Court rules Pima County's deal with World View can stand

Worldview
The county plans to spend $17 million on the space technology company's new manufacturing and administrative headquarters. | Contributed artist's rendering

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The Arizona Court of Appeals, Division Two recently struck down a lawsuit that challenged the Pima County's economic agreement with World View, allowing the county's plan to spend $17 million on the space technology company's new manufacturing and administrative headquarters to move forward. 

The Arizona Court of Appeals' ruling stated the county could enter into the agreement with World View, per state statues that grant counties specific economic development authorities including the ability to lease or sell real property for economic development purposes. 

“This is a clear victory for County economic development and economic development efforts throughout the state of Arizona,” Pima County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry said in a press release. “This ruling assures us that we can continue to use the existing statutes to further expand high-wage employment opportunities within Pima County.

“The Goldwater Institute was off-base in attacking economic recovery in Pima County," Huckelberry said. "While I can understand their opposition to sweetheart development deals in Maricopa County, they should keep their hands off the real job growth and economic development plans in Pima County."

The agreement will include the county spending $17 million to build World View's headquarters with taxpayers receiving over $24.8 million in lease payments for a profit of $7.8 million. According to the county, World View is expected to bring over 400 jobs to the county within the next five years with annual average salaries of over $55,000. 

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