REX SCOTT

Vice Chair
Pima County Supervisor
District 1

What is the one thing that stands out to you as a success for Sun Corridor Inc. over its 20 years? 

The representation of so many important parts of our community within its membership makes me extremely proud to be part of Sun Corridor. Academia, business, government, healthcare and social services are all included in our membership. Each member knows that we can achieve so much more on behalf of our region by working in partnership. The broad-based commitment to collaboration and regionalism evident in the diverse composition of our membership sends a strong message to site selectors and others who want to expand or locate their business in Southern Arizona. It also gives them a powerful sense of all the entities that will contribute to the outstanding quality of life their employees will enjoy when this is their home.

Why are you involved in Sun Corridor Inc?

Pima County has a longstanding partnership with Sun Corridor and its members since its inception. We are proud to be substantial financial supporters of the work of the organization. Recent changes made by the board of supervisors to the county’s Economic Development Strategic Plan enhanced its regional focus and will make the county, cities and towns more competitive for federal grants in support of each jurisdiction’s economic development efforts. Striving alongside Sun Corridor and our municipal partners to bring more major employers to our region is just one way that Pima County fulfills its leadership role in growing our local economy.

What’s the biggest opportunity for the region?

It is an honor to represent Pima County on the nine-member Regional Transportation Authority Board. My colleagues include the mayors of our five cities and towns, the chairs of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe and the Tohono O’odham Nation and the governor’s Southern Arizona representative to the Arizona State Transportation Board. We recently voted to send a draft RTA Next plan out for public review with the intent to have voters consider its adoption next year. It is vital that we have an RTA Next plan in place to cover the next 20-year period. The implications for our regional transportation infrastructure and economic development efforts if we fail to put a new plan in place would be disastrous.

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