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(From left) Chamber Executive Director Ian Ellison, Carefree Mayor Wayne Fulcher, Cave Creek Vice Mayor Gilbert Lopez and Chamber President Dave Karsten hold the key to the Governor’s Rural Development Conference, scheduled to be held in the Carefree/Cave Creek area next September. About 1,000 economic development professionals are expected to attend the annual conference, which Gov. Janet Napolitano also is expected to attend.
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Carefree to host governor’s conference
by Brian DiTullio

CAREFREE – The Carefree/ Cave Creek Chamber of Commerce will host the annual Governor’s Rural Development Conference in September 2008.

Chamber Executive Director Ian Ellison made this announcement along with Chamber President Dave Karsten, Carefree Mayor Wayne Fulcher and Cave Creek Vice Mayor Gilbert Lopez Tuesday morning at the chamber offices in Carefree.

The event is overseen and funded by the Arizona Department of Commerce and the Arizona Association for Economic Development.

“This is the Olympics of economic development,” Ellison said . “This is the big one.”

As part of the conference, to be held at the Carefree Resort Sept. 10‑12, 2008, each town will be hosting an event on separate evenings. This event is not funded by the commerce department or economic development department, but Fulcher and Lopez indicated fundraising or sponsorship probably would cover the costs. As a contingency, the event will be put in next year’s town budgets.

“We’re going to form a planning committee soon,” Fulchersaid, indicating that could happen within the next few weeks with a definite plan of action by the end of the year. Councilman Bob Gemmill, who attended this year’s conference in Oro Valley along with Fulcher, probably would be named the Carefree Town Council’s liaison on the committee.

Lopez said Cave Creek Councilwoman Kim Brennan probably would be the Cave Creek liaison on the committee.

“This conference provides incredible opportunity for Arizona’s community and economic development leaders to share the best practices, collaborate, and focus on solutions for the nation’s fastest growing state,” said Jan Lesher, director of the Arizona Department of Commerce, in a press release.

Two awards are presented at the conference. The Governor’s Excellence Awards recognize community and tribal projects that show partnership, leadership and innovation. The Arizona Main Street awards honor outstanding foundation building where work to preserve historic structures and heritage occurs while improving the economic vitality of the corridors.

“This is the biggest conference the state puts on,” Ellison said.

“I think this is a great opportunity for Cave Creek and Carefree to show what we have to offer as far as attractive venues for visiting tourists,” Fulcher said.

“We have a constant need of keeping business healthy,” said Lopez. “This is a way.”

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