The Arizona Republic
Jul. 22, 2006 12:00 AM
The current edition of Money magazine put Surprise at the top of its national job-growth list, and Terry Colton, a retired police officer from Cleveland, is one of the reasons.
Colton, a Surprise animal control officer, is one of the many new workers who have taken jobs in the city amid its explosive growth. The magazine said Surprise increased the number of jobs within its borders by 93.1 percent from 2000 to 2005.
"We're delighted to be recognized nationally as a job creation engine, as well as a community of big-city amenities with a small town feel," Surprise Mayor Joan Shafer said.
The ranking comes only weeks after Surprise received a new mid-decade census that placed Surprise's population at more than 88,000 in 2005, compared with 30,000 residents in 2000.
Colton and his family added to the population and job increases.
Colton, his wife and two daughters moved to Surprise after he retired from the Cleveland police force in 2004.
"We thought of relocating out here several years ago because of the weather," Colton said. "We traveled back and forth quite a bit over the last ten years, and we kind of stumbled onto Surprise. With all the hype about a big, upcoming, new, booming city, we came out and loved it."
Colton has worked for Surprise for two months.
The magazine rating excites Surprise leaders, who have been emphasizing a "live, work and play in Surprise" philosophy. That philosophy works for Colton.
"I was excited to finally get on with the city and to be working in the city that I live in," he said.
Along with Surprise's growth has come a demand for city employees. Surprise recently erected a billboard to encourage its residents to apply for city jobs.
At the time the billboard was erected, Surprise was adding more than 90 new staff positions.
Surprise also revamped its pay scale to bring the city more into line with salaries paid by other Valley municipalities, a move allowing it to hang on to employees.
The city also has lured employers to the city. Last year, the City Council approved a development agreement with Milgard Manufacturing Inc. to build a 300,000-square-foot manufacturing facility.
Surprise is hoping the manufacturer will produce about 300 relatively well-paying jobs by 2009. The company builds fiberglass and vinyl window and door components.
The city also is considering a partnership with Sun Health Research Institute to create a bioscience development program.
"This is all about high-paying, top-quality jobs in Surprise," Economic Development Director John Hagen said.
He added that thousands of jobs could emerge along the BNSF Railway line adjacent to Grand Avenue in the next few years.
"More than 900 acres of land adjacent to the tracks has been bought up by office and industrial developers in the past several months," Hagen said. "I expect this is just going to explode, creating even more good jobs in Surprise."
He also pointed out that seven major shopping centers are in various stages of development in Surprise. Hagen said that each of them could create about a thousand jobs.
Colton, a Surprise animal control officer, is one of the many new workers who have taken jobs in the city amid its explosive growth. The magazine said Surprise increased the number of jobs within its borders by 93.1 percent from 2000 to 2005.
"We're delighted to be recognized nationally as a job creation engine, as well as a community of big-city amenities with a small town feel," Surprise Mayor Joan Shafer said.
The ranking comes only weeks after Surprise received a new mid-decade census that placed Surprise's population at more than 88,000 in 2005, compared with 30,000 residents in 2000.
Colton and his family added to the population and job increases.
Colton, his wife and two daughters moved to Surprise after he retired from the Cleveland police force in 2004.
"We thought of relocating out here several years ago because of the weather," Colton said. "We traveled back and forth quite a bit over the last ten years, and we kind of stumbled onto Surprise. With all the hype about a big, upcoming, new, booming city, we came out and loved it."
Colton has worked for Surprise for two months.
The magazine rating excites Surprise leaders, who have been emphasizing a "live, work and play in Surprise" philosophy. That philosophy works for Colton.
"I was excited to finally get on with the city and to be working in the city that I live in," he said.
Along with Surprise's growth has come a demand for city employees. Surprise recently erected a billboard to encourage its residents to apply for city jobs.
At the time the billboard was erected, Surprise was adding more than 90 new staff positions.
Surprise also revamped its pay scale to bring the city more into line with salaries paid by other Valley municipalities, a move allowing it to hang on to employees.
The city also has lured employers to the city. Last year, the City Council approved a development agreement with Milgard Manufacturing Inc. to build a 300,000-square-foot manufacturing facility.
Surprise is hoping the manufacturer will produce about 300 relatively well-paying jobs by 2009. The company builds fiberglass and vinyl window and door components.
The city also is considering a partnership with Sun Health Research Institute to create a bioscience development program.
"This is all about high-paying, top-quality jobs in Surprise," Economic Development Director John Hagen said.
He added that thousands of jobs could emerge along the BNSF Railway line adjacent to Grand Avenue in the next few years.
"More than 900 acres of land adjacent to the tracks has been bought up by office and industrial developers in the past several months," Hagen said. "I expect this is just going to explode, creating even more good jobs in Surprise."
He also pointed out that seven major shopping centers are in various stages of development in Surprise. Hagen said that each of them could create about a thousand jobs.
