Steve Glueck Executive Director South Mountain/Laveen Chamber

The New Year is here; the holiday celebrations are complete; the outdoor lights and decorations have been put away. It is now time to begin this new journey which we call 2012. For all of Arizona it is our Centennial Year which begins officially on February 14, 2012 when we celebrate 100 years of statehood. We will all be learning more about our Arizona history then we ever learned in our K – 12 classrooms. That is a very good thing as we look to our future, and in particular, the immediate future for the communities of South Mountain and Laveen. We can learn much from our history that can help us to better define our community needs for the future in Education; in Business Development; in Public Transit and with Social Service Needs.

The South Mountain Communities’ greatest strength is based in our diverse cultures and unique geographic boundaries within the City of Phoenix. Our greatest challenge is to bring our diverse community together with a united community voice that clearly articulates what we all want to meet our community’s needs in the areas mentioned above. We have a multitude of business leaders; social service organizations; educators; religious leadership; non profit groups and elected officials, who all contribute to our collective community voice. We need that voice to be heard at City Hall; in the state legislator and most importantly in the board rooms where decisions are made on commercial investments that will bring the much sought after jobs and desired amenities to our South Mountain Communities.

On the campus of South Mountain Community College, a new environment for civic engagement and an agenda for public discussion of diverse community issues have begun under the direction of The South Mountain Community College Presidents’ Community Advisory Council. It is a promising beginning for 2012 to start the process of identifying a coalition of South Mountain Community leadership that will advocate for the economic development; community infrastructure improvements and social services that we need to reach our maximum potential. You will be reading and hearing about many opportunities in 2012, to participate in community gatherings at South Mountain Community College.

Celebrating our great South Mountain and Laveen Communities is what the Annual “Spirit of South Mountain Community Awards Dinner”, presented by The South Mountain – Laveen Chamber of Commerce, is all about! The 2012 Awards will be presented on May 17th at the new South Mountain Community Library – Community Event Center on the South Mountain Community College Campus. Nominations in 5 Award Categories: EDUCATION; NON PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS; LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL SERVICES and LOCAL BUSINESS are being accepted through March 30^th. Nomination forms are available on request at steveg.smlchamber@cox.net or by phone at 602 402 6086.

UPCOMING EVENTS

1/26 -“After 5 Mixer” @ Raven Grill 36 5:30PM 

1/11 “Business for Breakfast Mixer @ La Cucina Italiana 9032 S. Central; 7:15-8:30AM

  1/04; 1/18; 1/25          Leads Exchange Group   7:15am Raven Grill 36 – 3636 E. Baseline  Rd

Steve Glueck Executive Director South Mountain/Laveen Chamber

It’s the last month of 2011 and for some of us, 2012 can’t get here fast enough! This has been another difficult year for many South Mountain – Laveen businesses and residents, as we complete a 3^rd year of a slow recovery from the 2008 worldwide recession. Is there hope, that we will see a stronger economy in 2012? In my view, absolutely there is hope, for the immediate and long term future economic growth in our South Mountain – Laveen communities. Yes, we need to see the evidence of real job growth; growth in new home construction and a real increase in homeowners’ property values throughout the South Mountain area. Looking back through 2011, I see things that have happened which, I believe, is evidence of even better things to come in 2012.

Major construction projects that were completed this year include: The South Mountain Community Library on the South Mountain Community College campus at 24^th Street; the new Percy L Julian Elementary School at 21st St & Carver; Victory Place III Apartments for formerly homeless military veterans at 9^TH St & Jones; the new Laveen Elementary School at 43^rd Ave in Laveen. Major construction projects nearing completion or beginning next year include: The Salvation Army Kroc Family Community Center at 14^th St & Broadway opening May 2012; the Roosevelt Schools Culinary – Community Center at 10^th St & Baseline Road groundbreaking in January; Arizona Cactus Pine Council Girl Scouts Camp Sombrero multi million dollar renovations planned for 2012 at 16^th St & Dobbins; an extensive remodeling makeover of the Ocotillo Library at 3^rd Ave & Southern to be completed next year.

As for long term planning, a current City of Phoenix field study to determine the expansion of the Light Rail Transit System along South Central Ave to Baseline Road, began in April of this year and will now be supplemented by a Federally Funded Department of Transportation $1,000,000 award to the City of Phoenix to study all forms of public transit improvements to better connect Downtown Phoenix to South Mountain Village along South Central to Baseline Road and east-west connections along Broadway and Southern. The study will begin in 2012 and conclude in 2013. And of course the conversation continues about where to put the South Mountain Freeway Loop connecting the south leg of the 202 with the I 10 Freeway at or near 59^th Avenue. The currently planned route including the state owned land has been on the books since the mid 1980’s. It will be built, with informed guesses looking at a 2018 construction start.

The South Mountain – Laveen membership continues to grow as we added 25 new members this year. We are a chapter of the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce which has added over 300 members through 11 months of this year. Overall, there have been over 50 small business start ups this year and that doesn’t include new non profits and Charter School additions that began operating in our communities this year. There are many other examples of why we should all feel encouraged about what the future holds for our area. There is a natural scenic beauty and rich history in South Mountain that is unmatched anywhere else in the metro area. But first and foremost it is our diverse community that is our strength and our hope for our future.

UPCOMING EVENTS

12/1-“After 5 Mixer” @ Gallagher’s Sports Grill & Restaurant, 3220 E. Baseline Rd; 5:30 – 7PM

12/14 “Business for Breakfast Mixer @ La Cucina Italiana 9032 S. Central ;7:15-8:30AM

12/7, 12/21        Leads Exchange Group

                        7:15am    Raven Grill 36

                        3636 E. Baseline Road

Steve Glueck Executive Director South Mountain/Laveen Chamber

We all are now officially on the last lap of completing a very difficult obstacle course, better known as 2011. In businesses, service organizations, governmental services offices and schools, this 3 month period is referred to as the 4^th quarter. Even if your business or organization is directed by a fiscal year calendar, we all sense the ending of this year and the distant beginning of 2012, that is just on the horizon. It is why Halloween merchandise began to appear in your local Walgreens or CVS store just after Labor Day and Thanksgiving décor will begin to gain strength this month.

At the South Mountain – Laveen Chamber of Commerce, we are preparing for our 7^th Annual 2012 Spirit of South Mountain Community Awards Celebration. That is your cue to think of a local business; a local individual volunteer; a local non profit service organization; a local school or educator or a local governmental service that has made a positive difference in our local communities of the South Mountain and Laveen Villages. Please contact me with the candidates that you want to have considered for our 2012 Community Spirit Awards.

New business enterprises continue to open in our community and I encourage you to check them out and welcome them to our South Mountain – Laveen community. Capin’s Car Wash is now located on the west side of South Central Ave, north of Alta Vista and south of the canal. Alex Corona has opened SoMo Catering & Special Events based out of Corona Ranch in Laveen. Alex invites everyone to a Wine & Tequila Tasting Event at Corona Ranch on Friday October 21^st from 6PM to 10PM. Tickets are $25.00 PP. Zee Spot Restaurant is open Tuesday to Saturday for lunch and dinner at 1301 E. Broadway Rd, just to name a few of the new retail services that continue to grow in our community.

Halloween events that the entire family can enjoy, include the Enchanted Trail at The Rio Salado Audubon Center on October 27 – 30 from 5:30PM to 10PM at 3131 S. Central Ave. The Haunted Hayride at South Mountain Park operates October 21, 22 and 23^rd from 6PM to 9PM at 10919 South Central Ave in South Mountain Park. You need a planning calendar to keep up with all our community events scheduled from now until years end. You don’t ever have to leave the Mountain to enjoy the numerous holiday activities

If you would like to be reminded about future community gatherings, send me an email to steveg.smlchamber@cox.net.

Events Scheduled

October 5, 19, 26        SMLCC Leads Club

            7:15a.m.           Raven Golf Club Grill

                                    3636 E. Baseline Road

October 12      “Business for Breakfast”

            7:15a.m.           LaCucina Italiana

                                    9032 So. Central Avenue

October 26                  “After 5 Mixer”

            TBA                 5:30p.m.-7:00p.m.       

Steve Glueck Executive Director South Mountain/Laveen Chamber

During last months’ MLB All Star Game activities, I had the opportunity to hear a luncheon presentation from baseball commissioner, Mr. Bud Selig.  Mr. Selig spoke about the tremendous growth in attendance that professional baseball has experienced over the past 41 years.  In 1970, MLB Game total attendance was a little over 25 million.  Last year over 60 million attended MLB games and another 40 million attended minor league baseball games.

Listening to Mr. Selig, I thought about my own personal experience over the past 41 years since arriving here in August 1970.  Arizona had 2.5 million residents; the Phoenix Metro area was 1.3 million people and the city of Phoenix was at about 800,000 people.  The 2010 Census count is 6.4 million residing in our State; and the Phoenix Metro area has almost 4.2 million residents.  The City of Phoenix has 1.4 million residents and ranks as the 6^th largest city in the U.S.

The reason for sharing this history and growth with you is to point out that there were people; State, county, city officials; local, regional, national businesses; educators, non-profit organizations and community leaders who, in 1970, were anticipating what our state; our city, would look like in 2011.  We all think about our future needs and we all plan to a greater or lesser degree, for our families, ourselves and our community’s future.

We have that opportunity as residents of South Mountain to participate in how we want our community to be defined today, next year; 5 years, or 40 years in the future.  Just this past month, South Mountain residents have had the opportunity to voice their thoughts and ideas at several community gatherings including: The Del Rio Brownfields Project meetings at the Rio Salado Audubon Center; “The Berkshire Report” Community Commentary meeting at South Mountain Community College and The Mayoral Candidates Forum at South Mountain Community College.

This month, Tuesday, August 30^th, you will have the opportunity to exercise your right and privilege to vote your choice for the next major of Phoenix and for those of you residing in District 7, choosing your Phoenix Council representative for the next 2 years.  Your vote and your regular participation in community gatherings will help decide what the future looks like for your city and your community.

If you would like to be reminded about future community gatherings, send me an email to steveg.smlchamber@cox.net.

Events Scheduled

August 3, 17, 24, 31   SMLCC Leads Club

            7:15a.m.          Raven Golf Club Grill

                                    3636 E. Baseline Road

August 10                   “Business for Breakfast”

            7:15a.m.          LaCucina Italiana

                                    9032 So. Central Avenue

August 28                   “After 5 Mixer”

            TBA                5:30p.m.-7:00p.m.