Our Programs - Select Mesa

Business Retention & Expansion

Mesa’s Business Retention and Expansion (BRE) Program gained momentum in Fiscal Year FY2024–25. The Office of Economic Development completed 137 in-depth business visits, a 6% increase from FY23-24. But also important, top tier company visits increased nearly 25 percent compared to the prior fiscal year. Nearly half of the companies visited were first-time visits, helping OED expand its reach and share resources.

These visits were high-value conversations with companies representing more than 15,750 jobs with average wages of $66,088 annually, underscoring the city’s commitment to supporting high-quality jobs. Businesses received information about workforce resources, small business services, permit assistance, invitations to events, and more.

From cutting-edge advanced manufacturing and tech businesses to education and healthcare providers, Mesa’s business community showed signs of solid strength: 74% of companies reported growth and the year sparked five spinout projects that translated into new jobs and new capital investment.

These visits included a broad cross-section of our major industry clusters:

Our BRE program has also yielded several notable expansion projects including Sportaflex, House of Holmes, Near Zero, Arizona Aircraft Interior Design, Native Health, and Cup of Joey, among others. These projects added new jobs and capital investment.

Small Business & Entrepreneurship

The City of Mesa continues to innovate and offer several programs and services that provide real value to Mesa’s small businesses and entrepreneurs. The Mesa Business Builder Program was recognized by the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) with a Gold Award in the large cities category (pop. >500k) for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Programs and was a finalist for Best in Show. The IEDC honored Mesa Business Builder for its exceptional creative and innovative approach to providing access to free resources, services, technology, and tools for small businesses and entrepreneurs, and for the impact the program has created to further economic development in the local economy.

SMALL BUSINESS ASSISTANCE

The Mesa Business Builder Small Business Assistance Program awarded 151 businesses with nearly 2,680 hours of customized, professional, one-on-one consulting services valued at more than $278,000. In addition, 20 of the program’s businesses took college classes at Mesa Community College, totaling more than 100 credit hours. The Business Advocate monthly newsletter reached more than 8,500 subscribers, with an above average 47% open rate, and was awarded by Arizona Association of Economic Development with a Golden Prospector Award of Merit. Mesa’s award-winning Mesa HUUB online digital platform continues to see growth with more than 1,000 Mesa businesses participating during FY 2025, utilizing more than 1,500 hours of free online webinars, education and training, networking, events, and grant information.

SPECIALTY SPACES

Mesa’s unique specialty spaces provide much-needed technology and workspace for small business owners and entrepreneurs.

Mesa Business Builder @ The Studios is a modern, multi-use, flexible space that provides state-of-the-art equipment, connectivity, and FREE access to resources that empower our small business community to grow and prosper. The facility opened its doors to more than 5,400 attendees and visitors in its first year. OED staff conducted more than 150 tours, hosted 64 small business workshops and events, and facilitated more than 380 other bookings for small business owners.

LaunchPoint, the Mesa Technology Incubator, is nearly at capacity and home to 20 small businesses cultivating the latest innovations and technologies from consumer web and mobile applications to biotech and green energy, and everything in between.

Accomplishments:

Workforce Development and Talent Attraction

The City’s Workforce Development Strategic Plan was created in part to help grow and shape Mesa’s skilled and talented workforce, a key goal tied to City Council’s Strategic Priorities.

The Office of Education and Workforce has worked in partnership with the Office of Economic Development to help businesses expand and improve their workforce by connecting with local resources, utilize education partnerships to grow their long-term workforce pipeline, and invest in community assets.

HIRING EVENTS

The Workforce Center @ Mesa, a partnership between the City of Mesa, Maricopa County, and A New Leaf, has hosted a number of hiring events throughout the year at a variety of Mesa locations including Mesa Business Builder @ The Studios, one of our specialty spaces. These events proved to be successful, showcasing a wide range of employers, including City of Mesa Solid Waste and Parks and Recreation Departments, as well as Aramark, West Pharmaceutical Services, Pro Em and Randstad, among many others.

The Office of Economic Development engaged businesses to participate in the job fairs and promoted the opportunities to job seekers. Because of these events, hundreds of job seekers connected, interviewed, and were hired by local businesses in healthcare, semiconductor, and other industries.

Marketing Results

Mesa’s proactive media and marketing strategy is delivered measurable impact and amplified the Mesa story to audiences nationwide. With a focus on earned media, targeted campaigns, and strategic partnerships, OED positioned Mesa as a dynamic hub of innovation, growth, and opportunity. From national news features to a robust social media presence, OED’s efforts built awareness, shaped perceptions, and attracted investment, all while highlighting the people, businesses, and momentum driving Mesa forward.

EARNED MEDIA

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