Cottonwood City Manager Doug Bartosh Receives Gabe Zimmerman Civic Engagement Award

Doug Bartosh, center, receives the Gabe Zimmerman Civic Engagement award.

This award is for non-elected public servants. Paul Luna, left, President and CEO

of te Helios Education Foundation, and Jacob Moore,

Vice Chair of the Selection Committee, presented the award.

 

MY TURN by Diane Joens, Mayor of Cottonwood

 

Gabe Zimmerman was the director of community outreach for U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords. He handled issues for the congresswoman in Tucson and Sierra Vista, organizing many public events. With a master's degree in social work, he cared passionately about helping people. Gabe was shot and died Jan. 8, 2011 outside a Tucson supermarket during a Congress on Your Corner meeting. Congresswoman Giffords was gravely injured.
 

"It was my great honor to nominate Cottonwood City Manager Doug Bartosh for a statewide competition created in Gabe's honor that recognizes non-elected public servants," said Cottonwood Mayor Diane Joens. She nominated him for the Civic Engagement Award. Writing separate nominations were County Attorney Sheila Polk, Executive Assistant to the City Manager Kyla Allen, President of the Prescott Jewish Foundation David Hess, and Executive Director of Community Counts and MATForce Merilee Fowler.
 

 

Doug Bartosh receives the Gabe Zimmerman Award with, from left, Gabe Zimmerman's mother, Emily Nottingham, Executive Director of Community County Merilee Fowler, Executive Assistant to the Cottonwood City Manager Kyla allen, Doug, Gabe's father Ross, and Mayor Diane Joens.

                                                                         

In the book Gabby: A story of Courage and Hope by Gabrielle Giffords and Mark Kelly, the authors talk about Gabe, relating that he had cheerfully organized the Congress on Your Corner event. Gabe had a contagious devotion to public service. Rep. Giffords really admired him and appreciated the work he did for her constituents. Had Gabe lived, the book says, he would have continued to contribute to the world in meaningful ways.

 

Mayor Joens said, "I wrote my nomination because I thought Doug Bartosh, Cottonwood’s City Manager, has many of Gabe’s professional and personal qualities. He is adept at communicating with citizens, his employees, and his city council. He always has time to sit down and talk with anyone about anything. Whether it is working with Prevent Child Abuse, MATForce, or What You Do Matters: Lessons from the Holocaust, he is a visionary."

 

Nurturing his personal life, Doug is a devoted family man, married for 40 years to Diana, and dotes on their two-year-old granddaughter. Doug and his granddaughter even run together—one on two feet and the other in a stroller, "Although she is ready to take off on her own two feet soon," he said.
 

 

Doug Bartosh with son, Josh, and wife Diana.

 

Doug has worked hard to create good communications with the residents in Cottonwood, the Verde Valley and Yavapai County. He promotes working on a regional basis. He is amazingly responsive to residents—a number one priority during the work day. With support of the council, he laid the groundwork to have city council meetings televised, created an Inside Cottonwood television show, and initiated a column, Just the Facts, all in an effort to better communicate with community members.

 

He is the founder and a leader in the Verde Valley Wine Consortium that has worked to make Cottonwood a leader in the wine industry. He worked to bring the wine industry to Old Town Cottonwood and has played a major role in making our city a tourist destination. He is a key leader in being selected for a Five Communities grant and has brought Cottonwood state recognition as a progressive city. Before Doug became City Manager, tourists always heard about Sedona or Jerome. Now tourists realize Cottonwood is in the middle, and there’s a lot to do here. His leadership has assisted with boosting city revenues in difficult economic times, and he works under the direction of the mayor and city council to provide a great quality of life and excellent services to the residents of the area.

 

Doug has promoted transparency in government at every level. At the request of the mayor, he  upgraded the city's Web site. He worked with staff to create a transparency page for the city's financial disclosure to residents. A Facebook page has been created to better communicate with citizens and encourage civic engagement. There is a tremendous amount of information available to the public from the City of Cottonwood. A citywide reorganization made a big difference and the public's interest is much better served. Doug worked with the Northern Arizona Council of Governments, the city council and economic development director to bring the Business Assistance Center to Cottonwood, encouraging business development in Cottonwood and the Verde Valley.

 

Following policies set by the Cottonwood City Council, Doug effectively managed the city through the worst recession in recent history without laying off any employees, even while freezing 12 positions. He has developed recognition for the city as a national, state, and county leader in substance abuse prevention. Cottonwood was the first city in the state to put pseudoephedrine--a product used for making methamphetamine--behind the counter. Cottonwood was the first city to ban bath salts. The city's part one crimes have been reduced more than 45 percent through these efforts.

 

On behalf of the city council and area residents, he successfully directed the construction and opening of a beautiful recreation center that is thoroughly enjoyed by community residents, further encouraging healthy lifestyles for Cottonwood and Verde Valley residents.

 

Doug Bartosh with Mayor Diane Joens, left, and City Council Member Jesse Dowling,

Vice Mayor Karen Pfeifer, and Council Member Linda Norman.

 

 

Doug is a leader and educator in a program called "What You Do Matters: A Lesson from the Holocaust."  According to The Days of Remembrance, "The Holocaust was the systematic, bureaucratic, state-sponsored persecution and murder of approximately six million Jews by the Nazi regime and its collaborators. Other victims included some 200,000 Roma (Gypsies) and at least 200,000 mentally or physically disabled patients." This was called the Euthanasia Program. Doug teaches this class to all Yavapai County law enforcement agencies. They learn exactly how the police in Nazi-era Germany came to kill so many residents in their communities.

 

The course reminds each and every criminal justice professional that their true role is to uphold the U.S. Constitution and enforce individual rights and liberties for everyone. The training is a profound, thought-provoking examination of what can happen when a person in authority starts down the slippery slope of small changes that enables and justifies—in their minds—wrongful acts. This is what happened in the Holocaust. Because of his dedication to this cause, we have education and hope that something this devastating to community and individual lives will never happen again. Doug lives life with great integrity and conviction.

 

With support from the Zimmerman family, The Center for the Future of Arizona created the Gabe Zimmerman Public Service Awards to recognize the finest non-elected public employees at all levels of government in Arizona.

 

"These exemplary public servants represent the spirit of service to the public by which Gabe Zimmerman lived his life," Dr. Lattie Coor, chairman and CEO of the Center for the Future of Arizona, said. "They represent the best of the more than 100,000 professional public servants working at all levels of Arizona government."

 

Winners of the Gabe Zimmerman awards were honored at the League of Arizona Cities and Towns Annual Meeting on Aug. 30. Nominees were judged on their achievements, such as how they've made a profound difference in improving service to the public, changed operations to better service the public, upheld the public interest with integrity and conviction, and their legacy contribution of lasting significance to Arizona citizens.

David Byers, director of the Administrative Office of the Courts for the Arizona Supreme Court, received the Leadership award. Michael Hemesath, director of public works for the City of Sierra Vista, received the Innovation award.

 

The 2012 awards were sponsored by the Center for the Future of Arizona in cooperation with the County Supervisors Association of Arizona, the Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, Inc., and the League of Arizona Cities and Towns.

 

In the closing paragraph of her nomination of Doug Bartosh for the Gabe Zimmerman Public Service Awards, Mayor Joens said, "Doug is an amazing leader and community servant. Just like Gabe Zimmerman, he is an accomplished communicator. Like Gabe Zimmerman, Cottonwood City Manager Doug Bartosh has a contagious devotion to public service and is adept at communicating with community members, employees and the city council. He has made our community better, and his actions, with integrity, reflect the same principled behaviors that Gabe Zimmerman exhibited in his service to the citizens of Congresswoman Giffords' district. Gabe Zimmerman was engaged to be married. Obviously, given the chance, he would have made a good family man. Doug Bartosh has shown devotion to his family for more than 40 years. Please consider Doug Bartosh for this award. I can't think of anyone in the state of Arizona who more deserves this recognition."

 

Mayor Diane Joens

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cottonwood Receives Distinguished Budget Presentation Award

 

Cottonwood, Ariz. -- Cottonwood’s Mayor and Council Members recognized Cottonwood Administrative Services General Manager Rudy Rodriguez and Budget Analyst Carol Brown for receiving the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for FY 2011-12 from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA). The award is the highest form of recognition in governmental budgeting and represents a significant achievement by the City of Cottonwood. 

City Manager Doug Bartosh and the Council presented Mr. Rodriguez with a plaque. Ms. Brown received a Certificate of Recognition for Budget Presentation at the Aug. 21 City Council meeting. From left, Council Member Jesse Dowling, Mayor Diane Joens, Council Member Terence Pratt, Vice Mayor Karen Pfeifer, Council Member Linda Norman, City Manager Doug Bartosh, Budget Analyst Carol Brown, Council Members Ruben Jauregui and Tim Elinski, and Administrative Services General Manager Rudy Rodriguez display the GFOA plaque. 

GFOA Technical Services Center Director Stephen J. Gauthier said, “We appreciate your participation in GFOA’s Budget Awards Program. Through your example, we hope that other entities will be encouraged to achieve excellence in budgeting.” 

 “The City Council is proud of our Finance Department and the work they do on behalf of the citizens of Cottonwood,” said Mayor Joens. “Winning this award demonstrates the capabilities, hard work and attention to detail that our Finance Department gives to their tasks. This is a great honor and very exciting for the community.” 

This is the 13^th time Cottonwood has been recognized by GFOA for their significant achievement in budgeting.

 

Tom Whitmer and Leslie Graser Chosen as Chair and Cochair of NAMWUA

Tom Whitmer, Cottonwood

Cottonwood, Ariz. -  At the recently held Northern Arizona Municipal Water Users Association’s (NAMWUA) Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) meeting, Tom Whitmer, Director of Natural Resources for the City of Cottonwood and Leslie Grazer, Water Resource Specialist for the City of Prescott were appointed to be the Chair and Vice-Chair of the TAC respectively.  Mr. Whitmer and Ms. Grazer bring a wealth of leadership and knowledge to the TAC with more than 45 years of combined experience working in the management and study of water and natural resources statewide.  In addition to their current experience with their respective cities they both previously worked together in the Statewide Water Resource Planning Section of the Arizona Department of Water Resources; Mr. Whitmer as Section Manager and Ms. Grazer as Hydrologist.   

Created in 2002, NAMWUA represents nine northern Arizona municipalities that cooperate as a collective voice for water policy and the development of sustainable regional water supplies.  In 2010, NAMWUA played an integral role in getting legislation passed that created the State’s Water Resources Development Commission, which is tasked with conducting a statewide assessment of current and future water supplies and demands, and with identifying solutions to ensure a sustainable supply of water is available to meet the projected demands of the State through 2110.  NAMWUA continues to play an active role in this and other statewide water policy and legislative efforts.  The final report from the WRDC to the legislature is due to be complete by September 30, 2012. 

Leslie Graser, Prescott

Bicycling in Cottonwood: City and State Officials Meet with Bike Enthusiasts

Cottonwood city and state officials met with Walmart Manager Jason Ferris to talk about the Roll Model bicycle program. From left, Cottonwood Police Department Sgt. Gareth Braxton, Bicycle Advisory Committee Chair Nikki Arbeiter, Arizona Department of Transportation’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Program Coordinator Mike Sanders, Walmart’s bike builder Neil McNamara, Cottonwood Mayor Diane Joens, Cottonwood Walmart Manager Jason Ferris, and longtime bicycle advocate Randy Victory discussed Walmart’s participation in Arizona’s Roll Model program. Ferris pledged 100 percent support of the program, going as far making the Cottonwood store a model of bicycle education for other Walmarts. 

City and State Officials Meet with Bike Enthusiasts

to Promote Community Bicycling

COTTONWOOD, Ariz.—Cottonwood was recognized as a Bicycle Friendly Community at the Bronze Level by the League of American Bicyclists in May. This means that Cottonwood is a pretty nice place to ride a bike—especially compared to a decade ago. But there’s always room for improvement, and that’s what Thursday, Aug. 9 was all about. The city has always set its sights high, and being a Bike Friendly Community is no different. Having made Bronze, Cottonwood is going for Silver! 

The Bicycle Friendly Community program focuses on five areas which make a community a great place to ride a bike, often referred as the Five Es. These are Engineering, Education, Encouragement, Enforcement, and Evaluation and Planning.  

Engineering addresses the accommodation of cyclists on public roads, and the existence of both well-designed bike lanes and multi-use paths in the community. 

Education addresses the amount of education available for both cyclists and motorists, including teaching cyclists of all ages how to ride safely as well as teaching motorists how to share the road safely with cyclists.  

Encouragement concentrates on how the community promotes bicycling. Good promotional measures are Bike Month and Bike to Work Week events as well as community bike maps, route finding signage, community bike rides, commuter incentive programs, and having a Safe Routes to School program. 

The enforcement category contains questions that measure the connections between the cycling and law enforcement communities. Questions address whether the law enforcement community has a liaison with the cycling community, if there are bicycle divisions of the law enforcement or public safety communities, if the community uses targeted enforcement to encourage cyclists and motorists to share the road safely.  

Evaluation and Planning measures the amount of cycling taking place in the community, the crash and fatality rates, and ways that the community works to reduce these numbers. 

Important events Aug. 9 included a meeting with Walmart  Manager Jason Ferris and Walmart’s bike builder Neil McNamara. In a meeting with Cottonwood Mayor Diane Joens, Bicycle Advisory Committee Chair Nikki Arbeiter, longtime bicycle advocate Randy Victory, Cottonwood Police Department spokesman and bicycle liaison Gareth Braxton, and Arizona Department of Transportation’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Program Coordinator Mike Sanders, Walmart renewed its commitment to Arizona’s “Roll Model” program—an educational program funded by the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety. The Verde Valley was selected as the first test community. Manager Ferris pledged 100 percent support of the program, going as far as making the store a model of bicycle education for other Walmarts in northern Arizona, pointing the way for all big box stores in the state—and maybe even the nation.  Hopefully Cottonwood’s Walmart will be recognized and rewarded for their effort to stay ahead of the curve. 

Afterwards, Sanders, Victory and Sgt. Braxton took off from Walmart up Highway 260 and on to State Route 89A through Cottonwood. The trio was there to evaluate one of the stretches of roadway that is a challenge for riders. 

“Based on our analysis of bicycle-motor vehicle crashes on the State Highway System, this segment between Walmart and Walgreens has been identified as a high-priority crash location,” said Michael Sanders, Bicycle and Pedestrian Program Coordinator for the Arizona Department of Transportation. “We found that the leading crash types were motorists pulling out of driveways and motorists turning right. Probable contributing causes included failure to yield, bicyclists riding facing traffic, and too many driveways.  Potential countermeasures might include bike lanes, signage and pavement markings with directional arrows, and access management.”

Later the Bicycle Advisory Committee met, giving bicycling planners and advocates a chance to evaluate the situation in Cottonwood and plan strategies for improvement. Many suggestions were made—suggestions that will make Cottonwood even more bike-friendly. The second half of the BAC meeting was a rare treat for committee members. Sanders from Phoenix attended, spending time getting to know Cottonwood. The day culminated in a meeting with the city’s Bicycle Advisory Committee. Sanders listened to members’ concerns and suggestions, offered input, spent time getting to know the members and explained ADOT’s structure and policies. Ultimately, BAC members had a better understanding of ADOT—knowledge that will prove invaluable when working with the agency that has major roadways such as SR260 and SR89A that go through Cottonwood. 

Important to the BAC and community is the leading role the Cottonwood Police Department is taking. In Bicycle Friendly Communities nationwide, even Gold and Platinum ones like Tucson or Davis, Calif., law enforcement is always the sticking point. Andy Clarke, Executive Director of the League of American Bicyclists acknowledged, “This is always the weakest link.”

The Cottonwood Police Department has recently re-instituted its bicycle patrol program. After a six-year hiatus, the program has been brought back with four officers participating. The bicycle patrols augment and supplement what the officers already do. The primary focus is to work during some of the city’s signature events such as Rhythm and Ribs and the Brian Mickelsen Memorial Run/Walk.

The officers will also conduct bicycle patrols during their normal patrol duties. While doing so, they conduct proactive education and enforcement activities focusing on a variety of areas. Some of this includes much-needed bicycle enforcement. This coincides with the city’s efforts to become more bicycle-friendly. Bicycle advocate and founder of the Verde Valley Cyclists Coalition, Randy Victory, has repeatedly noted, “Bicyclists are often their own worst enemies.”  Sgt. Braxton said, “We firmly believe we can set an example both for the cyclists and motorists that encourages and fosters safe and responsible travel for all of those in our community. The more motorists see bicyclists on the road, the more comfortable they will be with them, and vice versa. The more cyclists become used to riding on the roads, the better traffic flows.”

As part of the bicycle patrol duties, bike patrol officers actively participate in community policing. Data suggests they are often more approachable to the public. According to a study published by the International Police Mountain Bicycle Association, officers on bicycles have twice as much contact with the public than fellow officers in cars. Sgt. Braxton said, “This is a tremendous benefit not only to our community, but to our department as well.”

“We have an ideal community for cycling,” Sgt. Braxton, added, “full of flat-grade, uphill with desert and mountain terrain, all within a relatively short distance. What’s not to love about cycling here?” Sgt. Braxton advocates that bicycle patrols have a tremendous health and fitness benefit for the officers involved. “It fosters our commitment to fitness,” he stated.

Residents who ride bikes may wonder whether anything is being done to make Cottonwood a more enjoyable, safer place to ride. Motorists wonder if cyclists will ever learn to be responsible roadway users. The answer is, “Solutions are in the works.”  

“Citizens and public servants who believe in a healthier, more vibrant, and closer-knit community are hard at work fine-tuning one of many pieces of the puzzle that will make Cottonwood the best place to live in Northern Arizona,” said Mayor Diane Joens.

Randy Victory, Verde Valley Cyclists, and Gareth Braxton, Cottonwood Police Department, contributed to this article.

Mayor Joens invited to share views in the League's Newsletter Connection

http://www.leagueaz.org/connection/2012/0712/index.cfm?a=spotlight

Mayor Spotlight Name, title & city/town Diane Joens, Mayor Cottonwood, Arizona Year elected: Cottonwood City Council in 2003 Elected as Mayor: in 2007 and 2011 for four-year terms Years served as Mayor: Five Hometown: Sierra Vista, Arizona Why did you decide to serve in local government? City government has always piqued my interest. In the late 1980s I served on the Cottonwood Planning and Zoning Commission and later the Parks and Recreation Commission. In 2003 a friend encouraged me to run for City Council, and the rest is history. I didn't - and still don't - have a personal agenda. I do have a vision for now and the next 25 years, and Cottonwood has an excellent city council and staff that works together with a shared vision. We collaborate as we strive to serve our citizenry in the best possible manner. What are the biggest challenges facing your town today? A quote from Governor Jan Brewer says much: "While I can agree that all levels of government must continue to find ways to cut costs, I am becoming increasingly concerned that many bills introduced this session micromanage decisions best made at the local level. What happened to the conservative belief that the most effective, responsible and responsive government is government closest to the people?" Municipal governments are closest to the people of Arizona. Residents count on Arizona cities and towns for services that provide a good quality of life for daily living. That includes police and fire protection, water and wastewater services, parks and recreation opportunities, and many other services. There has been much interference in this process in the past several legislative sessions-with a crushing theme of one-size-fits-all. This attitude is harmful to the citizens that local governments serve. Each local government is as unique as an individual human being. That is why policies that impact local governments must be decided by local elected officials and their citizens. Other challenges include protecting the Verde River for people and nature, ensuring our water future, and participating in the fine art of providing high quality city services while "doing more with less" in the current economy. What opportunities do you see for your community? The panoramic beauty of Cottonwood and the Verde Valley is unsurpassed. Residents and visitors alike enjoy the many benefits of the scenic Verde River. The vibrant greens of the riparian area blend with the hues of gold, red and limestone in the mesas, canyons and buttes surrounding Cottonwood. Cottonwood is adjacent to two National Forests, the Coconino National Forest and Prescott National Forest. Dead Horse Ranch State Park and the Verde River Greenway are within the city limits. Recreational opportunities abound for all. Community members and visitors enjoy bicycling, hang gliding, hiking, river rafting and equestrian activities. In May the League of American Bicyclists awarded the city of Cottonwood the bronze level as a bicycle friendly community. Wildlife and bird watching opportunities are plentiful. I see opportunities for tourism in connection with the Verde River as well as our newly revitalized Old Town Cottonwood. The city is a leader and collaborator with the new wine industry in the Verde Valley. Even during this challenging economy, Old Town Cottonwood has been flourishing and attracting new and vibrant businesses and visitors. Living in the Verde Valley is paradise. I have loved this community since the day I moved here in 1986. What are you most proud of during your time in office? I am very proud of how our city council and staff interact to promote and serve the residents of Cottonwood and the surrounding areas. Although Cottonwood is a small town of almost 12,000 people, we provide services to the approximately 40,000 residents in the upper Verde Valley. We take that job very seriously. Civility is the key to accomplishment and good policy, and I am proud that our citizens and elected officials also place civility high on the scale of interaction. I'm proud of the Cottonwood Recreation Center that opened in May 2010. The Rec Center provides a place for multi-generations to gather and it contributes to the overall health of our community. The parking lot is always full. We're promoting Cottonwood as a destination and we're very proud of our wine industry in the Verde Valley. We've been working hard to build and upgrade streets. This is a high priority of our citizens. Why is the League important to cities and towns in Arizona? Speaking from a smaller community's point of view, the League is an especially important force in our interactions with state and federal legislators. Smaller cities do not have the financial and people resources to create a daily presence at the Capitol. We count on the expertise of the League staff to keep us informed about bills that will impact our residents. We rely on the League to be there every day-and often every night-when there is activity at the Legislature. The League of Arizona Cities and Towns is key to the citizens of Arizona. It assists city and town leaders with a consistent and constant voice in legislation that impacts our citizens directly. The League is excellent about listening to local elected officials and then acting on our behalf. The League serves our city residents, just like we do. It's all about the people. League of Arizona Cities and Towns 1820 W. Washington St. Phoenix, AZ 85007 Phone: 602-258-5786 Fax: 602-253-3874 http://www.azleague.org

If you have ideas for this newsletter or encounter difficulty reading this email, please contact Amy Price at aprice@azleague.org with your concerns.

Old Town Cottonwood & Local First Arizona Snags Governor's Tourism Award

                                              
Eileen Klein, (Governor Brewer's Chief of Staff), Kimber Lanning (Local First Arizona), Mayor Diane Joens (City of Cottonwood), Casey Rooney (City of Cottonwood), Dean Shirley (Dean Studios), Nina Simmons (Dean Studios), Lana Tolleson (Cottonwood Chamber of Commerce), Sherry Henry (Arizona Office of Tourism)

Old Town Cottonwood Driving Tourism Using New Technologies

  Partnership with Local First Arizona Snags Governor’s
Tourism Award for Creative Collaborative Marketing    

Phoenix, AZ  (July 14th, 2012) -  The merchants of Old Town Cottonwood have joined forces to market themselves as a travel destination, steeped in wine tasting, great food, and antiquing.  Working collaboratively, the business owners created a ‘package deal’ on Living Social and proceeded to sell 750 tasting packages in less than four months. About 96% of the participants who provided feedback in an on-line survey after their visit had never been to Cottonwood, and all indicated they would return. 

Using the brand new WeekendZona video clip, created by Local First Arizona and Dean Studios, the merchants worked to create a fun travel guide aimed at 35-55 year olds who are interested in wine and weekend getaways.  WeekendZona is a stay-cation oriented tool that Local First Arizona hopes will drive more Arizonans to explore the state. “Collectively, Arizonans spend $6.5 billion per year vacationing in California, and if we can redirect even 10% of that into our rural towns, we could make a huge impact on our overall economic health,” said Kimber Lanning of Local First Arizona. WeekendZona videos are currently in development for 5 more Arizona towns. 

Cottonwood Economic Development director Casey Rooney supports Economic Gardening, or homegrown economic development, and believes that celebrating his town’s existing assets is an effective way to grow the local economy.  Through collaborations encouraged by Rooney’s department, the Mayor’s office, and the city at large, Cottonwood has effectively created a district worthy of interstate travel. “These three tasting rooms represent some of the best wines being made in the country, and when you couple that with great restaurants, quaint places to stay, and a fun shopping corridor, you’ve got the ability to really compete for tourism dollars,” he explained. 

Local First Arizona has also worked with merchants to create a Small Wonders map that highlights restaurants, wine tasting rooms, and retail.  A total of 50,000 maps have been distributed all over the state, showcasing the best of the Verde Valley. Hotels and resorts throughout Arizona, as well as Sky Harbor airport, tourism centers, and dozens of art, food, and wine events have been targeted by LFA staff as key areas to connect with potential visitors to Old Town. The Small Wonders maps have also been used as a guide for travelers who bought into the package deal offered by the businesses, which is largely a take home piece to share with others that showcases the high quality, unique experience Cottonwood offers.  

In addition, Local First has taught social media workshops to Old Town business owners to help them think collaboratively using Facebook to create more awareness about what Cottonwood has to offer. LFA has a fans and followers list of over 22,000 people across the state, which has provided a great platform to share information and excitement.  

Lana Tolleson, President and CEO of the Cottonwood Chamber of Commerce, has been a critical supporter of the overall project. “The Cottonwood Chamber is always looking for ways to partner that will ultimately benefit our businesses and our town overall- this project benefits everyone and we were proud to be a part of it,” said Tolleson. 

Also key to this project were the businesses, including Arizona Stronghold, Pillsbury Wine Co, Old Town Wine Cellar, Crema Café, Orion Bread Company, Verde Valley Olive Oil Traders, and Bon Lait. 

About Local First Arizona

Founded in 2003 by Director Kimber Lanning, Local First Arizona (LFA) is the largest alliance of independent businesses in the country, working to strengthen communities and local economies through supporting, maintaining, and celebrating locally owned businesses throughout the state of Arizona.  With over 2100 members, LFA educates citizens, stakeholders, business leaders, and legislators about the significant environmental, economic, and cultural benefits of strong local economies. 

Here's the link for the package they had to attract people to town- they sold 750 of them in under 4 months! www.cremacafe89a.com/tasteofoldtown.html

                                                                

Kimber Lanning

Director, Local First Arizona

Kimber@LocalFirstAZ.com

                                                                                                                                      

                                                                                                                                       Casey Rooney

Director, City of Cottonwood Economic Development

crooney@cottonwoodaz.gov