Leaders, officials and policy makers from around Arizona gathered for two days in Clarkdale last week to listen to and discuss the issues that affect rural areas in the state.
The Arizona Rural Development Council held its annual conference Aug. 6 and 7 at the Clark Memorial Clubhouse.
The council is one of many statewide organizations across the country with a focus on promoting the interests of the nation’s less urbanized regions.
Nearly every room in the historic clubhouse was packed with people there to hear about a wide array of topics, ranging from improving trade with Mexico to improving trails and making the system the best in the country.
The crowd, estimated at more than 200, included city managers, elected officials, the heads of nonprofit organizations and other people who have a stake in rural Arizona.
It was the ninth annual forum for the group, which picks a different location every year for the event.
Next year, the meeting is scheduled to be held in Pinetop.
Carlos de la Torre, city manager of Douglas, talked about how important it was to improve the state’s ports of entry with Mexico.
Torre also talked about trying to make visas easier to obtain for some Mexican citizens, given that they spend millions of dollars here in Arizona.
To read the full story, see the Wednesday, Aug. 12, edition of the Cottonwood Journal Extra.
