Healthcare center likely built by Sept. 2012

The Maricopa City Council will meet Tuesday at 7 p.m. to vote on a development agreement aimed at opening a healthcare center in Maricopa by Sept. 30, 2012.

“We have been working for five years to bring a healthcare center to Maricopa,” said city Economic Development Director Danielle Casey. “This is very exciting.”

The city stands on the verge of an agreement with Banner Health that would result in the construction of a medical facility 20,000 square feet or larger at the intersection of Porter Road and Alan Stephens Parkway.

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In the agreement, Banner commits to spending a minimum of $10 million on the purchase of land and construction of the facility.

In turn, the city agrees to provide $1.2 million in grant funding, assume responsibility for road and other offsite improvements and help with the relocation of healthcare employees.

According to a city staff report on the agreement, Banner would not develop a healthcare center in the community in the immediate future without these concessions from the city.

The development agreement also includes a grant repayment penalty clause that will require Banner to repay a portion of the grant funds to the city if it underperforms in the creation of jobs or amount of time in the community, or misses the proposed opening date.

The council will meet in special session at the Maricopa Unified School District Office 44150 W. Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway.

Economic impacts of the project:

1. $129.9-million overall economic impact in the city during the next 10 years
2. Support 90 jobs, 67 direct and 23 indirect
3. Annual payroll of $8.6 million
4. 55 temporary jobs created during construction resulting in a one time impact of $8.8 million
5. One-time construction sales tax of $185,000
6. Property tax impact of hospital employees to city, state, county and school district of $5.1 million during first 10 years of operations