Wi-Fi Partnership reception recognizes grant funding results

On Thursday the Pinal Regional Wi-Fi Partnership held a reception to celebrate success in utilizing grant funds to assist small businesses in Maricopa.

Representatives from city government, Pinal County, the Ak-Chin Indian Community, the Maricopa Chamber of Commerce and the Arizona Department of Commerce along with local business men and women who were the recipients of the grant monies attended the luncheon event held at the Global Water Center.

In 2008 the Ak-Chin Indian Community provided $250,000 to create greater economic diversity and increased competitiveness for Maricopa in the areas of broadband infrastructure development, training, technical assistance, Web site design and software needs.

District 3 County Supervisor David Snider told more than 60 people in the audience, “You shouldn’t be disadvantaged by zip code if you live in Pinal County. You should have the same advantages as a business in downtown Phoenix.” He added that a business no longer has to have a 14-story office building to “do what you do.”

The Wi-Fi Partnership, according to Snider, aids those people living and working in Maricopa, but it also supports Pinal County. “This is our county, our problems and our solutions. We have to work together.”

Snider noted that communications and services add value to the city and the county, and the Wi-Fi Partnership has done that, beginning as a foundation for tomorrow’s businesses.

Partnership certificates and software applications were distributed to participating businesses.

Audience members also heard from Web designers Mary Krause of Designers Cafe and Matt Adams of Factor 1 Studios who both crafted several of the sites funded by the grant.

“Whatever you can imagine, you can do on the Web,” said Krause. “It’s wonderful that Ak-Chin gave this grant. We’re all one community.”

Mayor Anthony Smith extended thanks to the Ak-Chin Community, the state’s department of commerce and the local Chamber of Commerce for their roles in the partnership venture.

“We continue to grow in terms of business development,” said Smith. “This is an opportunity to keep taxes to a minimum and revenues to a maximum.”

Photos by Joyce Hollis