Business Attraction Success
The Mesa Office of Economic Development had a banner year in FY 24-25, with 47 company relocation and expansion projects completed, totaling over five million square feet of absorption and creating 3,370 jobs at an average salary greater than $65,500 annually. These projects ranged from startups with a handful of new employees to projects investing billions of dollars, occupying large industrial buildings and adding hundreds of new jobs.
Our success was felt across several key industries, including Biotechnology, Healthcare, Advanced Manufacturing, Aerospace/Aviation, and Renewable Energy. We were proud to welcome Hims & Hers, IS Clinical, Nucleus Radio Pharma, Hilo Industries, Google, Avanti Windows & Doors, Crawford Mechanical Services, Cyclic Materials and KoMiCo to Mesa. We were also excited to support local expansion projects with Metso Outotec, Jerit Automation, Niagara Water, BEMO and Urbix to name a few.
Business Attraction Success
The first year of Mesa’s Retail Attraction Strategy was a great success as the department ramped up marketing efforts with a regional campaign to promote the best retail options that exist in Mesa and highlight new opportunities for growth. Overall, our efforts generated more than 30 new prospects, the successful location of six retailers, and several new retail-focused development projects. As part of our direct outreach, OED attended International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) tradeshows and met with brokers, developers, and retailers to share Mesa’s potential.
Catalytic projects took shape this year with Medina Station and its restaurant row beginning construction, Cannon Beach and Revel Surf Park opened with great fanfare, and the first Tempo by Hilton hotel in Arizona broke ground at Gallery Park. These projects, along with others in the pipeline, will elevate Mesa as the retail strategy is executed.
Redevelopment & Revitalization
ASIAN DISTRICT BRANDING AND SIGNAGE
The origins of Asian District, Mesa, AZ, dates back decades, as Asian-American families and entrepreneurs established businesses and cultural institutions in the area. Today, the popular commercial and cultural corridor draws visitors from across Arizona and beyond.
In January 2025, new monument signage was installed to foster identity and a sense of arrival to this important cultural hub. The Asian District brand features the tangram, an ancient Chinese geometric puzzle consisting of seven pieces symbolizing the diversity of Asian cultures in the district while representing unity and community.
FIESTA REDEFINED: INFILL INCENTIVE PLAN
For nearly 40 years, Fiesta Mall served as a destination shopping center for the Phoenix East Valley. This key 80-acre site in the Fiesta District is now being transformed from a dated indoor mall into a vibrant, walkable, mixed-use urban space.
To support this redevelopment, the site has adopted an Infill Incentive Plan that encourages a dynamic blend of land uses, including residential developments, offices, retail, restaurants, hotels, entertainment venues, commercial spaces, and structured parking. These uses will be seamlessly connected by a pedestrian and bike friendly environment featuring generous open spaces, landmark elements, and intuitive wayfinding for residents and visitors alike.
The goal of the plan is to promote a flexible mix of uses that can adapt to evolving market conditions while maintaining a high standard of design and enhancing the public realm.
The adopted Infill Incentive Plan offers a clear and streamlined path for redevelopment by establishing comprehensive development and design standards. This approach enables projects to move efficiently through the approval process, accelerating speed to market while ensuring a cohesive and high-quality urban environment.
FIESTA REDEFINED: INFILL INCENTIVE PLAN
Revitalizing maturing areas is a key priority for the City of Mesa. By fostering reinvestment, the city aims to breathe new life into aging corridors and strengthen community vibrancy.
To support this effort, the city has established a dedicated redevelopment team composed of Economic Development, Development Services, and the Office of Urban Transformation. This collaborative, cross-departmental approach is designed to unlock a wide range of redevelopment opportunities from large-scale projects like Fiesta Reimagined to smaller infill developments and the adaptive reuse of aging structures.
The goal is to bring together expertise from across city departments to effectively support the complex nature of revitalization initiatives.
We’re here to help businesses grow – with purpose and partnership.