Vision 2024 includes protecting water and open space, ensuring a high quality of life, attracting high-wage jobs.
The motivation for the first-ever event, a partnership between the Prescott Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Town, was a desire to bring business and community leaders together and showcase the positive things taking place in Prescott Valley.
“It was also an opportunity to recognize outstanding individuals and groups who are contributing in positive ways to make Prescott Valley an even better community,” said Prescott Valley Town Manager Gilbert Davidson.
Chamber CEO Marnie Uhl said the event replaced the Chamber’s first Quarterly Breakfast of the year, which annually was an economic development update. This year’s larger event focused on the vibrant PV economy and was open to a regional audience.
Davidson said it is common for cities and towns to partner with their chambers for such events because of the business community’s vital importance to any municipality. “It is the businesses that create jobs and provide wages, which enables our residents to live and enjoy the community in which they live.”
Town and Chamber staff began planning the 2024 State of the Town nearly a year in advance, and every part was carefully scripted to create an event that would leave attendees with excitement about Prescott Valley’s future.
A business expo in the Findlay Toyota Center concourse preceded the event. The entrance to the luncheon and program began with specially selected music as attendees found their decorated tables and then filled their plates with a lunch catered by Jim Cabral of Gabby’s Family of Restaurants.
The program began with one of three video presentations created by the Town of Prescott Valley communications team and continued with posting of the colors by an honor guard made up of the Prescott Valley Police Department, Central Yavapai Fire and Medical Authority, Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office, and a bagpiper with the Arizona Emerald Society.
Prescott Valley Police Officer April Zicopolous sang the National Anthem, and PVPD Chaplain Jerry Ferguson gave the invocation.
The Prescott Valley Town Council honored the Prescott Valley Chamber of Commerce on its 50 year anniversary, presenting the organization with a special frame of photos celebrating the Chamber’s four largest annual community events. This was followed by Uhl’s comments on the Chamber’s history and business support in the Town, and remarks by Chamber Board Chairman Rodney Jenkins.
More video presentations highlighted the theme of “OurPV,” which included remarks from Town Council and community members about the unique qualities of Prescott Valley.
Mayor Kell Palguta gave the keynote address at the event. “This is an opportunity for our business and non-profit leaders, builders and contractors, educators, government officials and members of our community to come together to reflect on the shared successes and imagine the possibilities of the future,” he said.
Palguta’s address introduced the Town’s new Vision 2024 plan, which outlines strategic goals for the next two years, the second such set of goals since Davidson came on board as town manager in 2021. Vision 2024 includes four focus areas: a high performing team, water and land stewardship, quality of life, and a prosperous community.
The address featured Prescott Valley’s enhanced community events, the historic collaborative regional effort that led to the purchase of 2,284 acres of property on Glassford Hill for the creation of Glassford Dells Regional Park, and the Town’s new initiatives and policies to manage its water resources and significant investments in roads and parks. The Town also unveiled its new tourism website, explorepvaz.com, during the event.
Finally, Palguta talked about significant milestones in the community such as the upcoming YMCA, the planned Yavapai College health services campus, the expansion of Yavapai Regional Medical Center/Dignity Health campus in Prescott Valley, and business expansions of Superior Industries, M&I Windows, Amazon, Granite Mountain Design, PrintPack, and AZ Motorcycles.
“I’m happy to report that the state of our town is strong, it is vibrant, and it is filled with boundless potential,” Palguta said.
“The business community appreciated getting an inside look at the Town through the mayor’s presentation and engaging with local community leaders,” said Uhl. “We look forward to growing the State of the Town and making it the event everyone wants to attend.”
“This inaugural event was a tremendous success,” said Davidson. “We were able to create an excitement about our community and its future, celebrate the Chamber’s 50 years of service and highlight some very exciting initiatives, projects and collaborations, not only in Prescott Valley but across the region.” QCBN
By Heidi Dahms Foster, QCBN
View the entire State of the Town event on Prescott Valley’s YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mc7XkJewW4&t=5s.
Photo courtesy of Blushing Cactus Photography: Prescott Valley Councilmembers Michael Greer, Kendall Schumacher, Brenda Dickinson, April Hepperle and Lucy Leyva join Prescott Valley Chamber of Commerce CEO Marnie Uhl and Chamber Board Chair Rodney Jenkins in celebration of the Chamber’s 50th anniversary as Prescott Valley Vice Mayor Lori Hunt addresses more than 400 people in attendance from the podium.