“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.

Combining economic opportunities with a lively lifestyle, the vibrant and thriving Peoria is a great place to invest in retail, dining, and hospitality, with its strong pipeline of new housing, robust infrastructure investments, and several prominent growth zones.

Boasting some of the highest levels of education in the area, with a median household income of $104,912, pad-ready locations such as mixed-use nodes and high-visibility intersections, and the ability to provide concierge-level assistance for new enterprises, Peoria is also strategically situated, connected to the larger Phoenix Metro area and beyond by Loops 101 and 303.

Excitement in the desert
Established in 1954, this exciting desert city, located northwest of Phoenix and housing more than 209,000 residents, has expanded from its original one square mile to encompass more than 176 square miles of stunning Sonoran Desert in Yavapai and Maricopa counties.

Buoyed by first-rate facilities like Lake Pleasant, the Peoria Sports Complex, a vast network of hiking and cycling trails, and a wide range of cultural and artistic events, Peoria secured the top spot for West Valley cities in May 2025 when it was named #7 in Arizona’s Best Places to Live list and was included in U.S. News and World Report’s Best Places to Live list. Indeed, whether you’re just starting out or are interested in expanding or moving your business, this outstanding team of economic development professionals will help you find your ideal site.

Currently, supporting development in the area is key, particularly in the Peoria Innovation Core (PIC), which occupies 7,300 acres along Loop 303 and is poised to become Peoria’s next significant economic driver. With 30,000 new homes planned nearby and its strategic location near TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.) and other cutting-edge industries, this 20-plus-year growth area will require restaurants, retail, and hotels to accommodate the thousands of workers, residents, and tourists attracted to this thriving neighborhood.

There are, however, some challenges to overcome. “While Peoria is a big city—about 176 square miles—a good chunk of our land is part of the Arizona State Land Department (ASLD), which means it’s not available for private use,” Laughner explains. “You have to go through a state public auction process, which is very complex. The way that the state lands are set up, their goal, according to state statute, is to sell land to the highest bidder, and that money goes to fund schooling in Arizona,” she says. “If a developer or a user is interested in a location somewhere on state land, they have to perform a great deal of due diligence. There are cultural studies, environmental studies, appraisals, and more. And then ASLD reviews everything, which only happens once a month, so getting approval to go to auction on a parcel is a long process.”

If approved, a public notice announces an auction, which takes place 10 weeks later. Nothing associated with the land is done until after the auction, as it still takes from 60 to 90 days to receive the deed. For the 834-acre parcel in the Peoria Innovation Core, the City of Peoria is leading this process; once it succeeds at the auction and acquires ownership, the city will parcel out the land and sell it to developers.

All about development
Heralded as the “future of growth and opportunity,” the North Peoria opportunity spanning more than 8,600 acres over three key areas—the Peoria Innovation Core, North Peoria Gateway, and FIVE NORTH at Vistancia—is the city’s best chance for long-term, sustainable economic development.

This area is designed as a dynamic blend of residential zones, business districts, job centers, and open space. With the help of key partnerships with the Arizona State Land Department and strategic investments in critical infrastructure, North Peoria is well-positioned to spearhead Peoria’s next phase of innovation, economic growth, and enhanced quality of life.

Although the process to acquire land is complex and can be time-consuming, economic incentives for manufacturing in Arizona, including the Qualified Facility Tax Credit, support the establishment and growth of manufacturing facilities, research and development facilities, and headquarters buildings. Additionally, according to Arizona law, machinery and equipment used directly in production, research, and development are exempt from sales tax.

“Peoria is very future-focused, and we’re putting our own money into creating the transportation and the utility infrastructure so that the land is shovel ready,” adds Laughner. “Most cities don’t do that. We’re fronting all of the money to do all of this. The city is very forward-looking, and we’re putting a lot of intention into this.”

It’s all done very deliberately to help Peoria grow, she emphasizes. “This land isn’t available to just anybody. We want to say, ‘This is the vision for the area, and we will be adopting zoning that demonstrates how the land plan can be developed. It is our intention to target advanced manufacturing and semiconductors because of the strength of TSMC and Amkor.’”

Always entertaining
Another vital and growing area, Peoria Eighty Three, also known as P83, located in central Peoria, is considered the city’s premier entertainment district. The launching point for dozens of entertainment options, P83 is situated on 83^rd Avenue just south of Bell Road, and offers “something for everyone,” including not just fantastic dining options, bars, and shopping, but the Peoria Sports Complex, which hosts year-round player development and spring training for both the Seattle Mariners and the San Diego Padres, as well as public and private events throughout the year.

Whether looking for entertainment for the family or a romantic evening, the area is home to dozens of prospects, such as local eateries like Osaka P83 Teppanyaki & Sushi, Postino Wine Café, North Italia, and Revolu Modern Taqueria + Bar’s fresh Mexican cuisine. Fogo de Chao is currently doing a tenant improvement.

“It’s like a Mecca for entertainment and restaurants,” says Laughner. “There are Broadway theaters, a movie theater, and we’re getting a lot of new restaurants that are part of the Peoria Sports Complex. It’s a very well-defined area.”

To promote growth, the city has acquired a number of properties and is collaborating with eateries and merchants from throughout the Phoenix metro region to introduce fresh concepts and ideas to this important neighborhood. Foot traffic will be increased by projects in and around downtown, and every new project accelerates growth. Whether it’s the 6,600-square-foot Caldwell County BBQ or a 7,000-square-foot-plus community entertainment concept called Jefferson House, more growth and prosperity will result from these new developments, which will also draw more tourists.

“When we started, we were this one-square-mile little town with an agricultural community, and we still have that downtown area, but now we’re investing to make it livelier,” Laughner tells us. “We’ve seen much growth in new multifamily development, adding good density, and the city is working with two large infill developers.”

There are also a number of historical sites to take in, as well as the library, the vibrant city center, and a large park. “With all of this in place, what we’re trying to do is a redevelopment and infill development to revitalize our downtown.”

Getting down to business
When it comes to choosing the perfect site to set up business, a wide range of helpful regional services and resources are combined in Peoria’s award-winning Business Concierge program, the initial point of contact for whatever prospective clients need—whether they have a clear concept and are considering launching a business; need resources for expanding a company; or need help navigating the city’s planning, zoning, signs, code enforcement, or similar.

A city-to-business outreach program, ribbon cuttings, the Business Brief newsletter, and collaborations with organizations like the Peoria Chamber of Commerce, Grand Canyon University, and Local First Arizona are just a few of the services offered.

Despite its many successes, Peoria’s biggest obstacle remains, simply, that it doesn’t own its lands, a challenge for developers due to the time involved in the disposition of state land. “Very few developers come in and say they can wait two years, but the city is getting ahead of that,” says Laughner. “It’s a difficult process and takes persistence, but we’re getting there.”

Peoria is a forward-thinking city that aids development by simplifying permits, with a pro-business leadership team that operates with impressive speed. Peoria’s workforce, educated and stable, is also poised to attract more business and jobs to the area, building on the city’s reputation as a solid community looking to reach its full potential.

“We’re a great place to live,” says Laughner. “We have a ton of amenities and natural attractions, and North Peoria is beautiful in its topography, with desert mountains and gullies. It’s really attractive.” With something for everyone, “we also have great master planned communities and everything in between—and it’s because of this beautiful area.”

The post The Bright and Beautiful Future of a City on the Grow<p class="company">City of Peoria, Arizona</p> appeared first on Business In Focus Magazine.

Located approximately halfway between Phoenix and Tucson along Arizona’s Golden Corridor, Casa Grande’s growing renown as a secure community for investment and a vibrant place to call home has put it on the radar—and everyone is taking notice.

Discover Casa Grande
For the over 60,000 residents and the nearly 15,000 snowbirds from Canada, the Midwest, and the East Coast who escape cold climes for the 300-plus days a year of Sonoran Desert sun, Casa Grande is home.

The community has long been a destination of choice for residents who are attracted to the idyllic weather, local culture, cost of living, and availability and affordability of land, but the same can now be said for business and industry on a far greater scale.

“From an affordability standpoint, it translates to not just land for industrial uses but the cost of housing,” says Richard Wilkie, Economic Development Director for Casa Grande. “If you move here, that’s more money in your pocket. You also spend much less time on the road than you would commuting in the Valley; even during the busiest times, you could be at work in 15 to 20 minutes, which means more time at home with the family or being involved with the community.”

These easy commutes are possible because of the optimal connectivity and infrastructure Casa Grande boasts. As a strategic hub, the community is directly served by Interstates Eight and Ten and the main line of the Union Pacific Railroad, and is within one hour of three major commercial airports. And, if that’s not enough, it is just over seven hours from the Port of Long Beach and three hours from two ports of entry into Mexico.

In addition to Interstates Eight and Ten, Wilkie notes that, “A proposed Interstate Eleven would connect Canada to Mexico through the United States, and that will either go through our community or immediately adjacent to the community to the west of us for enhanced connectivity.”

Being proximate and connected also enables Casa Grande to take advantage of growth in neighboring communities. The world’s largest chip manufacturer, TSMC, is investing $40 billion in North Phoenix, for instance. Casa Grande has managed to attract many of its suppliers who have been drawn to the availability and low cost of land: 2,400 flat, ready-to-develop acres zoned for industrial use. Access to a skilled workforce is also a significant perk.

Success breeds success
From an industrial standpoint, sustainability is an important consideration, one that the city of Casa Grande doesn’t take lightly. The community and its officials are very conscious that they are situated in a desert and water is a finite resource.

From Wilkie’s perspective, “We’re very conscious of the types of businesses that we’re actively recruiting. We’re looking for good, solid companies that are high-tech, high-skilled, pay well, have good benefits, and are good stewards of the environment, too. That helps diversify our economy, which strengthens its sustainability.”

Lucid Motors is a great example of those principles in action. The company established its first electric vehicle production facility in Casa Grande, sending large economic ripples through the community. The plant will undergo four phases of expansion, involving—in its most recently announced plans—tripling its 800,000-square-foot footprint to accommodate the production of additional models.

“Here’s the next generation of electric vehicle manufacturers that decided to locate their advanced manufacturing plant here in Casa Grande, the first green-build electric vehicle manufacturing plant in the country,” says Wilkie, who notes that while the company already employs 2,000 people, that will need to be increased significantly over the next three to five years.

“They’re still projecting to create over 6,200 jobs, so that’s a significant job creator for the community. That’s been one of the big drivers of new employment, and through that announcement, and throughout the last several years, we’ve gotten even more companies to realize that Casa Grande is a really good place to take a look at,” he says.

Lucid was certainly Casa Grande’s big break, but more than anything, what it did was draw attention to the community and exponentially grow the rate of investment. This attracted other companies, like Kohler—a global manufacturer of kitchen and bathroom products—which invested in a 1,000,000-square-foot factory that will result in more than 400 jobs.

More recently, NRS Logistics America Inc., a chemical and gas logistics service provider, announced that they had just bought land and held an official groundbreaking ceremony for their new operation in Casa Grande. The company closed on 40 acres that include four acres of rail right of way, proving that success is breeding success.

Wilkie is also sure to credit small businesses, which he referred to as the “lifeblood of our community,” and which remain a focus of economic development efforts along with the support for the industrial investments taking place.

“That’s what is leading to future growth; all of this is generating a surge in retail and commercial. We’ve added more than a dozen new restaurants over the last two years, a new auto park is planned with four to five new dealerships, and there is a planned dual-branded TownPlace Suites and Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott. Exciting things are going on and picking up speed,” he says.

A home-grown workforce
With this volume of economic activity, the workforce has to be a priority for Casa Grande, and most certainly, it is. Currently, the city can draw from around the region and state, tapping into the pipeline of skilled and educated residents in the area.

Casa Grande is also focused on developing its own talent. The city is working with the local school districts, Central Arizona College, Pinal County, and the State of Arizona, through entities like Arizona at Work, to provide training and job placement services and see that workforce needs, both current and future, are met.

Programs like Drive48 are examples of the city’s collaboration in action where government, industry, and academia work together to support and grow Arizona’s workforce through training efforts and the establishment of a state-of-the-art training facility. Likewise, Casa Grande’s economic development officials and city leadership are helping to bridge the gap between education and industry to ensure that the development of curricula directly supports the needs of the local economy.

Wilkie highlights several career technical education (CTE) opportunities in automation, robotics, automotive, and other skills development that align with business needs, and notes that, “Growing our own is an important part of the workforce equation.”

The work is never done
To ensure that the growth taking place is sustainable, Casa Grande maintains a Master General Plan to guide its investment in infrastructure to support the growth that is projected to last deep into the 2030s and beyond. This includes conservation measures to reduce water usage by fifteen percent over the next ten years, as well as major infrastructure expansions.

“We currently have a twelve million gallon per day processing capacity at our wastewater treatment facility,” Wilkie shares. “We’re currently using about six and a half million of it and the city has already committed another $30 to $40 million over the next two years to expand that facility. Part of our expansion of the wastewater treatment and collections facility is that we’re incorporating an effluent line that would be able to supply A+ treated effluent back into the industrial corridor. So the manufacturers that don’t really need potable water for their operations can use effluent—reducing, retaining, and protecting the water that could be used in other ways.”

Casa Grande engages with Arizona Water to promote better water conservation efforts community-wide, continuing to be good stewards of a finite resource that’s necessary for residents and the economy alike to function.

It should come with some relief that none of this will impact Casa Grande’s ability to grow, whether industrially or in the provision of residential sites. Despite the state putting a cap on the number of new certificates of assured water supply for new single-family homes, Casa Grande has over 17,000 lots already certified. This is truly a win, given the number of new jobs that will be added to the region in the coming years. With the strength of diversity in its economy, the strong focus on investments that make sense, and a quality of life that has long attracted people from far and wide to the community, Casa Grande is on a trajectory for success in the long haul.

Wilkie is quick to point out that it took many hands to make this a reality. “We have a great City Council and City Management that have continued to support our efforts to attract and retain these companies, and an amazing staff, especially in our planning and development and public works department, who play such a vital role in our success,” he says. “Economic development is a team effort that goes beyond the city and includes our partners like Central Arizona College, ARIZONA@WORK, Pinal County, our utilities (APS, AZ Water, Southwest Gas), landowners, and of course, industry.”

For Wilkie and his team, the effort has paid off: “We’re no longer an unknown,” he says. “We’ve finally been discovered and now we’ve built the reputation we want amongst these types of industries. Casa Grande is worth taking a look at!”

The post Yours to Discover<p class="company">City of Casa Grande, Arizona</p> appeared first on Business In Focus Magazine.

Since we last spoke in 2022, Economic Development Director Micah Miranda says that Chandler has seen near-record job growth, largely the result of on-shoring efforts by the city’s advanced technology manufacturers, specifically those within the semiconductor and advanced manufacturing supply chain. These industries are leading the pack in growth, with jobs opening quickly across engineering disciplines with positions in mechanical, electrical, and software engineering.

“It’s been a very busy year for the city,” Miranda says.

Several businesses in these booming sectors have opened new facilities in Chandler, such as Edwards Vacuum and Yield Engineering Systems. Miranda says that the construction and operation of these new facilities are capital-intensive projects that depend on the city’s high-quality workforce, existing infrastructure, and community expertise in supporting advanced manufacturers.

Chandler always thinks ahead in terms of creating a desirable environment for business growth, and Miranda says that product is what wins projects. For this reason, the city has for years encouraged the speculative development of high-quality office and industrial buildings that suit a wide variety of industry location needs. When the right business project presents itself, Chandler is then well-positioned to land it. Most of these businesses have tight project timeframes that do not work if a new building needs to be constructed.

Miranda says that Chandler approaches economic development through a couple of core pillars. The first of these is financial stability, as the city takes pride in being a stable community in which to do business. In fact, it is one of only about 40 communities across America that have a triple-A bond rating from all three rating agencies.

The city takes this development pillar very seriously, and Miranda says that one’s investment will be safe in the city.

Workforce is the second pillar of economic development, and Chandler enjoys a positive feedback loop wherein its companies employ highly educated workers, and these companies and workers support area school districts, charter, and parochial schools to ensure the best educational opportunities and outcomes for future generations.

“We have a pro-business environment,” Miranda says, and both the mayor of Chandler and its city council have been clear in their efforts to think creatively to solve problems on behalf of the city’s partners.

When it comes to businesses looking to get started in Chandler, he says the biggest piece of feedback he receives is how easy it is for new companies to work with city staff across all departments. The process starts with economic development and goes through planning, engineering, civil site work, and more, in a seamless process to ensure new companies do not get lost in the shuffle. Prospective businesses are assigned a project manager on economic development, who works together with other departments and external stakeholders such as the school district and the state of Arizona on matters of available incentives, or with the county on regulatory issues.

Part of the city’s communication strategy is to let businesses know the Chandler Economic Development Division should be the first point of contact if they are planning to move to the city or considering locations throughout the greater Phoenix region or Arizona. These days, businesses need to move faster than ever, so the city’s ability to respond quickly and effectively is a definite incentive.

While regulation can be a sticking point for on-shoring businesses, “Our job is to make it as frictionless as possible for businesses coming to Chandler,” Miranda says.

There are still a few challenges that the city continues to proactively navigate: namely water. However, Chandler is unique in that while it is in a desert, it has secured and maintained a diverse water resource portfolio.

The city has access to several water sources: Salt River Project (SRP); Central Arizona Project (CAP); and a well-supplied aquifer. The surface water provided by SRP and CAP is a significant resource for Chandler, but the long-term commitment to maintaining its well fields has proven to be a differentiator to managing a thriving and resilient community.

Miranda says that Chandler currently has 15 years of water supply underneath the city. To support this, it has been investing in its water recapture system, with every drop of water being captured, recycled, and reused, either in industrial processes, irrigation, landscaping, or other non-potable uses. With further investment into a sustainable water infrastructure system, the city has been well prepared to deal with water problems for decades.

Another challenge is that Chandler itself is running out of raw land, with approximately 95 percent of land being built upon, so the city is rethinking growth and development, including verticality. Miranda says that the city will become denser over time, but because of the limited availability of raw land, it will become more selective in the types of economic development projects it proactively pursues, with greater attention paid to projects that have a long-term, significant economic benefit to the community.

Chandler has been immersed in business and economic development for 50 years now, with Miranda saying that there is not a city in America that has more experience with companies on-shoring or developing new technology. The city knows everything about how to get campuses and individual projects up and running quickly, with decades of experience supporting companies that have invested billions of dollars into Chandler.

Miranda says that many Fortune 500 companies come to Chandler because of the city’s reputation for getting businesses operational quickly. Many companies are up and running within six months as opposed to as long as two years elsewhere in the country. Its efforts have earned Chandler the moniker of Innovation and Technology Hub of the Southwest.

From the top down, city leadership is committed to having Chandler be a great place to live and where businesses can flourish. Although the title is a lot to live up to, Miranda says that it is ingrained in Chandler’s DNA and the city will continue to lean into its unique identity.

Going into 2024 and beyond, the emphasis will be on how the city can maintain and increase economic vitality through verticality. The city will be updating its general plan over the next couple of years and gathering community input on what that will look like. The office market is beginning to see a rebound in the number of leads from office leasing projects, with interest primarily driven by a strong local labor force, which is one way that the city will stay competitive.

Chandler is one of the most educated cities in America and Miranda says it will continue to grow in that respect, with the city investing in workforce development programs and forging partnerships with higher education institutions to remain economically competitive for high-value projects. The City of Chandler’s future is as bright as ever, and it welcomes all to bring their innovative ideas and projects to its flourishing business community.

The post Innovative Ideas and a Growth Mindset Mean Big Developments<p class="company">City of Chandler, Arizona</p> appeared first on Business In Focus Magazine.

Technology giants Intel and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited both operate within the region, creating an ideal environment for related businesses. Recent expansions at Intel have created even more opportunities for companies that support the technology sector.

“There’s been a tremendous influx of those types of support companies,” says Josh Rutherford, Economic Development Special Project Administrator for the City of Tempe. This is in addition to technology companies that were already operating in the city, such as Cactus Materials, Viasat, and Foresight Technology.

After more than 20 years in Tempe, Foresight Technology has some exciting expansion plans. “They purchased a lot next to them with an existing two-story office building,” Rutherford says. “They’re going to repurpose it into light manufacturing, which we like more of in Tempe. They’re going to invest substantial assets and people into that project and then as they grow even more, they’re going to possibly build a new building on site. Over the course of the next 10 years, they’re expected to add about 250 employees.”

Honeywell Aerospace also just completed an expansion that involved demolishing a multi-story office building and constructing two industrial buildings with office space.

Additional industrial projects will ensure that varied businesses will have the space they need in the future. The former Insight office building has been demolished and will be replaced with three new, state-of-the-art industrial buildings. The former site of Big Surf Water Park is currently being transformed into a new industrial park. In addition, developers are currently considering redeveloping one of Tempe’s large, two-story office buildings into three industrial buildings.

Arizona State University’s main campus is located in the heart of Tempe, and the university also has new development projects underway that will have a positive impact on the downtown. “It’s a several-hundred-acre piece of land that they’re moving forward with mixed-use development on,” explains Rutherford.

The city is also hard at work revitalizing the historic Hayden Flour Mill and silos. “Last year, there was a request for proposal put out for Hayden Flour Mill,” Rutherford says. “Tempe City Council will consider a Development and Disposition Agreement between Sunbelt Holdings and Venue Project on October 12. The first phase of that development agreement will include an inventory of original equipment left in the mill, rehabilitation of the trailhead, and general cleanup of the site.”

With so much development and business expansion underway, new employees relocating to Tempe will need housing. City planners are working hard to meet the upcoming demand and to make sure that there is housing available for all income levels. To this end, Tempe’s Hometown for All initiative was established in 2021 to provide options so that everyone can call Tempe home.

The City of Tempe recently purchased the former Food City site and two adjacent parking lots to create 400 housing units. “It’s going to be a mixed-income project with at least 50 percent affordable housing,” Rutherford shares, “and then the rest will probably be a mixture of market rate and workforce housing with a ground-floor grocer. This was one of the specific items in the request for proposal because we are experiencing what we believe is a food desert in that area. The need for grocery there is really high and so too is the need for housing.”

In addition, the City of Tempe purchased a nearby shopping center, “where we’ve relocated some tenants from the Food City site and, hopefully, within about three to five years, that site may get redeveloped as well into affordable housing.” The initiative also recently purchased a hotel and has converted it into transitional housing. Hometown for All is currently in the process of buying several vacant lots for future housing developments.

Private development has also taken off around Apache Boulevard. “From the private development side, there are probably about 2,000 units in the pipeline right now that have either been permitted or are currently under construction,” says Rutherford. “And there are probably another 1,000 to 1,500 that have not been permitted yet.” This means that there will be plenty of housing for incoming residents eager to take advantage of everything Tempe has to offer. “There are well over 3,500 units that will come online over the next few years.”

As these developments move forward, city leaders have officially acknowledged the historical and cultural significance of the historic homelands in Tempe of The Salt River Pima–Maricopa Indian Community (SRP-MIC) and Gila River Indian Community (GRIC). “They are a major partner in this development,” says Rutherford. “They sit at the table. We have monthly meetings with them. They’re apprised of every step that we’ve taken as far as the development agreement.”

In 2021, the City Council approved the resolution, which is now part of the city’s educational programs, ceremonies, and holiday observances and is considered when making decisions regarding land use and development. As listed on tempe.gov, the official statement is as follows:

“We wish to acknowledge that Tempe is the homeland of the Native people who have inhabited this landscape since time immemorial. Anthropological studies document large and advanced Ancestral O’Odham settlements located throughout the entirety of present-day Tempe and recognize the ancestral lands of the O’Odham (known as the Pima), Piipaash (known as the Maricopa), and their ancestors as extending far beyond our community. This land continues to be spiritually connected to the O’Odham of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community and Gila River Indian Community. The SRP-MIC and GRIC, located northeast and south of Tempe, respectively, are confederations of two unique groups with their own languages, customs, cultures, religions, and histories; the O’Odham and the Piipaash. Both the O’Odham and the Piipaash are oral history cultures.

“The landscape is sacred to the O’Odham and Piipaash and reflects cultural values that are central to their way of life and their self-definition. Their oral history and song culture are indelibly tied to tangible places that are associated with specific historic, cultural, and religious values. Settlement patterns, advanced irrigation practices, and other lifeways driven by a deep understanding of and respect for the landscape are directly attributable to the ancestors of the O’Odham and Piipaash and served as the template for the establishment of Tempe. We accept the responsibility of stewarding those places and solemnly pledge to consider this commitment in every action.”

In addition, the Tempe City Council just “unanimously approved a city holiday observing Indigenous People’s Day,” Rutherford says. “That will be the second Monday of every October, starting this year.”

Looking ahead, the trend for Tempe will be continued development, particularly when it comes to multistory projects. “The urbanization of Tempe is going vertical,” Rutherford says. “As of last week, there are projects being approved that are upwards of 28 stories… I think we’re going to continue to see that high-rise, urban core density increase in the downtown. And then along our rail corridor, you’re going see a lot of mid-rise multifamily projects.”

From technology industry expansions to affordable housing developments, Tempe is preparing for tomorrow today, ensuring that businesses and residents will have their needs met well into the future.

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