The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors approved a contribution agreement with South32 to provide initial funding for an economic development specialist position. The agreement structures South32 funding to decline across three years while the county intends to increase its own contribution to support the role going forward.

Deputy County Manager Chris Young told the board the specialist would coordinate economic development work across municipalities, the port authority, the chamber of commerce and other local partners. He said the role “will be responsible to county management and work with the port authority, the chamber of commerce, SEGO and all neighboring municipalities including Nogales, Rio Rico, Patagonia, Tubac, Sonoita, Elgin and our unincorporated areas.”

The action item specifies reimbursable South32 funding of up to $93,600 for year one, $70,200 for year two and $46,800 for year three. Young said the monthly maximum hours in year one are higher and the county plans to step up its contribution over time so the position will not remain dependent on company funding.

Members of the public reiterated earlier calls for transparency and competitive hiring. Public commenter Wendy Eslas asked the board to remove clauses that would permit South32 to request reports within 14 days, calling that “strings” attached; Young and supervisors responded that the county procurement process and an advisory council will govern the position and that South32 has not been placed in charge of the role. “South 32 has made it very clear that they want this executive committee ... to be the leaders of this. They do not wanna lead this,” Young said in the previous action item discussion and repeated that approach.

Supervisors emphasized the position will be hired through the county’s public RFP/procurement process and said the role is intended to help align countywide business development priorities and representation to state agencies.

The board approved the agreement; the motion carried.

Votes at a glance: Motion to approve contribution agreement to fund economic development specialist carried (vote tally not specified in the record).