Maricopa Labor Study Results Available.

Maricopa, Ariz. (August 6, 2008) – After receiving and analyzing responses from over 2,500 local households, the City of Maricopa’s 2008 Labor Study has been completed. Results were presented at the August 5 City Council meeting with impressive figures to report.

The study assessed the skills and demographic characteristics of the local workforce; additionally, it allows the City to market to prospective and regionally expanding employers more effectively.

Interesting Facts and Figures Include:
- 52 percent of Maricopa residents have a bachelor’s degree or higher, compared to 27 percent of residents in the metro area.
- 29 percent of Maricopa responders report household incomes of $100,000 or greater.
- 90 percent of residents have moved to Maricopa from Chandler, Phoenix, or California.
- Overall, the Maricopa workforce is highly skilled with 53 percent working in management and other professional occupations.

For more information, the complete report can be viewed online with our many Reports and Publications.

Sites in Maricopa, AZ.

Over 30 potential business sites are available in Maricopa! To begin searching for your new business location in Maricopa, or to add your own commercial property listings visit MaricopaProspector today.

Pinal County offers early voting for the September primary.

The Pinal County Recorder’s Office is pleased to announce early voting options for September’s primary election. Maricopa residents will be able to cast their ballots from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 44625 W Garvey Avenue on the following dates:

Thursday, August 7
Saturday, August 9
Thursday, August 14
Thursday, August 21

For more information, please call the Pinal County Citizen Contact Center at 520.509.3555 or 888.431.1311. Information can also be found on the Pinal County website.

Here are some quotes from an article by Ric Swats concerning business owners taking advantage of the current economic condition. Please pass this on if you feel it worthy. See below:

“There are three suggestions I make to business people who want to find a way to be more profitable. First,…go to the Small Business Development Center and work with their counselor on redesigning your business plan. It is a free service and they may find you easy ways to save money or find new ways to increase your income.”

“The next suggestion is to advertise, but do it wisely. When things are going great and you have many customers you really don’t need to advertise. Advertising need not cost a fortune but, advertising now is critical. If you don’t advertise people don’t know you are there. If they can’t use your product or service now, when the economy improves and they can afford some things they have passed up recently they will go to the company they think of that supplies that product or service. It will be the one that was advertising all along.”

“The third suggestion is get a Web site and make it work for you. If you have a product or service that someone in another state can use and they don’t know you because your Web site doesn’t sell, you are losing money.” Ric Swats, River Cities Business Journal, Aug., 2008, Vol.4/ Issue 6.

As Posted July 24th, 2008 by RuthAnn Hogue in Desert Sunrise News

PHOENIX – The Arizona Department of Health Services today reported the state’s first death from West Nile Virus in 2008. Tests from the Arizona State Health Laboratory indicated that a woman in her ’80s from Maricopa County died from West Nile Virus encephalitis this month.

“The recent monsoon activity has kick started the West Nile Virus season in Arizona,” said Craig Levy, manager of the state’s Vector-Borne Disease program. “This tragic death is a reminder of the importance of protecting yourself against mosquito bites.”

“Ridding your home of standing water translates to ridding your property of mosquitoes,” said Dr. Bob England, director of Maricopa County Public Health. “This small effort could make all the difference in protecting a loved one from West Nile virus.”

Other indicators of increased West Nile activity include West Nile positive mosquito pools in Maricopa, Pinal and Yuma counties. In addition, West Nile positive “sentinel chickens” have been identified in Cochise, Graham, Pinal, Santa Cruz, Greenlee and Pima counties.

Since its first arrival in Arizona in 2003, more than 750 residents have been infected with the disease. Forty-two deaths have been attributed to West Nile in the state, including seven last year.

“Be prepared,” Levy urged. “Use insect repellent, and wear protective clothing, especially between dusk and dawn and in areas where mosquitoes are active. One of the most important things we can do is to be sure we are not raising mosquitoes in our pools, ponds and birdbaths”

The state has established a Web site, http://www.westnileaz.com, and a toll-free number, 1-800-314-9243, (Metro Phoenix: 602-364-4500), to provide additional information.

West Nile Virus is transmitted to humans and animals through mosquito bites. Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on infected birds.

The best way to protect yourself from mosquito-borne illness is to reduce the number of mosquitoes around your home and neighborhood and to take personal precautions to avoid mosquito bites, such as:

* Eliminate standing water where mosquitoes can breed. Check for items outside the home that collect water, such as cans, bottles, jars, buckets, old tires, drums and other containers.
* Change water in flower vases, birdbaths, planters and animal watering pans at least twice a week.
* Repair leaky pipes and outside faucets, and move air conditioner drain hoses frequently.
* Avoid being bitten by mosquitoes when going outside at night by using insect repellent.
* Wear lightweight clothing that covers the arms and legs during dawn or dusk, or in areas where mosquitoes are present.

Residents should report any abandoned pools to the mosquito hotline at 1-866-287-0209 extension 6200 or 520-866-6200.