PARTNERSHIP FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
PED aims to foster entrepreneur, creative professional, small business, and corporate growth in Lake Havasu City, AZ.
PROJECTS + ACCOLADES
Nomadic
COWORK SPACE
Nomadic is Lake Havasu City's premier coworking space. Established as part of the Vision 20/20 Plan, it offers a modern 9,100 sqft facility designed to support entrepreneurs, freelancers, and remote workers. Amenities include high-speed Wi-Fi, conference rooms, a photography/videography studio, and a podcast studio. Nomadic provides various membership options, from day passes to dedicated desks and private offices.
First Friday
DOWNTOWN CULTURE INITIATIVE
First Friday Havasu is a monthly event held on the first Friday of each month, from September through May. Established six years ago, the initiative was created to bring attention to the downtown area by showcasing local artisans, merchants, and pop-up boutiques. The event features over 60+ vendors offering a variety of handmade goods and vintage items. In addition to the artisan market, First Friday Havasu includes live music, art demonstrations, and interactive activities, fostering a vibrant community atmosphere.
DOWNTOWN EVENT CENTER
DOWNTOWN CULTURE
The Downtown Catalyst Project was identified as part of the City’s Vision 20/20 Plan. This plan was a major contributing factor to the city winning second place in the Frontier Communications America’s Best Communities (ABC) competition.
The downtown event center will host premiere events like Desert Storm and Winterfest, along with community events such as First Friday. This project is scheduled to be open in April 2025.
Allo Fiber
FIBER OPTIC INTERNET
PED played a pivotal role in bringing high-speed fiber internet to Lake Havasu City. Working under the direction of City Manager Jess Knudson, PED was able to bring key players to the table, including the Arizona State Director of Broadband, industry leaders, and create introductions to other utility companies in our community. PED provided site location services for offices and ultimately leased construction lay down yards for the City wide fiber buildout.
PMG Manufacturing Inc./ Nugsmasher
BUSINESS EXPANSION & RELOCATION
NugSmasher, part of PMG Manufactoring Inc, renowned for its high-quality rosin extraction systems, expanded its operations to Lake Havasu City, Arizona. PED assisted with the property rezone of the 100,000 square foot facility from retail to a planned development that would allow for advanced manufacturing. PED was instrumental in getting PMG Industries Arizona State incentives of $2.3 million dollars in the Qualified Facility program and Quality Jobs program.
Shops at Lake Havasu
RETAIL NODE RESCUE
The Shops at Lake Havasu were in significant financial stress in late 2018. The owners of the property were losing $400,000 annually and were ready to move toward bankruptcy. The property owner offered to donate the property to PED. PED then created a $400,000 opportunity fund, and rezone to C-2 general commercial activity. The majority of the property was sold to PF Opportunity Fund with 40,000+square feet to Our Pampered Home. PF Opportunity Fund is currently opening the Lake Havasu Community Health Center along with bringing in other companies and operators to the space.
Vision 20/20
America’s Best Communities
2ND PLACE
In 2016, the Partnership for Economic Development proudly helped secure second place in Frontier Communications' prestigious America's Best Communities competition. PED was the lead organization in planning community wide town halls for stakeholder input, writing the revitalization plan with Chabin Concepts, and submitting all contest submissions. The competition awarded $2.2 million for community projects. PED was proud to have helped lead a truly community wide win!
Frito Lay
DISTRIBUTION CENTER
Frito-Lay, a leading snack food manufacturer, expanded its operations in Lake Havasu City. PED worked with Crosland Barnes from South Carolina to create a new and expanded distribution facility in the Agave Business Park. The formal agreement was in May 2021 with the facility construction beginning later that year. The new facility was opened in 2022.
Lake Havasu Community Health Center
COMMUNITY HEALTH
Community Health Development Partners (CHDP) is developing the Lake Havasu Community Health Center (CHC). The facility will repurpose 17,063 square feet of a long-vacant shopping center into an ambulatory surgical center featuring four operating rooms, two procedure rooms, a catheterization lab, and 14 pre- and post-recovery beds. An additional 27,717 square feet will be transformed into a medical office building with exam and procedure rooms, as well as community space. The Health Center is scheduled to opening in 2025.
Start-Up School
ENTREPRENUER DEVELOPMENT
Start-Up School was an innovative program designed to empower aspiring entrepreneurs by providing essential resources, mentorship, and practical training. Participants learned key business concepts, from idea generation to market analysis, enabling them to develop and launch their own ventures successfully.
Buffalo Wild Wings
NEW RESTAURANT
Buffalo Wild Wings is set to open a new location at The Shops at Havasu. Construction is underway, with the restaurant taking over a portion of the former Star Cinemas building. This new establishment is expected to enhance the local dining scene by offering a popular destination for sports enthusiasts and wing lovers.
Romer Beverage
DISTRIBUTION CENTER
Romer Beverage was the first expansion in the Agave Business Park creating a net new twenty-five Arizona jobs. The state of art refrigeration and distribution center serves far more than Lake Havasu City.
F106
COWORK PILOT PROGRAM
The F106 CoWork Pilot Program was an initiative that fostered collaboration, innovation, and entrepreneurship within the community. It served as Mohave County’s first cowork facility, while also letting PED better understand the market needs for entrepreneurs and remote workers for the future Nomadic Cowork Space. F106 CoWork provided freelancers, remote workers, and small business owners with access to flexible workstations, high-speed internet, and modern amenities. It served as a valuable hub for individuals to grow their ventures and bring their ideas to life.
Creative Comrades
ENTREPRENUER SPEAKER SERIES
Creative Comrades was a dynamic monthly meetup designed for entrepreneurs and creative professionals to connect, collaborate, and inspire one another. This program provided a supportive space for networking, idea sharing, and skill development, featuring special speakers from various industries who shared their insights and experiences.
Foundation 50
BREWING COMMUNITY PRIDE
Foundation 50 was a special program celebrating the 50th anniversary of the London Bridge in Lake Havasu City by uniting all three local breweries for a unique beer series. This collaborative initiative brought together the creativity and craftsmanship of the breweries, resulting in a collection of limited-edition brews that honored the iconic landmark.
Open Together
COMMUNITY COVID RESPONSE
The Open Together Initiative in Lake Havasu City was a community campaign that supported local establishments during the initial months of Covid. Eligible restaurants participated in the program to receive assistance and resources aimed at educating customers on safe practices to ensure the livelihood of the restaurant industry.
Color Block
PUBLIC ART
The Color Block program brought vibrant, curated public art murals to the retail node along London Bridge Road, enhancing the aesthetic appeal of the area and enriching the community’s cultural landscape. By beautifying public spaces, Color Block not only attracted visitors and residents but also fostered a sense of pride and engagement within the community.
Bright Future
40 UNDER 40
Bright Future/40 Under 40 program was an initiative that celebrated and recognized the achievements of outstanding young professionals making a significant impact in Havasu. By spotlighting these rising stars, the program fostered a vibrant network of young leaders shaping a brighter future.
STAFF & BOARD
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James Gray
DIRECTOR
jamesgray.lhc@gmail.com -
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Jillian Usher
COWORK COMMUNITY MANAGER
jillianusher.lhc@gmail.com
CORPORATE PARTNERS
Alex Ross Insurance Agency, Inc
Builders FirstSource
Craig Plumbing
Desert Land Group
Foothills Bank
Havasu Regional Medical Center
Horizon Community Bank
Jean Works Insurance & Financial Services Inc
Mohave Realty, Inc.
NSC Certified Public Accountants
Palmieri Construction
PF Opportunity Fund
Radio Central
Republic Services
Selberg Associates Inc
Springerg McAndrew Financial
T.R. Orr, Incorporated
UniSource Energy Services