This Thing We Do (CRE) Has the Power to Change Lives.

We just wrapped up a lease agreement in my hometown of Yuma, AZ. To be certain, it won't be recorded on the lists of large real estate deals in the US, like the one Greg Nelson and Conrad Madsen, SIOR ?? just wrapped up in #DFW! However, what is special about this deal is the fact that the lease brings a new employer and 30 base industry positions to the market, with plans for future growth. Like water which brings life to a desert, capital and investment brings life and potential to people. And as CRE brokers we have a great responsibility and play a key role in the investment and capital formation that translates to opportunity for others.

CRE Has the Power to Change Lives

One important Commerical Real Estate truth became abundantly clear to me several years ago when I read, "When the Boomer's Bail" by Mark Lautman, CEcD, FM, HLM . There are many noteworthy quotes and stories in this book, however, one that really stuck with me is the story of Mrs. Griego and the following quote: "I realized that this thing we do called economic development had the power to change people's lives, and to change communities. . . Families stay together, kids get scholarships and win science fairs instead of dropping out of school and doing drugs." In the same vein and for many of the same reasons as economic development, CRE has the power to change communities, by changing the path and access to opportunity for others. It truly is a career that carries tangible human consequences that when done well, the positive impact far exceeds the financial compensation.

Good Crowds Out Evil

This lease carries with it the power to change the lives of people by providing opportunities to earn a quality wage and to learn valuable and transferable skills. Something I've been thinking about a lot lately is the reality that whether we live in border communities or not, we all have a vested interest in their economic viability. If the drug trade, and human trafficking concern you, then you should be interested in border communities. You should be concerned about the quality and availability of education, infrastructure, and the sufficiency of their tax base to support law enforcement and legal systems. The reason is simple. Good crowds out Evil, and the inverse can also be true. The more opportunity for our brothers and sisters on both sides of the border, the more difficult it will be for evil that is drug and human trafficking, to take root. This of course translates to less pain, misery and suffering for everyone, definitely a noteworthy goal for all.

Communities Require Base Industry Employment & The USA Requires Strong Communities

If you enjoy quality education, infrastructure, legal systems etc. you can thank base industry employers and employees. Communities live and die with base industry employment. To quote Lautman, "communities are the primary platform for the civilization of the human species. . . Our past, present, and our potential are profoundly dependent on this platform, this real estate platform, this organization of people, this thing we call our community." To understand this and to have helped move the needle slightly in a positive direction is meaningful in a way that financial compensation can never be. It's an appreciation and understanding that the economic strength of the USA is entirely dependent on the strength of communities. And if people in communities are not productive and healthy due for example to rampant drug abuse because of weak border communities, then eventually the disorder spreads, and the broader economy will suffer.

A Forward-Thinking Business Owner Finds AAD Labor in Yuma, AZ

The owner of this business could see the trends over the decades: US to Mexico, Mexico to China, China to Vietnam, and now full circle back to the US. What is the trend/need? US based manufacturing in a location with access to abundant, affordable and dependable labor. In an age where bean bag chair, ping pong table, fully catered lunch offices led to working from home in pajamas, the hardworking, salt of the earth culture in Yuma, stands out and is unique. There is no doubt that this business will thrive and grow along with the hardworking people in Yuma. I am proud to have played a role in the process in helping this business, my hometown and my country!

As Always #CausaSui