Tourism will always be key to Page
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As Page and Northern Arizona prepare for the eventual closure of Navajo Generating Station, it will take a team effort to make up for the economic impact from the region’s largest employer closing.
During the second Regional Economic Outlook Conference hosted by The Chamber Page Lake Powell last week, several speakers discussed the opportunities and challenges facing the area.
John Stigmon with the Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona, presented findings from a survey he began taking a year ago during the first conference. Stogmon and ECONA met with more than 300 business owners, representatives of the Navajo Nation and others from Northern Arizona and Southern Utah.
“NGS is going to have a dramatic impact on these communities,” Stigmon said. “The commodity industry is going away. What’s replacing the commodities is tourism.”
Stigmon said tourism will remain the primary economic engine for the region, adding there is limited industry in Page, pointing to Page Steel and Yamamoto Custom Baits.
Stigmon said he found several distinct challenges to bringing new businesses to Page. One is the distance between Page and bigger cities. Affordable housing was another. One that is not spoken of much is elements of racism between the Navajo and non-Navajo. Stigmon said he heard the racism goes both ways.
“There needs to be an equal effort between Page, Kanab and the Navajo Nation to share your culture,” Stigmon said. “You don’t need to change your culture, just share it so people understand.”
Another challenge is a trained workforce for businesses, whether it’s tourism related or not.
“There is a bountiful workforce, but it has to be trained,” he said. “The Navajo Nation has 40 percent unemployment, but they have to be trained.”
Perhaps the biggest challenge, Stigmon said, is making tourists feel welcome, not just at Lake Powell and the national monument, but in Page.
He explained that the downtown area of Page is not welcoming. He said if the city and local businesses partnered to make the downtown area more attractive and welcoming, it could have a big economic benefit.