Southwest Michigan First’s Broome To Lead Greater Phoenix Economic Council

KALAMAZOO ? Barry Broome, who has lead Southwest Michigan First since 1999, will now lead The Greater Phoenix Economic Council. Broome was unanimously approved Thursday by the board of the Arizona economic development group.

Broome beat out two other finalists from outside the Arizona, reported the Phoenix Business Journal. Broome could not be reached for comment, but a Southwest Michigan First source said he had accepted the job.

The Greater Phoenix Economic Council is the main business recruitment and economic development group in the Phoenix area. It is funded by financial contributions from local governments such as the cities of Phoenix, Glendale, Scottsdale and Mesa and by private employers such as Wells Fargo, Dial Corp., USAA, Intel, Honeywell International and Bank One.

Broome will lead a larger economic development organization in Phoenix. Southwest Michigan First has an annual budget of $2.8 million, while the Greater Phoenix Economic Council has a $3.8 million annual budget.

Broome, 40, joined Southwest Michigan First as its CEO and executive director in August 1999. His legacy includes working closely with Western Michigan University to form a Business Technology and Research Park. Broome and Southwest Michigan First also aided the BTR Park in obtaining status as a Michigan SmartZone, which will help companies in the park obtain tax breaks and grants. The park is home to Southwest Michigan First’s Southwest Michigan Innovation Center, which each month hosts First Tuesday, where start up companies pitch potential investors.

Perhaps Broome’s greatest contribution to Kalamazoo may be his very active lobbying efforts to save high paying jobs after Pfizer acquired the city?s largest employer, Pharmacia. Broome authored three bills to support Pfizer, all of which were passed by the state of Michigan. Broome’s work led to Pfizer making Kalamazoo the center for excellence in animal health. And when Pfizer announced they would close five research and development facilities, they did not close the facility in downtown Kalamazoo.