2016 Commercial Real Estate Outlook – Spotlight on Mesa for Future Office, Industrial & Transit-Oriented Growth

AZ Big Media summarizes the real estate outlook for the Phoenix-metro area in 2016, and Mesa is poised for growth. This detailed look at the entire metro also highlighted the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway area as a area to watch for industrial development in the future. Gateway has ample land available, an expanding infrastructure network, the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport, and renowned companies & institutions like Apple, Able Engineering, CMC Steel, Cessna, Fujifilm, Bridgestone Americas, Matheson Gas and more.

Mesa was also highlighted for the recent infill developments and redevelopments occurring in close proximity to the light rail. For example, the 110,000 SF Project Centrica building, a former big box retail space in the Fiesta District, will soon be home to a Santander Consumer USA operations facility which will employ up to 1,000 people. We feel the recent expansion of the light rail further into Mesa will be a significant draw for new employers and developers who are looking to take advantage of transit-oriented locations and developments.

“Along the light rail corridor, Mesa is pushing for vertical integration of mixed-use development that will encompass residential, office and retail development, said Mesa Economic Development Director William Jabjiniak. Also, as some of the submarkets become built out, they become land-locked, making Mesa an affordable alternative, Jabjiniak added.”

We are excited for 2016, and will continue working to make Mesa an attractive place to develop & invest, to start & grow a business, and to live/work/play. #NextMesa

Original Article: http://azbigmedia.com/azre-magazine/spotlight/phoenixs-economic-and-commercial-2016-outlook

 

Mesa & East Valley Featured in TIME for Comittment to STEM Education

On April 15th-17th, the East Valley Partnership and local economic development partners hosted the PHX East Valley THRIVE Economic Diversity Summit. The Summit hosted guests from around the country who were able to tour and visit with some of the East Valley’s largest employers that are striving to further STEM education in the community. In this article, Tim Bajarin with TIME Magazine highlights his visits with Boeing and Intel, and what they are doing to introduce young students to STEM skills.

“Boeing’s STEM-related program is called “Engineering is Elementary.” According to Boeing officials, Engineering is Elementary is a professional development program for pre-K, kindergarten, elementary and middle school teachers, initially developed by the Museum of Science in Boston. It’s designed to foster students’ understanding of engineering and technology, with a goal of boosting students’ problem-solving abilities in STEM. The program, supported by Boeing grants to the Mesa School District since 2012, has impacted 530 teachers and 16,875 students in 66 Mesa schools.”

With companies like Boeing and Intel making conscious efforts to bolster STEM education in their own backyards, Mesa and all East Valley communities are able to benefit, as these programs continue to promote a stronger tech workforce for today, and for tomorrow.

http://time.com/3836460/intel-boeing-stem-arizona/

2015 Spring Training Season Continues to Break Records in Mesa

2015 Spring Training Season Continues to Break Records in Mesa
By JD Beatty

With the re-opening of the newly renovated Hohokam Stadium, the Oakland A’s have joined the Chicago Cubs this year in Mesa for the 2015 Spring Training Season. With two major league baseball teams making their spring training homes in Mesa, the city has seen an influx of visitors and fans as both teams continue to break attendance records. Through the first 10 games, both teams have seen a combined total of 228,189 fans.

The Chicago Cubs are currently averaging 14,786 visitors per game, which is 3.7% higher than their spring training per game attendance average in 2014. The Oakland A’s are also averaging an impressive 8,033 fans per game this year at Hohokam Stadium, which is a staggering 54.5% higher than their average per game attendance in 2014.

Both teams have five games left in the spring training season. If you haven’t made it out to the Cub’s Sloan Park or the A’s Hohokam Stadium this year, get your tickets now as there are only 10 days remaining in the season.

Chicago Cubs Spring Training Schedule:
http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/spring_training/index.jsp?c_id=chc

Oakland A’s Spring Training Schedule:
http://oakland.athletics.mlb.com/spring_training/index.jsp?c_id=oak

JD Beatty

How the Emergence of Growing Tech Firms Can Change Arizona’s Business Landscape

Arizona is emerging as a business and tech-friendly environment, and this article from Michael Gossie at AZBigMedia outlines many of the benefits that Arizona grants emerging tech companies. Striving to create a firm foundation for tech companies to thrive in has been a major goal statewide for economic developers, and this piece highlights some of the successful initiatives put forth by the Arizona Commerce Authority and the Greater Phoenix Economic Council.

Diversification in the tech space is also key, “We need to have all tech industries thriving in Arizona,” says Mike Auger, CEO and founder of PikFly, a technology-driven same day delivery network for local businesses. “A focus in one area puts us into a corner. Semiconductors have been great for our state, but that is really what we are known for — we need to be known for all types of tech.”

How do you see the technology sector growing and changing in Arizona? What more could be done to help aid in creating a more tech-friendly environment in our community and state?