More than 200 community members heard sobering news on Wednesday, Nov. 12, as they gathered for an informational and collaborative event, Solving the Housing Shortfall, hosted by Arizona Town Hall and Yavapai County Contractors Association. Partner and Senior Economist Daniel Court, of Elliott D. Pollack and Company, presented data from a number of grim Arizona housing needs assessments. Yavapai County’s median income of $66,000 only qualifies for a $240,000 mortgage, well below average … [Read more...] about The Search for the ‘Missing Middle’ in Yavapai County’s Housing Market
Yavapai County
National Rule Changes Creating Hiring, Retention Challenges in Yavapai County
In 2025, a series of new federal human resources policies reshaped how employers nationwide manage hiring, retention, workplace culture and compliance. These changes were designed to streamline government operations but have created ripple effects far beyond Washington – touching both public and private employers in Yavapai County. Key policy shifts include: Reduction of federal diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility (DEIA) requirements for agencies and contractors. … [Read more...] about National Rule Changes Creating Hiring, Retention Challenges in Yavapai County
Yavapai County Employment Report Shows Growth Across All Sectors with a Positive Outlook
Yavapai County continues to demonstrate robust job growth and economic resilience, with total employment in October reaching 72,300, according to data from the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO). This represents a year-over-year increase of 1,400 jobs, a 2% rise, highlighting the region’s steady economic progress. The average weekly wage for workers in the county stands at $993, offering competitive earnings within the region. The county’s unemployment rate dropped to 3.3% in October, … [Read more...] about Yavapai County Employment Report Shows Growth Across All Sectors with a Positive Outlook
Being Aware of Employment Trends
In the latest release from the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO), November 2023 employment trends showcase encouraging developments, with Yavapai County leading the way in several key indicators. The information gathered from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Current Employment Statistics (CES) and Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) programs provides insights into employment patterns through November 2023. It is essential to highlight the incorporation of not-seasonally adjusted … [Read more...] about Being Aware of Employment Trends
Land Auction Sets Stage for Glassford Dells Regional Park
Representatives of the Town of Prescott Valley, the City of Prescott, and Yavapai County gathered on Tuesday, Nov. 21 at the Yavapai County Courthouse in Prescott for the long-awaited auction of nearly 2,300 acres of land on Glassford Hill between the two communities. The open space is planned for a regional park through an intergovernmental agreement with the two municipalities and the county. Those attending the historic auction also included State Representative Selina Bliss, Senator Ken … [Read more...] about Land Auction Sets Stage for Glassford Dells Regional Park
Understanding Labor Market Trends in Yavapai County
Yavapai County has its own unique labor trends and characteristics. General information about labor trends in Yavapai County are based on historical information from September 2021 to the present. Yavapai County has a diverse economy, with multiple sectors driving employment. Some of the significant industries in the region include health care, tourism, education, government, retail, construction and manufacturing. The healthcare sector is a major employer in Yavapai County. The county has … [Read more...] about Understanding Labor Market Trends in Yavapai County
Planning for Transportation Needs into the Future
Welcome to “At Home With Tom and Sandy.” This month, Tom and I thought we would take a “road trip” as we veer away from our normal column. Settle in. This is going to be wonderful! Sandy: Hi Tom! Happy April! For our detour topic this month, I have invited Mr. Vincent, or, as we all know him to be, Vinny Gallegos, to talk with us this month. Vinny is the executive director of the Central Yavapai Metropolitan Planning Organization, (CYMPO). Tom: Excellent, welcome Vinny! Vinny: Greetings … [Read more...] about Planning for Transportation Needs into the Future
New Year, New Career, New Focus
As we begin 2023, it is a good time to reflect on the past year as a benchmark to set our sights for planning innovative economic strategies. Yavapai County began 2022 with a labor force of 106,288 (ages 16+). Active employment was 103,202 – a difference of 3,086 (unemployment). The official January 2022 Unemployment Rate was 2.9%. Fast-forward to the latest data available as of this writing – the October 2022 labor force increased to 108,343 (+2,055), but the actual employment only … [Read more...] about New Year, New Career, New Focus
Our Public Schools Do Not Need to be the Poorest of the Poor
The “poorest of the poor” sadly describes the inadequate funding of many, if not all, of Yavapai County’s public school districts. Unfortunately, this is the reality for Prescott, Humboldt and Chino Valley Unified districts, Mingus Union High School district and Clarkdale-Jerome Elementary district. Alarmingly, this does not have to be the case. When I state that Chino Valley Unified School District and other schools in Yavapai County are the “poorest of the poor,” I reference two sources, … [Read more...] about Our Public Schools Do Not Need to be the Poorest of the Poor
Sinema Highlights Historic Infrastructure Investments for Yavapai County
Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema hosted a roundtable with local leaders from across Yavapai County to discuss the region’s infrastructure funding priorities – including wildfire mitigation, water security, and transportation expansion – as she works to implement historic investments from her bipartisan infrastructure law. “We’re working hand-in-hand with leaders across Yavapai County to ensure our bipartisan infrastructure law’s investments in wildfire mitigation and recovery, … [Read more...] about Sinema Highlights Historic Infrastructure Investments for Yavapai County
