Articles & Videos


Jul
14
2020

Let's talk about Medjool Dates!

On December 14, 2020, Revista Foodie, based in Hermosillo, Sonora, issued an article related to the production of the Medjool date fruit and its impact on the economy of the entire 4FrontED Binational Megaregion. 

The 4FrontED Binational Megaregion, which is comprised of Yuma County (Arizona), Imperial County (California), San Luis Rio Colorado (Sonora), and Mexicali (Baja California), includes an area of more than 3,700 hectares dedicated to the cultivation of Medjool.

The date fruit industry generates an economic impact of more than $90 million dollars and it creates thousands of jobs in the binational megaregion, annually.

The article was written in Spanish with some highlights in English: https://bit.ly/3rXAcrD

VIDEO: https://fb.watch/g9CYtNFSnl/

 

 
 
 

Read More


Mar
30
2020

Greater Yuma Economic Resource Portal

Recognizing the economic challenges many businesses have been experiencing since the COVID pandemic, community and government leaders in the Greater Yuma Area have come together to create the Greater Yuma Economic Resource Portal.

This leadership group includes the Greater Yuma EDC, the Yuma County Chamber of Commerce, Arizona Western College Small Business Development Center, the City of San Luis, the City of Somerton, the City of Yuma, the Town of Wellton, Yuma County, Yuma International Airport, Arizona Western College, Arizona @Work, STEDY, the Greater Yuma Port Authority, 4FrontED, the University of Arizona, Visit Yuma, the Western Arizona Economic Development District, and the Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area.

Please visit the portal for more details: http://www.gyerp.org



Read More


Mar
6
2020

Conference: Tourism as an Economic and Cultural Trigger

The binational megaregion has immediate access to a 53 million consumers market between the U.S. and Mexico, a diverse workforce, a climate conducive to agriculture and livestock, landscapes that invite outdoor activities, as well as a unique cultural background. All these aspects represent opportunities for investment, economic development, entertainment, and artistic expression, among others.
 
In that context, tourism and culture play a fundamental role in generating an economic impact; together, they create the necessity to live the experience in each of the cities and towns that are part of our binational megaregion (Yuma, San Luis, Somerton, Wellton, San Luis Río Colorado, Mexicali, Calexico, El Centro, the Cocopah, and Quechan Tribes).

Read More


Aug
7
2019

4FrontED - 7&7 News by Lucy Valencia

The City of Yuma’s team talks with 4FrontED Executive Director Nazzer O. Mendez about the binational effort that is leading the way for the megaregion to make a global impact in economic development, tourism, education, and infrastructure.

4FrontED’s Governing Board was founded and is led by Yuma Mayor Douglas Nicholls. It is comprised of a Yuma County Supervisor and Mayors from Yuma, Somerton, San Luis, and Wellton. Together, they work to create and boost relationships with counterparts south of the U.S.-Mexico border to maintain the megaregion as a strong, united one.

More information on 4FrontED can be found on their website, www.4fronted.org. Those interested in contacted 4FrontED can reach out directly to Nazzer O. Mendez at (928) 373-5013 or via email at NMendez@4FrontED.org.

 

Read More


May
8
2019

Yuma County Qualified Opportunity Zones Forum

 

Jennings Strouss collaborated with Arizona Western College, the City of San Luis, the City of Somerton, the City of Yuma, R.L. Jones, the Town of Wellton, and Yuma County to present the "Yuma County Qualified Opportunity Zones - Investment and Development Forum". The event took place on May 8th, 2019, at Arizona Western College.

 

The program is described below:

 

- Welcome and opening remarks by Hon. Douglas Nicholls, Mayor of the City of Yuma.

 

 

 

Read More


Apr
23
2019

Nafta 2.0: The Impact of USMCA on the Megaregion

The City of Yuma, the Mexican Consulate in Yuma, and the Arizona Western College (AWC), among other local sponsors, successfully presented the forum “Nafta 2.0: The Impact of USMCA on the Megaregion”. The event took place on April 23rd, 2019, at AWC.

The City of Yuma, the Mexican Consulate in Yuma, and the Arizona Western College (AWC), among other local sponsors, successfully presented the forum “Nafta 2.0: The Impact of USMCA on the Megaregion”. The event took place on April 23rd, 2019, at AWC.

The purpose of the forum was to promote and encourage dialogue about the benefits and potential impacts of the United States – Mexico - Canada Agreement (USMCA) on the #4FrontED region.

Read More


Apr
14
2019

2019 Startup Weekend by AWC & NAU

Arizona Western College and Northern Arizona University-Yuma are hosting their third annual Startup Weekend from April 12-14, as a way to help aspiring entrepreneurs launch new business ideas.

Participants will take giant leaps in learning the skills needed to create a business, work on a startup team, and connect with people and resources all while experiencing the highs, lows, fun, and pressure that can come along with a startup business.

Attendees do not need to have a business idea to participate in a group. For those that are coming in with an idea in mind, it cannot be a venture that you’ve previously worked on. All disciplines of work and educational backgrounds are encouraged to attend.

Video: https://animoto.com/play/6BQAWbJHWZs0XQuxjzBKfw?autostart=1

Read More


Mar
29
2019

Four Borders International Academic Alliance

The Four Borders International Academic Alliance (Alliance), an alliance of colleges, universities, and technical schools from the United States and Mexico celebrated its 2nd Anniversary on March 29, 2019, at the Arizona Western College Schoening Conference Center beginning at 4:00 p.m. As part of this celebration, an additional 7 new Alliance members with a sign on to the original Memorandum of Understanding that created the Alliance.

The Alliance was formed on March 29, 2017, through an effort by 4FrontED to expand workforce development opportunities for workers in the Yuma County, Imperial County, Mexicali, and San Luis, Rio Colorado areas. Since its inception, the Alliance has hosted several workforce development group meetings and activities in the United States and Mexico. Because of the success of these meetings in developing international language courses, student exchanges, entrepreneurial training, and employment opportunities, membership in the Alliance continues to grow. 

Read More


Jan
8
2019

City of San Luis Annual Review

San Luis, Arizona – 2018 saw the arrival of new businesses and an economic rebound in San Luis, fueled by a thriving housing market and demand by residents for consumer goods and services, the city's mayor said.

Looking back on the year just completed, Mayor Gerardo Sanchez said he believes San Luis was able to strike a positive balance between business growth and City Hall spending on public infrastructure needs of residents.

Sanchez believes his and the city council's agenda for San Luis was validated by the results of the 2018 election season, which saw a crowded field of candidates compete for mayor and four council seats.

Read More


Jan
3
2019

City of Somerton Annual Review

Somerton has been called the “Best Little City in Arizona,” and local officials continued efforts to live up to the title in 2018 by focusing on projects that improve the quality of life for residents.

Newly elected Mayor Gerardo "Jerry" Anaya and City Manager Ian McGaughey recently shared the highlights and challenges the city faced this past year.

The city made some changes. Citizens elected a new mayor and the council hired a new city manager. Joseph Turitto, acting police chief since June, was named to the post permanently.

Read More


Yuma, AZ
Yuma AZ
www.yumaaz.gov
Somerton AZ
www.cityofsomerton.com
San Luis AZ
www.cityofsanluis.org
Wellton AZ
www.town.wellton.az.us
Calexico CA
www.calexico.ca.gov
El Centro CA
www.cityofelcentro.org
San Luis Rio Colorado MX
Mexicali MX
Cocopah Tribe
www.cocopah.com
Quechan Tribe
www.quechantribe.com