Aug 23 2017
AZ Central - Fate of 3 national monuments in Arizona hangs on final rulings by Trump administration
But supporters of the monuments argue that there is economic value in preserving the land. The Arizona monuments bring economic benefits to the state, according to a report by Democrats on the congressional Joint Economic Committee. Since Ironwood Forest was designated a national monument in 2000, the total employment in the surrounding counties has increased yearly by an average of 7,184 jobs, the report said. In 2015, travel and tourism jobs made up 20 percent of total private employment in the surrounding region, according to the report.