A prominent Tempe economist will help shape Maricopa’s long-term approach to economic growth.
Jim Rounds, president of Tempe-based Rounds Consulting Group, will work with the city’s Office of Economic Opportunity to develop a strategic plan for economic development in the months ahead.
Rounds introduced himself during last night’s Maricopa City Council meeting and began outlining how his firm can help create what he called an “ultimate economic to-do list” of infrastructure and roadway investment.
“It might be aggressive business recruitment or aggressively bringing in additional healthcare opportunities,” Rounds said.
One key focus quickly emerged: State Route 347.
“The one that I underlined — and then I made into a square, and then I highlighted back on my desk, and then I put exclamation points by — is transportation,” he told the city council.
Still, Rounds said his work will go beyond infrastructure.
“Once transportation continues to be fixed, then we’re going to have to figure out how can we brainstorm with these very knowledgeable folks on the rest of the package,” he told InMaricopa after the meeting, speaking of Maricopa officials. “It’s not about having the lowest tax rate or the most money spent on schools … but how can we have a more balanced, economically balanced growth going forward.”
He said his firm will begin meeting with city staff and council members next week to start shaping the plan.
“We want to start thinking about how to make a well-rounded community that grows well in terms of the economy,” Rounds said. “How can we add incomes for residents? How can we make sure that they’re not over-taxed … but they’re getting good services? It’s basically about the fundamentals of how people would expect the government to be working with them and not against them.”
Rounds shared a similar message with InMaricopa during an exclusive interview last May, when he discussed the city’s future through the lens of housing and economic balance. He said Maricopa’s aversion to apartment living could ultimately undercut its long-term growth potential, since businesses depend on a diverse workforce that needs a range of housing options.
“We see a lot of opportunity, but those opportunities can slip if you don’t take advantage of it,” he told us in 2024, noting that major employers are unlikely to invest in areas where workers cannot afford to live. Rounds emphasized that a strong economy depends on variety — “You can’t just create high-wage jobs without creating lower-wage jobs,” he said. “If you add high-paying tech jobs, you’re also creating jobs at restaurants, schools and grocery stores — and you need housing for everybody.”
He cautioned against ideas like a building moratorium, warning that restricting growth would push investment elsewhere and erode the city’s tax base. “Every community around Maricopa would pass them by,” Rounds said. “If that happens, revenues and property values go down while taxes go up just to maintain services. The whole economy would suffer.”
Courtesy of InMaricopa.com
