Oro Valley Chamber of Commerce Presented by Dave Perry

Oro Valley Chamber of Commerce

 written by: Sharon McKniff

  Dave Perry, a past Rotarian, spoke about the Oro Valley Chamber of Commerce at our meeting on Thursday, February 21, 2013.  He stressed the inter-community cooperation between Saddlebrooke and Oro Valley.

 An Oro Valley economic development update handout was given to all tables at our meeting.  It outlined several new projects such as Securaplane Industries is planning to build a 55,000 square foot manufacturing and office facility at Tangerine and Innovation Park Drive.  This project would be the first new business within the Innovation Park economic expansion zone, and expects to be finalized in early October 2013.  Dave explained that “economic expansion zone” means that building permits and zoning are expedited to attract new businesses to the area.  One of the earlier businesses to move into this “economic expansion zone” is Ventana Medical Systems.  “People want to be next to Ventana,” Dave said, as Ventana is a huge talent pool with many PhD’s and forward-thinking people.

   Dave shared that Oro Valley is spending 5.2 million dollars to upgrade a local pool.  The 2014 National Synchronized swim event will be held here.  There is a first-class archery facility at Naranja Park.  Additionally, an LA Fitness center is being constructed at Oracle and Hardy, together with several apartment projects.  Single family houses are up from 45 in the past year to over 225 new homes.  Oro Valley is looking to adopt the area called Arroyo Grande in order to build many new homes and attending businesses. 

  The theme of the Oro Valley Chamber of Commerce is often “if you don’t try to grow, you’re going to get smaller.”  The Chamber of Commerce has been in existence for about 20 years.

   Dave opened the meeting to questions.  In answer to a question by one of our members, the formerly Ikes Grocery Store is being converted to a dinner theater, along the lines of the Gaslight Theater in central Tucson.  Another question involving Raytheon indicated that Pima County has the same mind-set at Oro Valley and they are looking to protect the “tech-type corridor” in southern Tucson because many of us depend on Raytheon for employment, vendor business, and other businesses.  In answer to another good question, Dave shared that Tangerine Road will experience major development, including widening to possibly six lanes, and many new businesses along the entire corridor all the way out to I-10. 

  Please feel free to browse the Chamber’s website at:   orovalleychamber.com  to learn more about this busy and future-thinking organization.