City of Yuma Economic Development Department merges with Neighborhood Services

Reporter Madeline Murray spoke with Neighborhood Services about what the merger means for the community.

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) - The City of Yuma Economic Development Department is merging with Neighborhood Services.

The new name of the department is now Neighborhood and Economic Development.

"To attract businesses you have to included both, they want the economic development incentives, and those are all very important, but if their staff and employees aren't happy then they won't stay," said Cynthia Blot, Assistant Director of Neighborhood Services.

Their mission is to create housing and income opportunities for the community by improving neighborhoods and increasing jobs.

They say the merge will help them attract business to Yuma and provide quality places to live.

Yuma Mayor Doug Nicholls talked about why combining both departments was important for growth in our community.

"We focus on as a city is the well being of our citizens, and a lot of that comes down to their personal income, their family income. The more they have opportunity to grow their family income, the happier they are, the more they can do," Mayor Nicholls explained.

The department says they want people to speak so highly of Yuma that it makes business boom.