A group of elected leaders and other land management officials has been working for more than a year to make real progress on myriad issues related to preserving the Verde Valley’s rich natural resources.
It’s called the Verde Front and draws on resources mainly at the local level.
“There are some organizations that like to meet and some organizations that like to get things done,” said Steve Ayers, Camp Verde economic development director. “The Verde Front is one of the most ‘get it done’ organizations I’ve seen.”
The group relies heavily on outside money for funding larger projects, Ayers said. That includes $150,000 to help promote recreational tourism and at least three different ongoing trail projects.
They’ve already accomplished a great deal, Ayers said, but the group “hasn’t really done a great job of tooting its own horn.”
Ayers said the group has a lot of support from local governments and agencies, including the Yavapai-Apache Nation, the Yavapai County Board of Supervisors and even organizations in Coconino County.
Members of the Verde Front’s recreational planning organization discussed what the group has been doing and why it thinks the work is important at the April 15 meeting of the Camp Verde Town Council.
To read the full story, see the Wednesday, April 22, edition of The Camp Verde Journal.
