.
