<p>Media Notice For Information Contact: Molly Gilbert Director of Tenant and Public Relations 520.626.1269 [email protected]</p><p>The University of Arizona Office of Economic Development (UAOED) Releases: The 2003 Arizona – Sonora Regional Report Card</p><p>The University of Arizona Office of Economic Development (UA OED) will release its annual report card on economic growth and development in the Arizona –Sonora region on Wednesday, November 12, 2003, at a luncheon to be held at the Tucson Marriott Park Hotel from 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 pm. </p><p>The Arizona-Sonora Region Report Card 2003 is based on a comprehensive analysis of regional economic performance prepared annually by Dr. Vera Pavlakovich-Kochi, Director of UA OED’s Regional Development Program. The study, Regional Economic Indicators: Arizona-Sonora 2003, monitors economic changes in the Arizona-Sonora region in the following four areas: </p><p> Position in NAFTA and global markets  Cross-border economic integration  Performance of leading industry sectors, and  Dimensions of quality of life</p><p>The Report Card provides a summary of progress made in key areas of the region’s economic development and quality of life. This year’s study was sponsored by the Arizona – Mexico Commission and the Arizona Department of Commerce. </p><p>“The 2003 Report Card features two new indexes: the Economic Foundation (EF) Index and the Human Enhancement (HE) Index, replacing the Leading Sectors Index and the Quality of Life Index,” says Dr. Pavlakovich-Kochi, director of the regional development program. “These new indexes represent a better grouping of the economic indicators as well as more accurate measurement of these indicators in the report.”</p><p>“The Regional Development Program has been issuing Indicators in its present form for the past four years. It has been instrumental in developing economic policies that guide the development of the Arizona-Sonora region,” says Bruce Wright, UA associate vice president for economic development. “By tracking the region’s progress in comparison to other U.S. – Mexico border regions, we have enabled key government and business decision-makers to make informed choices in addressing the economy of our bi-national region.”</p><p>Dr. Pavlakovich and Mr. Wright will provide a briefing on the study and report card for the media from 11:00 – 11:30 in the Catalina Room of the Marriott Hotel. </p><p>Individuals interested in attending the luncheon and presentation should contact the UA Office of Economic Development at 520-621-4088. The cost of the luncheon is $30 per person.</p>