Press Release

PRESCOTT VALLEY, AZ, April 30, 2010—Town officials called for greater cooperation today among Northern Arizona municipalities to foster economic growth.  In speeches at the grand opening of the new Prudential Overall Supply service center here, presenters urged more regional promotion to supplement individual towns’ efforts.

   This approach is seen as necessary to attract distribution businesses such as Prudential that serve customers hundreds of miles from their facilities. Reflecting its belief in regional marketing, Prudential opened its doors for today’s event not only to its Northern Arizona customers, but to owners and managers of all manufacturing, retail, wholesale, hospitality, and trade contractor businesses in the region.
     The Prudential facility reaches businesses as far as 200 miles away with reusable image work apparel and related textiles.  The new 15,000-square-foot service center covers about 800 business accounts and has been designed to double its business in coming years.
    Town Councilor Harold Wise said Prescott Valley citizens could count on their government to work more closely with the other towns in the region.  This will likely include tourism promotion, which the city of Prescott has recently chosen to undertake alone, apparently breaking up the established regional tourism coalition. Wise termed this “an old-school provincial approach to a global opportunity. Our town is committed to finding more modern solutions.”
   Gary Marks of the Prescott Valley Economic Development Foundation noted the town’s success in attracting distribution operations. Gary commented, “Ace Hardware now has almost 1 million square feet here; the company has expanded its warehouse three times, including a 250,000-plus-square-foot addition in 2009. Pepsi, Budweiser, and Coors all have relatively new operations.”
    Also attending the grand opening were Vice Mayor Lora Lee Nye and State Rep. Andy Tobin (R-1^st), the House majority whip, whose district includes Prescott Valley. Rep. Tobin lauded Prudential for its decision to invest in the region and noted the company’s dedication to providing reusable textile products, a plus for the environment.
   Steve Hernandez, Prudential branch manager, said, “I know I speak for our whole team when I say that we are all pleased to be part of this community.  I’ve lived here for 14 years.  This is a great place to be and it will get better.  We think more people are going to move into the area. And that’s going to be good for a lot of businesses.”
    Marks cited projections that put the Prescott area’s current population at 145,000, rising to 221,000 in 20 years. That would be a 52 percent increase. The state is expected to have 47 percent more residents by 2030; the nation as a whole, 18 percent.
    Prudential is ready to accommodate regional growth.  The new Prescott Valley service center, which replaces a predecessor facility in town, features extra floor space for loading and unloading. Docks are twice as wide and deep as their former counterparts. Other work spaces are larger and the conference room is better equipped.
    Tom Watts, Prudential’s president, discussed the company’s history, noting that it began when John D. Clark moved west from Iowa in 1932 and traded his Model A Ford sport roadster for a used truck.  He picked up workmen’s soiled clothing, took it to a family laundry, and returned it the next day.
    “Since then, our business has gotten a little more complicated. But our chairman is Dan Clark, John’s son. And he carries on John’s philosophies. First and foremost, John wanted us to like our work. He wanted us to enjoy being with each other and with our customers.”

About Prudential Overall Supply:
     Family owned and operated since 1932, Prudential Overall Supply is dedicated to enhancing its customers’ image at the best dollar value.  By providing premium quality work wear uniforms, career apparel and casual wear, Prudential is able to outfit an organization’s entire workforce.  This on-time weekly service also addresses facility image and safety requirements by offering logo floor mats, wiping towels and paper products.
    Based in Irvine, Calif., Prudential operates a total of 27 facilities in California, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Colorado, Texas, Virginia, Massachusetts, and Puerto Rico.

Photo IDs (left to right):

Prudential Overall executives Steve Hernandez, Mark Rasmussen, Marc O’Leary, Jerry Martin, Stefan Schurter, and Tom Watts; State Rep. Andy Tobin; Prescott Valley officials Lora Lee Nye (vice mayor), Harold Wise (councilor), and Larry Tarkowski (town manager): Gary Marks, Prescott Valley Economic Development Foundation; Marrnie Uhl, Prescott Valley Chamber of Commerce.