At the Oct. 18 Queen Creek Town Council meeting, Mayor Julia Wheatley presented the council with the Champion of the Year Award from the Arizona Manufactures Council (AMC).
The AMC named Wheatley the 2023 Manufacturing Champion of the Year for her advocacy for legislation that will help communities attract manufacturers and meet their public infrastructure needs, and for her work to bring a multi-billion-dollar investment by LG Energy Solution to Queen Creek.
“This award is the culmination of a lot of hard work from a lot of people – I was thrilled to present the award to our Queen Creek Town Council and amazing community,” shared Wheatley. “Our efforts with House Bill 2809 help municipalities, businesses and the state – but most importantly, it benefits Queen Creek as it provides the town with reimbursement for a portion of the town’s $84 million in public infrastructure investments, including roads, water and wastewater in the northeastern portion of our community. I’d like to express my sincere appreciation to Representative Michael Carbone who sponsored House Bill 2809, and to all those champions who helped it reach the finish line.”
Queen Creek is consistently ranked one of the fastest growing communities in the United States. The town’s General Plan helps guide the growth, which includes the northeastern area of town, primarily owned by the Arizona State Land Department. The General Plan identifies it as a special district and growth area – encouraging the private investment that fosters job creation.
Last year, LG Energy Solution announced an investment of $5.5 billion for an advanced manufacturing facility, bringing thousands of jobs – which aligns with the state’s goal to be a leader in the high-tech industry.
“Without strong local leaders like Mayor Wheatley, Arizona risks losing out on these major job-creating investments,” AMC Executive Director Grace Appelbe said. “Mayor Wheatley understands what it takes to land these mega projects and why local government is an essential partner in the state’s economic development strategy.”
LG Energy Solution is slated to break ground in late 2023 or early 2024. For more information regarding the project, visit QueenCreekAZ.gov/AdvancedManufacturing.
