State of the Town

Everyone knows I love talking about Marana. The State of the Town Luncheon crowd on April 13 proves that there also are a lot of people who like hearing about our community.

The event was a sellout, with 400 people from across the region coming to the beautiful Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain. I believe we gave the attendees more than enough good news for them to leave the luncheon even more excited about living or doing business in Marana.

The speech was framed around the Town’s Strategic Plan II and how our Council and management use it in all the decisions we make. The plan’s five focus areas – commerce, community, heritage, progress/innovation and recreation – remain the same as when the original version was adopted in 2009.

What has changed are the plan’s priorities. The world has changed in many ways over the past three years and Strategic Plan II reflects that fact. We incorporated the feedback we received from our residents and business owners during community forums and open houses earlier this year.

We also highlighted the many ways in which we work with our neighbors, especially Oro Valley, Sahuarita and Tucson. When one community is successful, we all win.

We talked about our strong bonds with community partners, including the Marana Health Center, Marana Unified School District, Marana Heritage Conservancy, Community Food Bank, the Northwest and Avra Valley fire districts. All of these groups provide important services that improve the experience of living in Marana.

The Town appreciates the Marana Chamber of Commerce for all its work in organizing the event. We also owe a debt of gratitude to the Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain for hosting for the third consecutive year.

The event happens only through the support of local industry. The Chamber and Town thank Signature Sponsor CalPortland and the many other great businesses that contribute to the State of the Town’s success.

We are lucky to live in such a beautiful part of the world where the possibilities for success are endless. The many people who serve the Town do everything they can to ensure that future generations have opportunities to experience all we have come to love about Marana. I look forward to continuing to report this community’s many highlights both at the State of the Town and throughout the year.