Annually, Tucson Young Professionals surveys its membership to understand the issues that are most important in creating the best Greater Tucson region possible. This year, our members said that Economic Development was one of the top 3 issues. Our Advocacy Team developed a collaborative, statement on what this means.
Economic Development
TYP supports efforts that encourage the attraction, retention, and expansion of businesses and high-wage jobs to Greater Tucson. Additionally, TYP supports a robust start-up and innovation ecosystem that encourages entrepreneurship in the region.
Our Advocacy Team is committed to both providing education opportunities to our members on this topic, and, when appropriate, educating our community about what young professionals feel about a variety of issues surrounding economic development.
Monthly, and as they come up, members who serve on our Advocacy Team weigh community issues brought forth by the Team to consider whether they are relevant for TYP to address in keeping with our members’ desires and TYP goals. At the will of the majority of our Team, the Team developed a statement on the renewal and expansion of the Central Business District and the Government Property Lease Excise Tax, in the City of Tucson.
Any policy positions developed are first approved by the TYP Advocacy Team, and then submitted to the TYP Board for final approval. The statement below was reviewed by and approved by the TYP Board.
We will be following up with a more in-depth position on how economic development efforts like this should be utilized to create broad-based prosperity and opportunity in Greater Tucson, interfacing with housing policy, employment, etc.
“Tucson Young Professionals supports responsible Economic Development efforts in Greater Tucson that create equitable opportunities for high-wage, career-oriented jobs for Tucson’s young professionals. As such, TYP supports the renewal and expansion of the Central Business District (CBD), as well as continued responsible use of the Government Property Lease Excise Tax (GPLET) as an Economic Development tool.”