Whether you love or loathe urban living, creating cities that address both human and environmental needs is one of the most important lessons learned from decades of urban planning. While prioritizing food, housing, and basic necessities remains vital, attention has increasingly turned to building sustainable and habitable communities that support economic growth and improve quality of life. Looking ahead, wise urban planning is a crucial instrument for building thriving, resilient, and ethical communities that serve not only residents but the planet as a whole.

If nothing else, the evolution of urban planning has taught us how essential it is to consider the environment when designing cities. In the past, towns often disregarded environmental concerns, resulting in serious consequences such as pollution, deforestation, and soil erosion. Today, urban planners recognize the importance of the natural environment in fostering sustainability and livability. Promoting green infrastructure, preserving natural areas, and integrating renewable energy sources are key to reducing the adverse effects of urban growth.

In response to environmental issues like resource depletion, urban heat islands, and climate change, sustainability and resilience have become central to urban planning since the late 20^th century, according to De Mode Magazine. Transit-oriented development, mixed-use zoning, and smart cities aim to reduce carbon footprints and promote walkable, bike-friendly areas. Resilient cities are implementing green infrastructure, renewable energy, and flexible building designs, while climate-resilient planning includes water-sensitive urban design and urban agriculture.

Social justice is also a growing concern, with planners working to address inequalities in access to public services, housing, healthcare, and transportation. Affordable housing laws, mixed-income communities, and inclusive public spaces are being promoted to serve diverse socioeconomic backgrounds.

Urban Land Magazine reiterates the need to adapt to environmental concerns and the increasing demand for equitable public spaces. Green spaces are in higher demand as cities face climate change, with urban trees and rain gardens becoming common tools to manage stormwater, reduce heat, and improve livability. And the push for net-zero buildings is driving architectural innovation, with green infrastructure playing a central role in flexible and sustainable urban placemaking.

Cities can enhance well-being and climate resilience by adding green areas, active transit routes, and nature-based solutions. These not only benefit the environment but also raise real estate values and improve urban life. Rethinking green space means more than converting land into parks; it involves using sustainable materials and methods that reduce environmental harm while maximizing performance. Nature-based approaches will become standard, emphasizing ecosystem restoration and urban biodiversity.

Carbon monitoring is now a major design focus, influencing daily decisions for every site and material. If adopted industry-wide, this strategy could drive significant change. Designers must measure the environmental benefits of every choice they make and, with hotter summers and more frequent storms due to climate change, architects and designers must learn from past mistakes. Minimizing hard and impermeable surfaces, enhancing green spaces, and constructing active transportation routes are essential to limiting urban heat islands and reducing emissions.

Looking ahead, hyper-adaptive urbanism—where cities become self-learning systems—is an exciting possibility. Imagine sidewalks widening during peak hours and traffic patterns adjusting automatically with the help of AI-powered sensors and analytics. Buildings could adapt to changing needs, such as offices becoming homes after hours or businesses expanding or contracting based on demand. The urban environment would become a dynamic setting that evolves with the city’s needs. Future designs may include local power sources, sustainable water cycling, vertical farms on building walls, and AI systems managing logistics to optimize resource distribution and energy flow. These innovations would reduce reliance on centralized infrastructure and foster localized economies.

As we move toward “soft cities,” where buildings and public spaces adapt to users’ actions, rigid city landscapes will become obsolete. Technologies like shape memory materials and bioresponsive surfaces will allow structures to respond to human movement and environmental conditions—for example, buildings that adjust transparency based on sunlight. Urban living could become dynamic and energizing rather than static and draining.

The 15-minute city is also gaining traction, a concept that encourages urban design that allows residents to reach destinations within 15 minutes via walking, biking, or public transit. With seven million people dying annually from air pollution-related illnesses, reducing car dependence could lead to cleaner air and better health. However, the concept isn’t without controversy, according to Earth Org. Critics point out that it assumes everyone can walk, bike, or use public transit, which may not be feasible for people with disabilities. In some cities, users must book trips in advance, causing stress and delays for time-sensitive appointments. While striving for 15-minute commutes could improve sustainability and well-being, designers must address accessibility and equity to ensure these cities serve all residents.

Still, there are success stories. The Ellinikon project in Athens, Greece is transforming a former airport into a 15-minute city with businesses, residences, and cultural events. It features rain gardens, natural materials, and reclaimed surfaces turned into paths and benches. Eventually, it will become Europe’s largest seaside park, with over 31,000 trees and more than a million Mediterranean plants.

Humanity’s pursuit of resilient, equitable, and sustainable cities is reflected in the evolution of urban planning. Modern planning must embrace sustainability, inclusion, and innovation to meet the challenges of 21^st-century urbanization. While past approaches focused on functionality and aesthetics, future planning must create livable spaces that protect natural resources and cultural heritage.

Urban planners can build cities that are not only efficient and prosperous but also socially and environmentally just for future generations. Traditionally focused on structuring urban elements, future cities will prioritize intelligence, adaptability, and positive interaction between people and urban spaces. The shift toward dynamic environments that evolve with human cognition and interaction is already underway.

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From rock and reggae music festivals to traveling circuses, food trucks, and dog-friendly ‘paws in the park’ gatherings, mobile events are a popular way of bringing crowd-pleasing attractions to young and old alike. Smaller events, like an afternoon street party, may bring in a few dozen neighbours, while others—such as three-day-long multi-stage performances—draw hundreds of thousands. No matter the size of the gathering, all have one thing in common: the need for up-to-the-minute planning.

Scheduling is just one aspect of traveling events; for event organizers, there can be literally hundreds of moving pieces. Outdoor music festivals require tight scheduling and performer itineraries, a stage or multiple stages, sound systems, lighting, and more. Then there is the issue of attendee safety, security, and comfort. Nothing, from ticket collectors to first aid stations, food and beverage vendors to trash cans, can be overlooked.

A long way from Woodstock
There have been plenty of outdoor music festivals over the decades, but the most iconic of all remains the Woodstock Music & Art Fair, better known as Woodstock. Held on a dairy farm about 40 miles from Woodstock, New York from August 15^th to 18^th, 1969, the massive event was a gathering of some of the world’s biggest musical acts, and a high point for the hippie counterculture movement. Despite rain and overcast skies, the festival—billed as “An Aquarian Exposition in White Lake, N.Y.: 3 Days of Peace & Music”—drew an estimated 400,000 to 500,000 attendees; the exact number isn’t known because event organizers were ultimately so overwhelmed they decided to waive fees.

Drawing the likes of Janis Joplin, Jefferson Airplane, The Grateful Dead, Jimi Hendrix, and other giants, Woodstock showed the world it was possible to host a massive festival without a permanent structure. Today, we take events like Burning Man, Coachella, Woofstock, Ribfest, AFROFEST, Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, and Milwaukee’s Summerfest, the world’s largest annual music festival, for granted.

Today’s tech
In hindsight, it is amazing that Woodstock and its 1967 predecessor, Monterey Pop, went off as well as they did. When these and other major festivals were staged almost 60 years ago, cell phones, laptop computers and tablets, scheduling software, and other devices we take for granted did not exist.

In 2025, organizing and coordinating festivals, fairs, and outdoor concerts is an up-to-the-minute endeavour, necessitating the latest technologies. Success requires precise coordination, ensuring people and materials arrive on time—materials like portable staging and stage platforms, ramps, lighting and sound systems, cables, temporary fencing and crowd control barriers, event seating (if applicable), merchandise tables, pyrotechnics, and more.

“Using technology and keeping up to date on the latest innovations can help make a music festival more attractive to festival-goers and at the same time make the organisation’s logistics and operations more efficient,” writes Andy Robertson for Festival Pro. “As festival-goers become more technology hungry and music festivals more competitive, how is the merging of technology and innovation impacting on the modern-day music festival?”

Certainly, the concert-attending experience is different today from in years past. For major events, long gone are the days of lining up at record shops to buy printed tickets with cash. While some smaller events give attendees the option of printing their own tickets at home, many are forgoing paper for environmentally friendly technology that has concert-goers use their Smartphones to display a unique QR code that is scanned at entry. For attendees, using a QR code can be convenient; for event organizers, QR ticketing makes the entry process faster and more efficient.

Most vendors on festival grounds, including food and beverage stands and merch tables, are now cashless. Large, multi-day shows provide their own mobile apps so concert-goers can navigate the showgrounds, check show times, and even view sponsor messaging and other information. And depending on the event, attendees may be provided with RFID (Radio-Frequency Identification) wristbands with built-in LED lights.

The sound and the vision
Years ago, concert-goers often brought binoculars to see the performers on stage. This evolved into a multiplicity of large screens so that even people far from the stage could see their favourite performers. Today, concerts are a truly immersive experience, with all sorts of projection, VR (Virtual Reality) technology, and even holograms.

Following pandemic closures, festival organizers worldwide scrambled to bring visitors back to in-person events. Some major festivals, like England’s five-day-long Glastonbury, were delayed for two years, resulting in huge financial losses. To avoid a similar situation in the future, event organizers introduced the ‘virtual’ Glastonbury. Unfortunately, the event did not go off as planned, with ticket holders denied entry to the livestream for the first two hours. Although the event was a disaster, it underscored the need for stable 5G technology to ensure successful future gatherings.

Unlike concerts of the past where people snuck in cameras, almost all attendees today openly bring in smartphones; many immediately upload their content to social media sites like Facebook, TikTok, or Instagram. High-speed Internet capabilities also enable concert organizers to showcase artists and individual performers across multiple stages and even livestream events to audiences around the world.

While the spirit of community, music, and shared experience remains unchanged from the days of Woodstock, the tools and techniques behind the scenes have transformed dramatically. Organizers now rely on cutting-edge innovations—from QR-coded entry and cashless transactions to immersive visual effects and real-time communication—to deliver events that are safer, more efficient, and more engaging than ever before. Yet beneath the lights and sound, the success of any event still comes down to timeless essentials: careful planning, a dedicated team, and an unwavering commitment to creating memorable moments that bring people together.

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“We received a crazy number of submittals,” Lindley reveals, noting that the outreach generated interest well beyond Arizona’s borders. A volunteer selection committee is now reviewing proposals, with a finalist to be picked at AAED’s August board meeting. The consulting firm will then collaborate with AAED on shaping the strategic plan through late 2026.

Hurst emphasizes the significance of this moment—the last time AAED undertook this process was before COVID. Now, as Arizona transitions into a post‑pandemic phase, the team wants an external viewpoint to help them not just pivot but evolve. “We want to move into a post‑COVID era, as well as recognizing where economic development and AAED are now in these times versus five or six years ago,” she shares.

Strategic planning isn’t just a bureaucratic process; it’s a roadmap. Hurst and Lindley both recognize that while core goals like member value and organizational impact remain consistent, the trends shaping Arizona’s workforce, housing, and partnerships have shifted, and AAED intends to adapt. “We’ve got an exciting opportunity to listen deeply, and not just to our members,” Hurst says. “This plan should reflect not only where we want to go, but who we want to be.”

Educating tomorrow’s economic developers and helping today’s professionals stay ahead is a cornerstone of AAED’s mandate. Lindley’s focus centers on expanding educational opportunities across all career stages. The Association’s AZED Pro certification program, a state‑specific credential, provides six core courses, ranging from strategic planning to incentives and business retention, and one elective, to be completed within three years.

First launched in 2024, the Cohort program enables participants to complete this sequence in a single year, augmented with mentoring. Currently, the Professional Education Committee is exploring ways to reach pre‑career individuals via community colleges, highlighting economic development as a potential career path. This is part of a broader goal to strengthen mid‑career and executive‑level development.

“I’m focusing on what career development looks like for mid-career to senior‑level professionals, executive‑level career support,” Lindley explains. Given that economic developers need to know a little bit about a lot,” AAED is working to equip professionals with strategic insight across multiple disciplines: workforce, site selection, public‑private partnerships, and more.

In addition to AZED Pro, AAED holds regular half-day summits in various regions of the state which focus on specific areas of economic development. For example, the 2025 Phoenix Summit was focused on advocacy and legislation, and the upcoming Southern summit focuses on aerospace. These programs reflect AAED’s commitment to a continuum of learning from early entry stages to executive leadership.

Hurst highlights AAED’s collaboration efforts as vital in a complex political and professional landscape. She emphasizes that while Arizona’s economic developers each bring unique strengths, their collective voice carries more weight, especially in advocacy.

The February “Lunch on the Lawn” at the State Capitol exemplified this. AAED’s partners and members came together to promote economic development’s impact on quality of life with state legislators. Similarly, AAED’s Spring conference featured a novel Higher Education Roundtable cohosted by Arizona State University, the University of Arizona, Arizona Western College, and various municipalities. The session explored collaborations between cities and colleges, generating fresh ideas and content for attendees.

Looking ahead, AAED is targeting further alignment through emerging leader events and thematic forums. One sold‑out event in August with the Pinal Partnership will bring together their respective rising professionals for a tour of the Lucid plant. “These partnerships let us move from ideas to action,” Hurst explains. “It’s about showing up for each other and leveraging our shared vision to get real results.” These initiatives support AAED’s three pillars: educate, advocate, and collaborate, emphasizing that genuine progress comes through strategic partnerships.

It’s no secret that politics plays an outsized role in economic development. AAED’s Government Affairs Committee, its largest, is responsible for developing policy priorities, collaborating with a lobbying firm, and tracking legislation that affects the industry. Hurst clarifies AAED’s dual‑layer approach: annual policy priorities that align with the legislative calendar, and a set of overarching internal guidelines for long‑term posture. Recent advocacy efforts included reauthorizing the Arizona Commerce Authority, central to state economic projects, while workforce development and competitiveness are persistent priorities.

Certain issues require nimble responses beyond annual plans. AAED leverages its guidelines to pivot and respond in real time. While the organization refrains from prescribing policy outcomes on certain issues, such as data center regulation, it positions itself as an educator, helping members and public officials understand issues so communities can make informed decisions.

This stance, combining humility with impact, reflects AAED’s state‑wide orientation. As Hurst puts it, “We do not take a position on whether data centers are good or bad. We want to make sure communities have the best education and knowledge so they can make the decision for themselves.”

Annual member surveys culminate in AAED’s “State of Economic Development Report,” over 100 respondents strong. Recent editions have identified top challenges facing Arizona’s economic developers: housing affordability, workforce retention, building availability, and community pushback or NIMBYism. Housing and workforce remain deeply intertwined; with limited housing, it becomes difficult to attract and retain workers who, in turn, require childcare, transportation, and amenities to settle. Hurst sums it up: “Housing availability, workforce retention, expansion, and childcare are all this giant ball that’s very difficult to unwind.”

Further complicating the picture are rural Arizona’s struggles with building availability. Unlike metro Phoenix, small towns lack ready space, creating barriers to economic attraction.

Another disruptive factor is community resistance. As Hurst notes, NIMBYism has surged and can stall projects ranging from industrial parks to commercial developments. AAED plans to provide tools, training, and public education to help practitioners better frame development initiatives as enhancements to quality of life and community branding.

For Lindley, this work is deeply personal; as an economic developer, she rarely gets to see projects through from concept to ribbon‑cutting, but she’s laying foundations for futures that will outlive her tenure. She also sees education and collaboration as cornerstones of success. “If we’re doing our jobs right, we’re creating impact that might not be visible for five, 10, or even 20 years,” she reflects. “But that doesn’t make it any less critical.” It’s a long‑term commitment to improving quality of life across generations.

Hurst echoes that sentiment. Economic development, she insists, touches everyone’s lives, from city managers and planners to utilities and educators. AAED’s events, which are open to the public, range from breakfast panels to facility tours, welcoming anyone invested in Arizona’s competitiveness. At its core, AAED remains a community builder. It invites participation across levels, from elected officials to emerging talent. Nearly all events are public; non‑members may join at a nominal cost.

What does success look like at the end of this term? For Lindley, it’s about execution, a fresh strategic plan shaped by external insights, a robust pipeline of educational programs at multiple levels, improved member engagement, and enhanced awareness of economic development’s role in Arizona’s future. “I want us to be a resource people turn to, not just during conferences, but year‑round,” she says. “If we’ve done that, I think we’ve won.”

Hurst adds that real success lies in influence through stronger coalitions, meaningful policy wins, and public trust. She hopes AAED can build a measured reputation as an educator-first voice on contentious issues, with statewide representation that accounts for both metro and rural nuance.

Both leaders take a panoramic view: this work is not a sprint, but a marathon. And for them, every mile in this season is a continuation of the journey they’ve been running since 1974, supporting economic development professionals, shaping policy, and strengthening Arizona’s communities for decades to come.

As AAED embarks on its strategic renewal, expands its educational outreach, forges new partnerships, and tackles the complexities of policy and development head‑on, it underscores an essential truth: economic development is about more than projects; it’s about people, place, and the promise of tomorrow.

Whether you’re a city official, a business leader, a student, or a local resident concerned about data centers or housing policy, AAED’s doors are open. Its evolving strategic plan aims not only to elevate economic developers but to inform and engage broader communities. As Hurst so aptly puts it, “If you’re passionate about seeing Arizona remain competitive, we would love to have you involved.”

Indeed, in this marathon of growth, collaboration is the baton and AAED is passing it on.

The post The Power of Partnership in Arizona’s Economy<p class="company">Arizona Association for Economic Development (AAED)</p> appeared first on Business In Focus Magazine.

“Our reason for existence is to diversify this economy, create better career opportunities and earning potential, and make sure we’re doing that in an equitable way,” states Heath Vescovi-Chiordi, Director of Economic Development for Pima County.

There were 1.05 million people in Pima in 2023, according to Data USA, a 0.725 percent increase from the previous year. Residents are spread across 9,200 square miles, with a median age of 39.7 years old. In terms of geography, Pima is about a six-hour drive from San Diego, California, while the county’s southern portion abuts the border with Mexico. Pima County is blessed with good weather, enjoying more than 350 days of sun per year with an average daily temperature of 69 degrees Fahrenheit.

Pima County’s economy development initiatives, Vescovi-Chiordi tells us, fall under the categories of business attraction, business retention and expansion, infrastructure development, and workforce development. Business attraction is all about enticing new companies to the area, and to this end, Pima County economic development staff generate leads (using specialized software) and contact businesses directly. The county also aims to gain the attention of companies in other nations; Pima is “working directly with various states in Mexico to attract investment,” he says.

Pima personnel have visited Mexico, and the county has hosted Mexican trade delegations as well. Foreign investment might take the form of brick-and-mortar facilities or, alternatively, Mexican firms “could plug into supply chain or manufacturing opportunities” in Pima County, Vescovi-Chiordi notes.

As for business retention and expansion, county economic development representatives frequently check in with the owners of existing businesses to discuss their needs, challenges, and goals. When possible, the economic development office endeavors to connect business leaders with appropriate resources or contacts.

Infrastructure development centers on projects based on lands earmarked for economic development, while workforce development consists of “several different initiatives,” Vescovi-Chiordi explains. “One of them is the Pima Aviation Alliance, where we work with district schools to prepare individuals for careers in aviation and aerospace, because that’s one of our core industries in the region.”

The Pima Aviation Alliance is run in conjunction with Pima Community College (PCC) and other partners, with PCC offering an in-depth aviation technology program centered on aircraft repair and maintenance. The college is one of the leading educational institutions in Pima, along with Pima Medical Institute-Tucson and the University of Arizona (both of which are based in Tucson, the county’s largest city.) The University of Arizona conducts world-class astronomy and astrophysics research and accounted for the lion’s share of the 19,000-plus university degrees awarded in Pima in 2023. The Pima County Economic Development Strategy 2023–2026 estimates that over 33 percent of county residents aged 25 and up have a post-secondary degree.

County officials highlight local academic specialties as one way to attract new businesses. The University of Arizona’s Wyant College of Optical Sciences, for example, offers well-regarded optics and photonics programs. Such technologies can “support all of the other industries that we have in the area, like aviation and aerospace,” says Vescovi-Chiordi. The University of Arizona is also “a Hispanic-serving institution, which really helps bolster our opportunities and engagements with Mexico,” he adds.

He cites aerospace and defense, transportation, distribution, logistics, advanced manufacturing, healthcare, healthcare technology, biotech, and pharmaceuticals as industries Pima County would like to attract. Advanced manufacturing could include the production of electric vehicle (EV) batteries, he notes. The county is also keen on clean and renewable energy (solar power being a bit of a no-brainer considering Pima’s enviable status as an epicenter of sunshine) as well as agriculture and agricultural technology firms.

“We also dabble in some mining technology opportunities… There’s a very significant presence of mining in the region,” Vescovi-Chiordi adds.

Given Pima’s eco-friendly ethos, the county prefers to work with mining technology companies that emphasize sustainable practices, “so that we’re mitigating the negative impacts of what mining does to the Earth itself with remediation techniques and technologies.”

Land ownership represents another tool in the Pima County economic development toolkit. The county holds “several types of assets throughout the region that are dedicated to economic development. One of these are land assets that we leverage for large-scale economic development projects. I think at this point we’ve got an inventory of about 2,000 acres, give or take, of publicly owned land that we deploy for economic development purposes,” says Vescovi-Chiordi.

As noted, the Pima County Economic Development office doesn’t operate in isolation. “We work on a lot of different things within this department, but by no means do it on our own,” he says. “We work with the City of Tucson and their economic development department. We also have 30-plus departments within Pima County itself. We do a lot of internal coordination with regulatory departments—the Department of Environmental Quality, Regional Wastewater, Flood Control—these types of things. We also work with other departments that are involved in things we do like community and workforce development.”

Pima County economic development representatives have also accompanied the Arizona Commerce Authority, a statewide pro-business organization, on trade missions abroad. “We went with them to Taiwan last year to [investigate] semiconductor and packaging opportunities, and we’re going to be doing that again this year. As mentioned, we’ve gone to Mexico several times on different missions and have had delegations from Mexico come here as well. So, we’re hitting it on all cylinders.”

Businesses considering setting up in Pima County have plenty of spaces to choose from at sites such as the Aerospace Research Campus, Kino Sports Complex, and the Southeast Employment and Logistics Center, to name a few. Details about these properties can be found on the Pima County Economic Development website, which also lists incentives the county can offer companies, from workforce training to assistance with zoning, planning, permitting, and financing.

As to why an individual or family might want to move to Pima, Vescovi-Chiordi cites jobs and quality of life. The county’s vibrant economy is “very attractive. Having the University of Arizona here is also an attractive asset, because of their investment in the community and the research they do,” he says.

According to Data USA, the Health Care/Social Assistance, Retail, and Education sectors respectively employ the most people in the county. The most common job categories are (in order of prevalence), Office and Administrative Support, Management, and Sales, and the median household income in Pima County was $67,929 in 2023 (a big 5.61 percent leap from 2022).

Other draws include a strong K-12 public school system with “very robust CTE (Career and Technical Education) programs,” says Vescovi-Chiordi.

Pima County also boasts outdoor activities galore, including hiking, biking, camping, and bird watching. Pima features more than 400 bird species, many of them hard to find elsewhere in the U.S. The area abounds in parks and preserves that showcase the county’s natural beauty, as well as Mount Lemmon, a 9,185-foot peak. Given this, it’s no surprise that tourism is a major industry in Pima.

On top of this, the county offers a high quality of life at affordable prices. The median property value in Pima County in 2023 was $286,900, according to Data USA figures, lower than the national average of over $300,000. And the average commuting time in the county is under half an hour.

While warm and sunny, Pima is largely free from dangerous weather extremes. “We get some pretty significant rains through the end of June into August, which replenishes our water table… We have the occasional dust storm—the haboobs that we’re known for—but those are far and few between. It’s a very, very nice climate down here,” says Vescovi-Chiordi.

For history buffs, Pima County is believed to be one of the oldest continuously inhabited places in the United States—Indigenous communities have had a presence in Pima for thousands of years. A Catholic mission was founded in the county in 1697 and remains in use today. Pima County was part of Mexico until the mid-19^th century when it came under U.S. authority, and gold and silver prospecting once thrived in the area, which today features the huge Tohono O’odham Nation reservation, one of the largest holdings of Indigenous lands in America.

As for the future, county officials are currently developing a new strategic plan to address questions about service delivery amid population growth and other topics. For his part, Vescovi-Chiordi is excited about the positive impact his office and other county and state bodies are having on economic growth in Pima.

“I think the main takeaway is that we really want to create upward economic mobility for people in this region,” he says, by attracting firms that set up “diverse types of jobs—all the way from entry-level to CEO-level.”

The post A Sun-Drenched Community Looks Ahead<p class="company">Pima County, Arizona</p> appeared first on Business In Focus Magazine.

At just 22 years old, Maricopa is redefining what it means to build a city from scratch. “When you are building a city from nothing but farmland in today’s modern era, that’s where the challenges exist,” Price says. “But also, the opportunities.”

To understand where Maricopa is going, it’s important to understand where it’s been. Or rather, where it has moved physically throughout history.

The roots of Maricopa trace back to the 1850s, when gold rush hopefuls heading to California stopped for water at a spot called Maricopa Wells. Situated along an ancient Hohokam canal system, Maricopa Wells was more than just a watering hole; it was one of the most significant trade and transportation hubs in the Arizona Territory. Traders, military expeditions, and mail routes all passed through, helping to lay the groundwork for future development.

Decades later, when the railroads arrived, the center of activity shifted eight miles south to become the burgeoning railroad town known as Maricopaville. That settlement boomed briefly, so much so that the Wall Street Journal at one point speculated it might become Arizona’s capital once statehood was achieved.

But fate had other plans. “The connection to Phoenix and Tempe shifted everything,” Price explains. “They built a connection to this main Union Pacific line, and that really allowed Phoenix and Tempe to boom.” Maricopaville, by contrast, faded just as quickly as it had flourished. Over time, the town’s identity and geography shifted once again, becoming known as Maricopa Junction before finally settling into the modern-day Maricopa we know today.

Though incorporated in 2003, Maricopa’s modern population growth didn’t truly take off until the early 2000s. And when it did, it was dramatic. “In the 2000 census, there were about 1,200 people that lived here,” says Price. “Today, there are nearly 80,000 and that timeframe includes a six- or seven-year great recession and a two-year pandemic.”

This kind of meteoric rise brings its own set of challenges: housing demand, infrastructure needs, schools, and of course, jobs. “Retail follows rooftops,” Price says, referring to the standard trajectory of economic development. As people move in, businesses like supermarkets, restaurants, and retail shops follow.

But for Price and the City Council, retail is only part of the puzzle. “Our biggest focus in the past four or five years has been, how do we provide a place where our highly educated residents can stay and work, instead of commuting out of the city every day?” The answer lies in industrial and commercial development and that’s where things get ambitious. With nearly 80 percent of residents commuting to Phoenix or surrounding communities for work, there’s a strong incentive to bring jobs home.

Recognizing the need to create local employment, the city began purchasing key land parcels to jump-start industrial growth. Price describes these strategic acquisitions as “priming the pump,” a way for the public sector to set the stage for private investment. In total, Maricopa has secured roughly 1,200 acres of land across three main parcels with what has been dubbed the Maricopa Business Park. The crown jewel here is the 874 acres designed to be a fully rail-served industrial hub. This development is poised to be a game changer—not just for Maricopa, but for the entire region.

From the very beginning, Maricopa’s location was chosen for its connection to the railroad—a strategic advantage that still fuels economic opportunity today. Maricopa happens to lie along one of the most critical east-west freight lines in the country, the Union Pacific main line connecting the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach to the Gulf of Mexico. This corridor is vital for national logistics and supply chains. “If you can put in a short rail and have access to that main line, it really steps up the ability for Maricopa to sell itself as an industrial hub,” says Price.

The vision for the business park is clear: attract advanced manufacturing, warehousing, logistics, and other industries that provide quality jobs and don’t require long commutes to neighboring cities. The city has already invested in master planning the area to ensure the property is ready to move forward. Large acreages are being sold to developers with planned area developments (PADs) in the works to ensure the city’s long-term industrial vision is maintained.

In addition, city leaders are working with their partners on infrastructure enhancements to support these ambitions. This includes water and sewer expansion, road improvements, and a robust broadband network. With improved infrastructure, the city can accommodate the type of high-tech and light-industrial companies that require sophisticated connectivity and utilities.

“We really wanted to partner with those in the private sector who could do the job better than government,” Price says. “Our role here at the city is to help remove roadblocks, create opportunity, and let the private sector lead.”

The goal is to assist the developer in moving the rail connection and site infrastructure forward within the next 18 to 24 months, an ambitious but necessary timeline given the region’s rapid population growth and the competitive nature of industrial site selection.

Of course, when companies and individuals consider expanding or relocating, they look at more than just infrastructure; they look at cost, workforce, lifestyle, and long-term viability. In this sense, Maricopa checks a lot of boxes. Despite being in the greater Phoenix metropolitan area, Maricopa is located in Pinal County, not Maricopa County (a common misconception). That matters because costs are lower. “Land is more affordable, housing is more affordable, and taxes are lower all the way around,” Price notes.

The city itself is currently just 43 square miles incorporated, but the long-term general plan allows for expansion to include up to 233 square miles through annexation. That means there’s plenty of room to grow both for businesses and for the families who work for them. The city has already begun working with surrounding landowners who desire to be annexed to ensure that long-term growth can be managed responsibly.

Housing in Maricopa, once dominated by single-family homes, is diversifying rapidly. “We’re seeing a lot more ‘cycle of life housing’ enter the marketplace, from multi-family units to smaller homes to condominiums,” says Price. “We’re still one of the most affordable places in the Phoenix metro area to purchase a home.” That’s a major selling point for employers considering a move to the area.

The city is also investing in quality-of-life assets including parks, trails, and cultural amenities. Its Copper Sky Recreation Complex, a sprawling indoor-outdoor community center with sports fields and aquatic facilities, has become a regional draw.

Education is another important factor. Maricopa is home to Central Arizona College and collaborates with the institution to support workforce training. The city is also exploring partnerships with the University of Arizona and other major institutions to build a pipeline for talent development, particularly in engineering, technology, and skilled trades.

Unlike some cities where development is slowed by red tape or opposition from residents, Maricopa is leaning in. “We offer a City Council that is very pro-business and very, very interested in seeing and supporting businesses that want to come and locate here,” says Price. “That’s something you don’t see a lot of today.” Arizona as a whole also takes a different approach to incentives. Rather than flashy tax giveaways, the state offers structural advantages: right-to-work laws, lower overall tax burdens, and robust programs through the Arizona Commerce Authority such as quality jobs incentives, R&D tax credits, and foreign trade zones.

Locally, Maricopa complements these offerings with its own tools: expedited permitting, development agreements, and tax structures like the Government Property Lease Excise Tax (GPLET), which incentivizes certain types of development when land is leased from a municipality. But perhaps the city’s greatest advantage is its agility. The city’s staff works closely with prospective businesses to streamline approvals, coordinate utilities, and customize solutions. “We offer speed to market and we want to work jointly with businesses to move forward in parallel,” Price emphasizes.

Indeed, with access to rail, proximity to a major airport (Sky Harbor is just 30 minutes away), room for expansion, and a growing, educated population, Maricopa is emerging as a serious contender in Arizona’s economic development landscape. The city is also making waves with other development-ready areas like Murphy Park, a site with flexible zoning, strong infrastructure, and high visibility. This area is targeted for commercial, light industrial, and flex-space uses. And as growth continues, more projects like these are expected to come online.

The city has also made strides in its digital infrastructure, expanding broadband access and implementing smart city technologies. These improvements not only support businesses but also enhance services for residents.

Still, for all the big plans and strategic vision, Price remains grounded in the city’s unique story. “The truth is, we’re not trying to be the next Phoenix,” he says. “We’re trying to be the best Maricopa—a place where people can live, work, and thrive without having to leave the community they call home.”

It’s a compelling vision, one grounded in history, driven by smart planning, and fueled by a deep sense of place. With strong leadership, a strategic location, and a commitment to inclusive growth, Maricopa might just be Arizona’s most exciting city to watch.

The post Building a Modern City from the Ground Up<p class="company">City of Maricopa, Arizona</p> appeared first on Business In Focus Magazine.

But then there’s Dallin Kimble, who also admires President Lincoln because he established the mountain-ringed City of Prescott, Arizona. “It started because Abraham Lincoln said so,” Kimble says. “It didn’t start the usual way, and there’s a little bit of attitude with that.”

City Manager for the present-day Prescott, Kimble is also intrigued with the history of the area. Unlike similar communities, which started because of ranchers sharing water and other resources, a key factor in Prescott’s founding was that gold and silver were discovered in the surrounding mountains. Wanting to secure resources for the union and concerned about Confederate sympathizers in Tucson, Lincoln initiated the inception of this new community.

Named in honor of renowned historian William Hickling Prescott, the community became the capital of the Arizona Territory from 1864 to 1867, and again from 1877 to 1889, when it was replaced by Phoenix. Famous residents, such as gunfighter, dentist, and gambler Doc Holliday and lawman Virgil Earp—both playing a role in the gunfight at the O.K. Corral—helped secure Prescott’s Wild West reputation, which endures to this day.

“We have several draws for tourism, and history and Western heritage are a big part of that,” says Community Outreach Director John Heiney. “That complements our historic downtown, outdoor lifestyle, recreation, hiking and biking, and lakes for kayaking.”

The popular Phippen Museum, which boasts art, a Western heritage gallery, and more, appeals to visitors and residents alike, while other attractions include Fort Whipple and the Sharlot Hall Museum, a heritage site which was founded as the Gubernatorial Mansion Museum in 1928 by journalist and historian Sharlot M. Hall. A large, four-acre, open-air museum and heritage site, the grounds encompass 11 exhibit buildings, including Victorian-era homes and the 1864 log pine Governor’s Mansion. “We have a great history and rich historic preservation in Prescott,” says City Manager Kimble. “Several hundred historic structures are registered with our historic preservation agency.”

Other local draws include the Yavapai County Courthouse Plaza and Whiskey Row. Considered the jewel of downtown Prescott, the Courthouse Plaza is a popular spot for community events, concerts, arts and craft fairs, and the annual Christmas lighting celebration.

Across the street is the world-famous Whiskey Row, home to myriad Old West saloons and bars. The area is also home to the Palace Restaurant and Saloon, which has the distinction of being the oldest business and oldest bar operating in Arizona. A testament to Prescott’s resilience, the original saloon opened in 1877, burned down in 1900, and was rebuilt a year later.

One of the area’s biggest attractions is the annual Prescott Frontier Days® rodeo. First held in 1888, it is the World’s Oldest Rodeo® and brings in top riders from around the world. Along with the Rodeo, other events like an art fair and parade bring tens of thousands to Prescott. “It’s a time when our hotels are filled for the week,” says Kimble of the Rodeo, which will next be held June 29 to July 5, 2026. “It is a big draw, and it certainly boosts our tourism economy.”

To ensure the City of Prescott remains attractive to visitors and residents alike, the tourism office and the public works department teamed up about a year ago to launch a downtown beautification program. “We love our historic downtown, and it’s a major tourist attraction, and we want to make sure it is clean, neat, and tidy for our visitors,” says Heiney. A local company was contracted to regularly powerwash sidewalks, pick up trash, and ensure the downtown is in good order. “That’s one of the investments we’ve made.”

From mountains and valleys to canyons and desert, Arizona’s geography, ideal climate, scenic beauty, and rich history make it ideal for tourism and businesses alike. Arizona’s taxes are lower than those of neighboring states, and Prescott, in particular, has relatively low property tax rates.

While some communities promote themselves as being business-friendly, the City of Prescott goes the extra mile by arranging a Pre-Application Conference (PAC). A free process, a PAC helps interested businesses coming to the area looking for land or a building, with discussion around building locations, adjacent zoning, parking, landscaping, outdoor lighting, survey requirements, historic preservation and archeology, water and sewer lines, drainage and fire requirements, and more. If a business wants to turn a building into a manufacturing warehouse, for example, it goes through the Pre-Application Conference, with no need to spend money on drawings or other expensive preparation. Before even making a purchase, they get valuable feedback about everything from fire inspection to public works.

“We are trying to give them a leg up before they dive into the purchase or acquisition of property; it really helps,” says Kimble. “And it’s a free process. If they don’t like what they hear the first time, they can go back to the drawing board and do it as many times as they want before they formally submit a plan. This helps them get off on the right foot before they get into the permitting process.”

The PAC process also allows prospective businesses to speak directly with managers and department directors. “This way, the people who are making decisions about your application are the people you know, have had conversations with, have directly pitched to, and who understand what’s going on,” he adds. “That kind of access is unique for cities, but it’s part of our commitment—we want people to be wildly successful.”

The area is home to several well-respected academic institutions, including Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Ranked the #1 regional college in the west by U.S. News & World Report, Embry-Riddle is famous for programs in space, aviation, applied science, computers, technology, engineering, business, security, intelligence, and safety. Owing to the school’s reputation for top-quality grads, businesses in engineering, aerospace, and technology are coming to Prescott to find employees, and the university, which also conducts flight training at the regional airport, is expanding its operations. The move represents millions of dollars in investment.

“They provide a very skilled workforce for us and give us a pipeline to really bright students—not just pilots, but degrees in engineering and cybersecurity,” says Heiney. “So we have a flow of highly trained workforce, and part of our goal is to find great jobs for them, bring companies right here who will hire them in Prescott.”

Other area institutions include Yavapai College and its Career and Technical Education Center, CTEC. Here, a 100,000-square-foot facility teaches students skills such as auto body work and how to operate CNC machines and 3D printers. “If a company comes to Prescott and they need training for a certain machine they’re bringing in, CTEC or the College can create a curriculum for them,” Heiney explains. “For the workforce, that’s another pipeline of skilled trades.”

Together with Yavapai College and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, the area is home to Prescott College. A private institution, Prescott College focuses on environmental courses, offering Entrepreneurial Leadership and Organizational Management, Environmental Studies and Sustainability, Field Ecology and Conservation, and other disciplines.

“We have a nice balance of these three institutions right here in Prescott. We have all kinds of students here learning these different skill sets and contributing to the economy,” says Heiney.

“Prescott acts like a small town,” he continues, “so relationships matter. Our partnerships with organizations like the Prescott Chamber of Commerce, Yavapai College Regional Economic Development Center and Small Business Development Center, and numerous non-profit organizations helps us give business the help they need when they are moving or expanding here.

With a population of 47,750, the City of Prescott is growing at about two percent per year, and one of its economic development goals is to create jobs that bring young professionals and young families in search of a rewarding career to the area. To this end, one of Prescott’s biggest draws is its quality of life. It is possible to get almost anywhere in the area with just a brief drive, including five gorgeous lakes and more than 600 miles of bike trails.

All these natural advantages, combined with a four-season climate and mild winters, make Prescott a great place to work, live, and raise a family. “We have a great work-life balance,” says Heiney. “You can take your lunch break and drive 15 minutes to the trailhead—that’s a huge selling point. Whether you are an executive thinking about moving your company here, or thinking about coming here to work, it’s a great lifestyle that we have,” he shares.

“We are launching an advertising campaign that focuses on ‘Prescott Bold.’ Prescott was founded by bold leaders with a bold vision. Whether you are a visitor enjoying our outdoor adventure, or a business looking to expand, we like to think that bold spirit lives on in Prescott today.” Stop by prescottbusiness.com to find out more.

The post Wild West Roots, Modern-Day Development<p class="company">City of Prescott, Arizona</p> appeared first on Business In Focus Magazine.

Bringing in business
The City of Tempe benefits from the regional success that the Greater Phoenix area is seeing in terms of attracting the technology and semiconductor industries.

“Tempe offers a lot in terms of assets that attract businesses in the tech, aerospace, and bioscience industry,” says April Kroner, Tempe’s Deputy Economic Development Director. “We are home to many regional, national, and even international companies, including Honeywell, GoDaddy, Carvana, AIDC, Deca Technologies, and Amkor.”

Tempe’s central location is one piece of the puzzle. “We’re right in the middle of the Phoenix metro, which offers a better quality of life and shorter commute time for employers,” says Kroner.

Other draws for business include Sky Harbor International Airport, just a six-minute drive from downtown Tempe, and Arizona State University (ASU), the largest public university in the United States, with the country’s largest engineering school. With more than 55,000 students attending the Tempe campus in various disciplines, it’s a definite draw for tech companies.

Tempe enjoyed an impressive win earlier this year, cementing the city as ground zero for future semiconductor and technology-related companies, Kroner tells us. “In January, Natcast, the operator of the National Center for the Advancement of Semiconductor Technology, powered by CHIPS for America, announced they were locating in Tempe, and will be up and operating in 2028.”

This roughly $3 billion-plus investment includes a facility that will perform cooperative research with other firms in the industry. “Their goal is to move technology forward by sharing facilities, knowledge, and resources,” says Kroner. “We’re really excited about the new facility. Plus, other companies now want to locate close to it.”

Life at the human scale
Touching on five freeways, Tempe boasts light rail with nine stops inside its borders, and 14 streetcar stops on its line. It is truly a walkable, bikeable, and likeable human-scale city.

The city is also proud of its Tempe Town Lake, built more than a generation ago in a dry riverbed that runs through the core of the downtown.

From Pat’s Run to Ironman triathlons to music festivals, the lake is home to a variety of popular events year-round, and that doesn’t even begin to touch on the development centered around the lake—which didn’t exist 25 years ago. “We estimate about 40,000 people come to work on the banks of Tempe Town Lake every single day, with about 2.4 million annual visitors,” Kroner says.

In the late 1990s, before the lake existed, nobody came to downtown Tempe after 5 p.m., she adds. “The foresight of our previous leaders made Tempe what it is today.”

Mayor Corey Woods is determined to uphold this legacy, ensuring that Tempe’s downtown remains the envy of all the downtowns throughout the Valley. This means adding new sidewalks, irrigation, electrical, public art installations, and a new tree canopy.

“I live right in the middle of downtown Tempe myself, so I understand what it’s like to live in a construction zone and how challenging it can be,” he says. “At the same time, we recognize this is part of what’s going to allow our downtown to compete with the other downtowns in the East Valley and throughout Arizona. Once it’s finished—around February 2026—people will be in awe of what the new, refreshed Mill Avenue looks like.”

Of course, housing is an ongoing challenge, as it is everywhere. “Housing is a very important part of what we do here in Tempe,” says Mayor Woods. “In the downtown area, we’re adding tons of new housing units, which is critically important.”

Additional market-rate housing units include developments like Mirabella at ASU, a university-based retirement community located right on campus. A number of new hotels have also come to town, such as the Westin Hotel, the Omni Tempe Hotel, and the Canopy Hotel, along with the traditional favorites, including the Tempe Mission Palms Hotel, which recently celebrated its 40th anniversary.

Mayor Woods is aware of how ongoing developments and renovations can impact area businesses and strives to alleviate the impact. “We’re doing everything we can to make this as smooth as humanly possible, which is why we’re speeding up some of the work we’re doing during the summer months,” he says.

Growing mindfully
As a small- to medium-sized town that feels more like a big city during the day, Tempe must amenitize to keep up. When Mayor Woods talks about restaurants and retail, service businesses and transportation infrastructure, the city is building for more than just its residents: it’s also building for everyone who comes to work there each day.

“Our population is a bit under 200,000, but we have a daily employment base of about 210,000 people,” says Kroner. “We’re hoping—and the Mayor keeps pushing to build more affordable housing and workforce housing—that those commuters will eventually be able to move here.”

Adequate space for Class A office facilities is another ongoing concern. Post-pandemic, Tempe’s downtown office market has an “unhealthy level of vacancy” (meaning too little space available). “There are a few pending deals that, once announced, will probably take our vacancy in Class A to below three percent,” shares Kroner, adding that a healthy amount of vacancy in any market is somewhere in the eight to ten percent range.

“We’ve got about 600,000 square feet or so under construction now, but it won’t even make a dent in the demand.”

While this is a good problem to have, it’s also a challenge. Tempe’s economic development team cares about attracting new business and operators to the region, but it is even more important to take care of the people and businesses already in the city. “The best way to grow is to take care of the companies already doing business here so that they can grow organically,” Kroner says.

To support existing businesses, Tempe has rolled out new programs such as the Business Retention and Expansion Program—Tempe360, as it’s been branded—a concierge program connecting existing businesses with resources provided by the city as well as various outside entities, such as schools. While ASU is vital, equally as important to the business community is the Maricopa County Community College System, the largest in the country, along with the local Rio Salado College, which provides the workforce that Tempe’s manufacturing tech companies need.

“We also have a new business licensing program that City Council approved last month that will allow us to better identify businesses, disseminate information to them, and follow up on recruitment opportunities,” says Kroner. “We estimate there are about 30,000 businesses in the city; this is an incredible opportunity for the city to better connect and support them.”

Quality of life
Along with a wide variety of businesses, Tempe offers a thriving entertainment scene with something for everyone, whether it’s spring training baseball for the Los Angeles Angels at Tempe Diablo Stadium, a multi-day music event like Innings Festival, or fall and spring arts festivals. “We have one of the best homegrown, small-town, Fantasy of Lights street parades on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, a Fantasy of Lights boat parade at Tempe Town Lake, and the Tempe Blooms Festival, a phenomenal event,” says Mayor Woods.

This latter, distinctly unique festival features live music, a floral-filled market, “flowerful specials” from businesses across Downtown Tempe, and amazing displays created by local floral creators. “I hear from a lot of folks that one of the things that differentiates our city from other surrounding communities is the quality of the special events,” adds Mayor Woods. “It’s one of the many reasons people come to Tempe in droves.”

Another powerful attraction is the quality and variety of restaurant experiences, Kroner says. Along with housing, one of the initiatives Mayor Woods has championed—and with which he’s very involved—is retail and restaurant attraction, reinventing and curating an upgraded vibe for the downtown core.

As a certified foodie himself, this is a real passion project, he says. “With the increasing diversity in our downtown, the Class A offices, the market-rate, multi-family housing, and the new hotels, we’ve tried to make sure we have restaurants that match the interests and tastes of the people who live, work, and play here.”

Doing “exceptionally well” is a new restaurant, Filthy Animal, featuring a cocktail bar in the back called Drop Dead Gorgeous. “I love the food, the atmosphere, and the vibe,” says Mayor Woods, “and I’m more than happy to show off one of the newest treasures in downtown.”

Opening in February 2026 is Roman, a high-end Italian restaurant complete with a speakeasy, as well as the famed Glide restaurant, arriving in mid-2026. There’s a country and western bar downtown called Neon Spur, a “great new addition” to what Tempe is doing; the Devil’s Hideaway and speakeasy Idle Hands; Carmen, a Tulum-inspired cocktail bar; Prince St. Pizza; and Proof Bread Bakery.

“It’s very exciting,” says Mayor Woods. “Folks in the food and beverage community are saying something is really changing here, and they want to be a part of it. I think the best is still to come.”

So Tempe is not only an amazing place to live, work, and play, but it’s on the cusp of even greater things. “It’s just a good quality of life,” says Kroner.

The post The Center of It All – Tempe, Arizona Is Destined for Success<p class="company">City of Tempe, Arizona</p> appeared first on Business In Focus Magazine.

One of the most striking aspects of Mohave County’s development is that many major companies are already operational, not just present on paper. “These are not projects we’re working on; these are companies that are here,” says Tami Ursenbach, Director of Economic Development for Mohave County. “They’re up and running. Employees are there.”

Among the most significant newcomers is Interstate Warehousing, which opened about a year and a half ago with 100 employees. The company quickly completed its second phase and is already discussing a third expansion. “They have a 278,000-square-foot office and freezer in Phase 1 and added another 200,000 square feet of freezer space,” Ursenbach says. Impressively, the company’s freezer space filled to 90 percent capacity within just two months of opening, underscoring the booming demand.

Other major companies have also chosen Mohave for their operations. FedEx has established a 200,000-square-foot facility employing around 200 people, while Flowserve is ramping up its engineering workforce. Crown has recently opened and is planning to hire 300 employees, and Dot Foods, which arrived in 2018 expecting to hire about 120, has already surpassed 300 employees and is preparing for a third expansion.

Even long-time industrial players like Nucor, which faced challenges with energy supply, stayed when the county helped secure additional power, resulting in 140 well-paying jobs at a new melt shop. “That’s a big win,” Ursenbach emphasizes, “because those are really good-paying jobs for our community.”

The growth is supported by substantial infrastructure development, especially around the Kingman Airport & Industrial Park, which stands as the largest industrial park in rural Arizona. It hosts more than 70 businesses and continues to expand. “Our industrial park is always changing and growing,” Ursenbach shares. To accommodate this growth, several new highway interchanges are under construction; one called the Flying Fortress interchange will directly connect I-40 to the industrial park, enhancing access for trucking and logistics.

Additionally, plans for the future I-11 corridor linking Highway 93 to I-40 will further improve regional connectivity, making Mohave an even more attractive location for businesses requiring seamless transport routes.

The county is also served by rail lines and several regional airports located in Kingman, Lake Havasu, Bullhead City, and Colorado City. These transportation options support cargo shipments as well as limited commercial flights, significantly enhancing the region’s connectivity. The strategic location also allows businesses to reach major markets quickly by truck, with goods able to travel to Los Angeles in about five hours, Las Vegas in under two, and Phoenix in just over three hours, an invaluable advantage for companies operating in the area. “It’s all about being able to get product to market within a very short time,” says Ursenbach.

Infrastructure development in Mohave County extends well beyond roadways. The county has made significant efforts to address past challenges related to energy supply, successfully identifying solutions to increase capacity. These improvements are expected to provide new energy resources within the next one and a half to two years, supporting key sectors like manufacturing, transportation, and data centers. Ensuring adequate power availability has been essential, as it directly impacts the ability of businesses to operate efficiently and pursue expansion, making this a critical factor in sustaining the county’s growth trajectory.

Economic expansion depends heavily on workforce development, and Mohave County is making strategic moves to ensure its labor pool meets the needs of area employers. Through the Northern Arizona Good Jobs Network grant, the county has been focusing on key sectors such as construction, medical services, hospitality, manufacturing, and transportation. “We’re building a pipeline from high school all the way up,” Ursenbach explains, “and we’re also helping incumbent workers upskill and move up in their industries.”

The opening of Mohave Community College’s Advanced Manufacturing Training Center marks a significant milestone. It offers courses in robotics, truck driving, and manufacturing trades, equipping students with skills directly relevant to the county’s growing employers. “This center is helping us train people right here at home for jobs that are right here at home. It’s a win-win for both the workers and the companies.”

Mohave County’s vast size—it’s the fifth largest county in the United States—means there is plenty of available land and numerous business-ready sites to accommodate growth. The county is currently in the process of applying for a Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) designation, which is expected to offer significant financial advantages to businesses throughout the region. This designation will help companies save on costs related to tariffs and trade complexities, providing benefits regardless of where they choose to establish themselves within the county.

The county is also preparing for future growth with planned communities like Entrada, a massive development south of Las Vegas spanning ten thousand acres. Still in the early stages, Entrada is projected to take 20 to 30 years to fully develop and will combine residential, commercial, and industrial areas. Ursenbach states, “It’s going to be huge, and it shows the long-term vision we have for our region.”

While industrial growth grabs headlines, tourism and film are also emerging as vital sectors for Mohave County. Diverse attractions, from the Grand Canyon West with its glass bridge over the canyon, to Lake Havasu and the Colorado River, draw outdoor enthusiasts and history lovers alike. Next year’s 100^th anniversary of Route 66 is a major focus for the county, with plans for festivals and events that will attract visitors and celebrate this iconic highway’s legacy. And to position itself for more film productions, “we’re working with the state to promote our scenic locations and we’ve put together resources, videos, photos, lists of local actors, and support services to help filmmakers shoot here,” Ursenbach tells us. “It’s a growing part of our economy, and we want to support it as much as possible.”

With Zion National Park restricting large vehicles, Mohave is seeing an uptick in visitors who can’t go through Zion and are discovering the northern part of the county instead. The county recently launched ExploreMohaveCounty.com as a dedicated platform to attract both tourists and businesses, highlighting everything the region offers.

Indeed, Mohave County offers a quality of life that blends rural charm with proximity to metropolitan hubs. Residents enjoy everything from the rugged beauty of the Grand Canyon to recreational opportunities on Lake Havasu and the Colorado River. “It’s a rural community with a great vibe, but you’re close to major markets. You really get the best of both worlds here.”

Perhaps most encouraging is the sense of collaboration driving Mohave’s success. Rather than competing, the county’s cities and towns are working together to promote the region as a whole.

“We’re partnering as a county instead of individual cities focusing on themselves,” Ursenbach shares. “If someone comes to Lake Havasu for the lake or the London Bridge, we encourage them to visit Grand Canyon West, Kingman and Route 66, or Bullhead City and the Colorado River. We want visitors and businesses to experience everything Mohave has to offer.”

This cooperative spirit extends to economic development as well. The Northern Arizona Good Jobs Network grant, for example, brings together partners from across five counties to focus on training and workforce readiness.

From large-scale industrial expansion and thoughtful infrastructure investment to a blossoming tourism and film industry, Mohave County is rewriting its story with bold ambition and a strong community spirit. As Tami Ursenbach says, “We’re excited about the future. We’re working hard to make sure businesses have what they need—energy, workforce, infrastructure—and that residents have a great place to live. It’s an exciting time to be here.”

With its strategic location, business-ready sites, and collaborative approach, Mohave County is poised to become a powerhouse not only in Arizona but in the broader Southwest region. Whether you’re a business looking to grow or someone seeking a vibrant community to call home, Mohave County offers opportunity, adventure, and the promise of a bright future.

The post Mohave County on the Move – Growth, Industry, and Opportunity in Arizona’s High Desert<p class="company">Mohave County, Arizona</p> appeared first on Business In Focus Magazine.

For 80 years, the Colorado-based company has been recognized for one thing above all: its commitment to long-term partnerships. By tailoring materials to precise applications, purities, packaging, and formats, GWI ensures that its customers’ most specialized needs are not just met, but anticipated.

Rooted in history, focused on the future
Founded in 1946 in Denver, GWI’s early success came from manufacturing sensitive, high-performance materials in the region’s dry climate—perfect for handling delicate chemistries. From the beginning, long-term relationships were formed and are the cornerstone of the business, keeping GWI closely aligned with emerging technologies and ever-shifting industry needs.

“We have evolved through every major industrial shift over the last 80 years,” says Plant General Manager Shaun Sellers. “And we’re taking the same approach to planning for the future.”

A culture of family and responsiveness
Beyond its technical expertise, GWI prides itself on its culture. This year, Vice President of Products, Amy Chuang, celebrates over 10 years with the company. She points out that collaboration and a family-oriented atmosphere are at the heart of daily operations.

“The affirmation ‘Made in USA’ is our pride,” Amy says, noting that GWI produces more than 90 percent of its products in the U.S. “Our consistency comes from robust procedures, detailed documentation, and a team of experienced chemists.”

That dedication extends beyond internal culture to customers. As Amy explains, GWI’s responsiveness and cross-department teamwork ensure that clients receive the most effective solutions tailored to their specific needs.

Meeting customer challenges head-on
In today’s fast-moving markets, sourcing advanced materials has grown increasingly complex. Niche applications in particular can face long lead times, vague documentation, and limited technical support.

Shaun acknowledges these challenges but views them as opportunities: “Customers working with non-standard specifications or small-volume orders are often at the forefront of innovation,” he says. “We treat these projects with the same precision, speed, and technical expertise as full-scale production.”

This philosophy enables GWI to serve both pioneering start-ups and global industry leaders with the same high-touch service. By keeping synthesis, testing, packaging, and recycling under one roof, GWI helps customers balance supply chain risks, sustainability goals, and speed to market.

Case study: Chromium Chloride
One example of GWI’s specialty expertise is its proprietary synthesis of Chromium Chloride, a compound used in chemical synthesis, electroplating, pigment production, and textile treatment.

Chromium Chloride is highly sensitive and notoriously difficult to manufacture consistently, making it a compound rarely stocked by many suppliers. Yet GWI has developed a proven, repeatable process entirely in-house, refined over decades.

The result? Speed, consistency, and cost-efficiency, with savings passed directly to customers. Just as importantly, GWI provides real-time technical support, ensuring the compound performs as intended for each unique application. It is the difference between a vendor and a true partner.

Built on four pillars of quality
Underpinning all of GWI’s work are four pillars:
• Quality Assurance – aligning specifications and documentation from the start
• Quality Care – strict environmental, health, security, and safety compliance
• Quality Commitment – flexibility, partnership, and responsiveness
• Quality Testing – in-house labs, backed by ISO certifications

These standards are more than guidelines—they are the backbone of the company’s success.

Scaling with purpose
Looking forward, GWI is scaling with purpose. Expansions in global sourcing, manufacturing, and logistics will support customers with production-scale needs while staying true to the company’s expertise in custom work.

“Even as we grow, we remain committed to the custom, specialty work that drives innovation,” says Amy.

This includes new capabilities in closed-loop materials recycling, helping customers reduce waste, recover valuable metals, and meet ambitious sustainability goals. Amy adds that GWI is also preparing to deliver larger volumes of materials: “We’re excited to provide bigger quantities in the future—all while maintaining the high level of quality customers count on.”

A bright future
With a loyal customer base, a highly skilled workforce, and 80 years of industry experience, GWI is poised to lead the next generation of technological advancement. By blending global reach with customer focus and environmental responsibility, the company continues to prove that its legacy is one of innovation, quality, and true partnership.

The post Eight Decades of Expertise in Chemicals and Materials Sciences<p class="company">Great Western Inorganics</p> appeared first on Business In Focus Magazine.

In Billerica, the focus is simple: set goals, invest thoughtfully and deliver results. It is a simple equation that continues to take the community to the next level. And when it comes to doing business, the process is open, streamlined, and welcoming to those who can see themselves calling the idyllic New England town home. With a rich history and an even brighter future, Billerica is doing its part to bring more opportunities, services, and amenities to the town of over 42,000.

Actionable leadership, smart investments
Growth in Billerica has been the result of promises kept, and one of the most significant promises was the new high school, which has been a beacon of development thanks to the town’s ability to ideate, execute, and deliver on projects in accordance with its Master Plan.

The $176 million Billerica Memorial High School was completed in 2019 and has since established a reputation for both its academic performance and design excellence, receiving several awards including the AIA 2022 Architecture Award and IIDA New England’s 2020 Best in Show and Education Award.

“The project came in on time and on budget, which has given some faith to the community and allowed for more future investment in the community with such a successful major project. That was managed well and executed well, which has allowed us to do numerous other projects since then,” says Building Commissioner Mark LaLumiere.

Among those projects is a new fire station in South Billerica with another to follow in North Billerica. Currently in the design development stage, construction is slated for the spring and will see an additional $11 million invested in the community. The town has also redeveloped the site of the former Vining School building into a new 23,000-square-foot Recreation Center; is in the process of constructing a new 70,000-square-foot Department of Public Works facility, which will centralize all of its services on one campus; and has upgraded its Town Hall.

Town Hall upgrades included new windows and roofing, a state-of-the-art HVAC system, and updated technology to facilitate virtual and hybrid meetings and provide a better home for leadership and residents to convene. The work preserves a building that was built in 1905 and represents the town’s history to this day.

A community in development
Projects like these exemplify the town’s development approach, which is forward-thinking, actionable, and in accordance with the Master Plan, which will soon be reevaluated in the wake of completed projects and promises delivered.

“The Planning Board and Master Planning Steering Committee are just starting to get back together now to update it because they’ve accomplished so much. It’s time to review what’s been done and start the process of setting the direction for the next years to come,” explains Interim Town Manager Christopher Dillon.

A significant part of the Master Plan entailed a greater focus on mixed-use developments, which have become a major success story for the rebranded Shops at Billerica, a mixed-use development that is breathing new life into the local mall with a combination of updated retail and residential offerings, including a 200-unit residential complex. Another mixed-use development, Concord Shores, is underway, offering 20 apartments overlooking the Concord River with restaurant, brewery, and other retail space on the ground level.

“That’s something that came out of the Master Plan,” LaLumiere says. “The town has also revised and applied an overlay district of more mixed-use along the Boston Road to try and spur some better and higher uses and community activities.” Better and higher uses in this case are transit-oriented, mixed-use neighborhoods that balance residential, commercial, and retail amenities and services.

“One of the things that came out of the Master Plan is the mixed-use approach: live, work, play [in one place],” LaLumiere shares. “Prior to these two projects that are currently under construction, there were no areas like that, so the challenge was getting it implemented, getting projects permitted, and getting them started. And now, the biggest challenge is getting them finished and operational.”

Likewise, streetscape improvements along the town’s main corridor, Boston Road, also known as State Route 3A, are another part of the Master Plan that will create a cohesive approach to development that doesn’t compromise the quality of life enjoyed by residents, but rather, elevates it.

Route 3A, a local business road, runs parallel to the larger state highway, Route 3. “Along Route 3, which is the main highway in our town, we have many industrial parks,” explains Katherine Malgieri, Director of Planning and Community Development. “That’s where we see vacancies caused by the recent pandemic, such as the large offices or employment centers. I know Billerica isn’t alone in trying to repurpose these sites to meet the new economic needs, and what many of our sites have done is get shovel-ready and pre-permitted for new advanced manufacturing businesses, which are integral to the Massachusetts economy. And we are looking at what else we can do to help fill those vacancies as well.”

While hundreds of thousands of square feet have been filled in the town’s industrial parks, there is still room to grow; the challenge then becomes finding the right match, as the market demands are currently for smaller leasable spaces than when the large buildings were first designed. Biotech, for instance, was experiencing a boom in Billerica and across Massachusetts for the last several years, but demand has shifted and the newer technologies require far smaller footprints than traditional manufacturers. This bodes well as these industries take occupancy in spaces that were left in the work-from-home exodus initiated by the pandemic.

“We’re part of this region between Boston and Worcester, south of Manchester, New Hampshire, where there is a lot of advanced technology,” Malgieri says. “It was life sciences for a while, and now there are emerging technologies in robotics, AI, energy, and advanced materials, and there’s so much research and development that goes with that.”

Luckily, the nearby University of Massachusetts (UMass) at Lowell, a leading national research university, Middlesex Community College, and Shawsheen Valley Technical High School supply quality talent to support the town’s diverse knowledge economy. “We’re really right in the center of this triangle of those three big cities, so we’re perfectly located for those or any of the supporting industries and businesses that help those larger techs as well,” says Malgieri.

She explains that Billerica receives support from organizations like the Middlesex 3 Coalition, Northern Middlesex Council of Governments, a regional planning agency, and the Greater Lowell Chamber of Commerce, all of which work together to advance the collective interests of the region.

A plan forward
With a Master Plan and Site Plan Review in the pipeline, Billerica is showing no signs of slowing its development pace, which seems comfortable and manageable in a way that balances the need for development and the quality of life residents enjoy. From efforts to update housing stock to establishing the infrastructure necessary to support and elevate the community, there is room to grow and the willingness and knowhow to do so.

“We’ve also adopted zoning where, in transit-oriented locations, we are now allowing for the possibility of more housing developments,” Malgieri shares. “And additional zoning is under review this fall which will incentivize and attract more businesses to our town.”

LaLumiere tells us that, “The town has also made a huge investment in community recreation, adding and redoing baseball fields and adding lights so you can play at night. We’ve rehabbed and added all new park equipment to Kohlrausch Park, which needed some love. And we’re starting another project at the Dixon School, which was an old school that was turned into a community park, which will house our Farmers Market, which is number one in the state.”

Looking ahead, there will certainly be even more engagement, collaboration, and momentum to come—all moving the Town of Billerica forward as city leadership does its part to take advantage of opportunities that present themselves in accordance with the future vision of this lively and dynamic community.

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