Governor delivers State of the State in Yuma
Ducey touches on water, military and veteran issues, rural jobs
Gov. Doug Ducey delivered his State of the State address in Yuma on Tuesday, touching on some issues important to the region, such as securing the future of water, military and veteran issues, and growing jobs in rural Arizona.
The Yuma County Chamber of Commerce and Greater Yuma Economic Development Corp. hosted the governor for the event that took place at Arizona Western College.
“We realize that there are needs outside of the great state of Maricopa and the focus on rural Arizona will be a real part of this budget,” he said.
“I’m proud to report to you today that the state of our state is strong, and the best part is, it’s only getting better,” he said. “Our reputation has never been better than it is today, our reputation and our relationship with Mexico has never been stronger.”
He noted the passing of the United States Mexico Canada Agreement, the free trade agreement commonly known as USMCA, which Congress recently passed. “I want to say thank you to the people in this room who have helped pave the way for more ‘Made in Yuma’ goods to be sold across North America,” Ducey said.
“My sincere thanks go to the voices in this community and the people on the Arizona Mexico Commission who are so valuable to that relationship with the state of Sonora and the nation of Mexico,” he added, specifically signaling out commission board members Russ Jones, Julie Engel and Jonathan Lines.
MILITARY
Ducey gave “special thanks” to Col. Ross Poppenburger, commander of the Yuma Proving Ground, and Col. David Suggs, commander of Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, for their
leadership at Yuma’s military installations.
The governor also asked all active military members and retired veterans to rise “so we can recognize and honor your service.”
Ducey then announced a tax break for the 600,000 veterans in Arizona as a way to “give back to those we can all agree have sacrificed the most.”
He explained: “We have a goal to make Arizona home base to veterans everywhere in the nation, from California to New York State, and our budget does this by eliminating all state income taxes on our veterans’ military pensions once and for all.”
He then asked attendees to help him make sure it happens: “I need you to let the state Legislature know to not screw around with this one and just get it passed because it’s the right thing to do.”
He noted another way that the state is honoring veterans: “Our $1 million investment in the Be Connected program from last year will continue. A new veterans home is under construction, there’s actually two in the state, and one of them is right here in Yuma.”
In addition, he explained that he’s working with Rep. Joanne Osborne to get rid of occupational licensing fees for veterans and their spouses.
ROAD TO YPG AND SAN LUIS PORT
Ducey mentioned infrastructure investments “to help this community thrive,” including a $28 million project to widen three miles of Highway 95 between Yuma and Yuma Proving Ground from two lanes to five.
Locals have long been urging the state to widen the road, noting that it’s too congested, especially during the morning and evening times when YPG workers go into and leave work.
The governor also mentioned the San Luis Port of Entry, noting that in December the federal government approved $152 million in funding to modernize the facilities. He thanked Gerardo Sanchez, mayor of San Luis, Arizona, for his support. “You have been a partner in everything that we’re trying to produce in Arizona, you’ve been a true leader for our state, and I want you to know how grateful we are,” Ducey said.
RURAL JOBS AND BROADBAND
Ducey announced the Rural Jobs Initiatives, noting there are currently 2,000 manufacturing jobs available outside of Maricopa and Pima counties.
He said that the state budget includes more than $2 million for Arizona Western College to bolster efforts in getting rural jobs filled.
“We want to see the jobs that are possible in this part of the state, so we’ve got a plan to fill these vital jobs in our rural communities,” he said. “We want to get them filled and attract even more.”
Noting that rural areas still lack high-speed internet, the governor touted a $50 million investment in Smart Highway Corridors to install broadband along rural interstates.
“This year we’re going to triple our investment in rural broadband grants to get all of Arizona logged on, including rural Arizona,” he said.
SECURING WATER
Ducey also touched “on something that this community is better than anyone else in the nation, and that’s water innovation.” Last year, he said, the Drought Contingency Plan was passed “with a lot of help, advice and counsel from leaders in this community which made it a better plan.”
He thanked senators Lisa Otondo and Sine Kerr and representatives Tim Dunn and Osborne, Yuma water attorney Wade Noble, the Yuma agriculture community and others for their “efforts on this historic agreement.”
“It would not have happened without their involvement, so thank you,” Ducey said. “And rest assured, we’re never going to check the box on water, we’re going to continue to focus on it in a strategic ongoing way. We’re going to protect Lake Mead, the Colorado River, groundwater and our ag jobs.”
AMBERLY’S PLACE
Ducey said he and his wife, Angela, were impressed by what they saw during a visit to Amberly’s Place, a family advocacy center that helps victims of abuse in Yuma County.
“I just want to say that Angela and I are grateful for the work and example to all of us. I want to say a special thank you to Diane Umphress, who’s the executive director of Amberly’s Place. She does a fantastic job,” he said.
He noted that Yuma should be “very proud” of the way the government, the private sector, the faithbased communities, law enforcement, mental health professionals, pastors and priests “come together to make a real difference for our most vulnerable.”
Other topics that Ducey touched on included K-12 and civics education, the elimination of regulations, a pledge for no new taxes, mental health, and more.
He concluded the address by noting that Yuma is an example for others in the nation. “Let’s not look to Washington, D.C., for direction. If you’re looking for an example to follow, you need to look no further than right here in the community of Yuma, from the bravery in the service of Yuma’s veterans and service members to the dedication of our teachers and the difference that they’re making inside our classrooms,” Ducey said.
“From the tenacity of the business people that are here to the hardworking farmers who export their products all over the world to feed Americans and people all over the globe to the care and compassion that you see in a place like Amberly’s. The best of Yuma is the very best of the state of Arizona. So please keep up the great work. We call it the Arizona Way.”