Kicking off the new year can be challenging. There is the holiday “hangover” from all the fun festivities and the fervor of getting everything together to wrap up the year with a big bow! And then suddenly, it’s over and we are catapulted into . . . January. 

The year 2023 deserves reflection and celebration. Mesa’s Office of Economic Development team achieved significant results in the last 12 months, assisting existing companies to expand and attracting companies in the industries of semiconductor, aerospace, electric vehicle, and advanced manufacturing, all industries that create high-quality jobs. 

Below is a brief highlight reel of 2023, but for a more comprehensive list, visit SelectMesa.com. We look forward to assisting more companies to land in Mesa and to expand those already here in 2024.

FEBRUARY: CCS Presentation Systems, one of the largest integrators of audiovisual equipment in the U.S., held a ribbon cutting ceremony to open its new 36,000-square-foot corporate headquarters in Mesa’s Riverview District where it now employs nearly 100 people.

MARCH: Acadia Healthcare Company broke ground on its new hospital on a 12-acre site in southeast Mesa. The 100-bed, acute care behavioral health hospital is expected to open in early 2024. Benchmark Electronics Inc., an engineering, design, and manufacturing services provider, opened a new 64,000-square-foot precision technologies facility in Mesa creating 100 new jobs.

APRIL: Dexcom announced the beginning of a $5.7 million expansion that is expected to employ more than 670 people at its west Mesa facility. 

MAY: Danish logistics company, DSV Air and Sea announced it would begin semiconductor and electric vehicle cargo operations at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport.

JUNE: XNRGY Climate Systems, a leader in the design and manufacturing of energy efficient commercial HVAC systems, announced it had secured the financing for phase one of its U.S. headquarters in Mesa. Located at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport, the facility will include 250,000 square feet of production capacity along with 25,000 square feet of office space and is expected to be completed by 2024.

JULY: Nippon Express USA, a Tokyo-based logistics company specializing in the semiconductor sector, has set up operations in 58,000 square feet at the Metro East Valley Commerce Center. Dynalectric opened a new turnkey 180,000-square-foot electrical services and off-site fabrication facility in southeast Mesa.

AUGUST: Pentagon Technologies Group, a semiconductor supply-chain provider, announced it would build a 69,000-square-foot, $38 million manufacturing facility in southeast Mesa.

SEPTEMBER: Amphenol announced it will expand its Mesa facility and open a 58,000-square-foot solar product manufacturing facility, creating 50 new jobs.

OCTOBER: Sysco Corp., an international food service distribution company, hosted a groundbreaking at its new 353,000-square-foot space in southeast Mesa. The $100 million expansion will bring up to 260 new jobs to Mesa.

Connect Homes, an industry-leading prefab housing provider, announced it will open a 150,000-square-foot factory in Mesa in early 2024 employing as many as 123 people. DSV Air and Sea announced it will build a 1.7 million-square-foot building and an adjacent two-story, 30,000-square-foot regional corporate headquarters in southeast Mesa. Optum Rx, the pharmacy care arm of UnitedHealth Group, cut the ribbon on its 213,000-square-foot facility in Mesa, creating 300 new jobs. CMC Steel cut the ribbon on its new micro mill which now employs 185 people.

NOVEMBER: Google announced its plans to build phase I of its data center campus in southeast Mesa, a $600 million investment for 288,000 square feet to be completed in 2025. Additional phases are expected to be completed by 2030 bringing the project to 750,000 square feet and $1 billion in capital investment. 

DECEMBER: Super Radiator Coils, a Minnesota-based company specializing in heat exchanging manufacturing, has broken ground on 175,000 square feet of manufacturing and office space in Mesa’s Gateway Area. The $80 million project will employ 190 people. Arizona State University started construction of its new center for manufacturing research and education at its Polytechnic campus in southeast Mesa. The 173,000-square-foot, three-story 12th Interdisciplinary Science and Technology Building (ISTB12) will house Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering’s new School of Manufacturing Systems and Networks. ISTB12 is anticipated to open in November 2025.

Mesa has experienced an unprecedented level of development, and we expect the momentum to continue in 2024. www.SelectMesa.com

Mesa Office of Economic Development promotes Yvette Armendariz to Economic Development Project Manager

January 2024, Yvette Armendariz was promoted to the position of Economic Development Project Manager overseeing business retention and expansion efforts. Key goals of her efforts are to preserve and increase jobs and investment in Mesa by helping Mesa’s existing businesses to overcome business challenges and to grow in Mesa. 

Yvette initially joined the City of Mesa Economic Development team in September 2021 as a Marketing/Communications Specialist II to market Mesa’s general business license and to create awareness of resources available to small business owners via Mesa Business Builder. She also produced social media messaging, generated earned media coverage, promoted small business programs, and enhanced branding projects including Mesa’s Asian District murals project.

Yvette has a long history as an award-winning business journalist with Gannett, working for both The Arizona Republic and the El Paso Times. During her newspaper tenure, she won several awards for being a small business advocate (highlighting trends and issues facing small, diverse companies) from the U.S. Small Business Administration and various chambers and business advocacy groups. She led multiple enterprise reporting projects as a journalist, and managed business development/public relations projects as a consultant. Her understanding of small business needs and challenges is integral to her role in economic development, where she’s also working toward becoming a certified Entrepreneurship Development Professional.

Yvette earned a BA in journalism, with a minor in economics, from New Mexico State University. Working for the City of Mesa has been rewarding for Yvette because she connects business owners to the people and resources needed for success. BIO

$10 Mesa Business License unlocks $250+ in FREE, valuable services

The first 500 eligible small businesses that apply by March 31 and receive their Mesa General Business License may activate a free one-year membership to the Arizona Small Business Association (ASBA), valued at $250. In addition, the license opens the door to the Mesa Business Builder (MBB) Small Business Assistance Program, which can be worth $500 or more in free customized business consulting and programs.

The City of Mesa's general business license – required of most businesses – continues to be offered for a $10 application fee through the end of 2024 to encourage registrations. The application is available at mesaaz.gov/business/licensing.

The ASBA membership – available to businesses with fewer than 100 employees that sign up for this benefit no later than April 30 – provides access to educational programs, resources, networking opportunities, and exclusive member benefits for a year. The MBB Small Business Assistance Program is open to eligible businesses with 25 or fewer full-time employees. It provides customized professional support services in marketing, accounting, strategic planning, and more to help small businesses build a foundation for success. Program details are found at MesaBusinessBuilder.com.

Jason Li, owner of Z&Y Gifts in west Mesa, found the application easy to fill out. “It only took me a few minutes,” he said, noting the free MBB benefits are “awesome” for small businesses. “The consulting, training, and education (through MBB) can help many businesses. . . . Things like social media marketing and websites may cost owners so much money to just get started.”

Approximately 4,500 businesses in Mesa have active licenses. The City estimates more than 12,000 businesses operate in Mesa and may not be aware of the license requirement.

Business owners can find more information and a list of frequently asked questions on the City's licensing page: mesaaz.gov/business/licensing.

Mesa launches new and improved FREE tools to help startups and small business owners 

Finding helpful information and insightful data for starting a business in Mesa just got a little easier. The City of Mesa Office of Economic Development updated two free resources – the Mesa Business Resource Guide and MesaBusinessBuilder.com – aimed at supporting Mesa small business owners.

The Mesa Business Resource Guide – now exclusively online – provides a start-up checklist and steps for opening a physical location in Mesa. The guide covers 17 topics from business licensing and zoning to environmental codes, permitting, and workers' compensation, aimed at helping business owners avoid costly mistakes and potential fines for not obtaining the necessary licenses and permits or following the processes to open or expand.

On MesaBusinessBuilder.com, prospective and existing business owners can find competitive industry analysis through Mesa SizeUp, find available properties on Mesa SiteSearch, research permits and codes, get demographic data, and more. In addition, find business groups, coworking space, and connections to other resources that can help businesses.

“Small business owners think big and want their dreams to become reality as quickly as possible,” Economic Development Director Jaye O'Donnell said. “Our online Mesa Business Builder Resource Guide provides a road map to help entrepreneurs understand all the steps necessary to reach success.”

O'Donnell notes Mesa’s commitment to providing meaningful assistance for the business community goes beyond these two resources. One-on-one customized consulting based on a business owner’s need is also available through the Mesa Business Builder (MBB) Small Business Assistance Program. To be eligible, companies must have a current Mesa General Business License and fewer than 25 full-time employees. Qualified businesses are paired with professional subject matter experts, who assist with a full range of services from developing a business plan and strategic growth plan to creating a marketing and social media strategy, designing a website, prepping a financial plan, and more. The program is available on a first-come, first-served basis until April 30, 2024, or until funds are exhausted for the program year.

“We are investing in our entrepreneurs and small businesses by offering consulting, training, and education to help them grow, become more resilient, and add to their long-term success. Mesa is committed to building a sustainable local economy for the future,” O'Donnell said.

William Campos, Sophisticated Marketing Solutions turned to the Mesa Business Builder Small Business Assistance Program and Mesa HUUB to help him become more resilient running his business. VIDEO / LONGER VIDEO

To learn more, visit the Mesa Business Builder FAQ page or call Project Manager Kelley Keffer at 480-644-6958.

Mesa, AZ is the first city worldwide to receive the Destination Verified Seal from the Wheel the World

Mesa, Arizona is the first city worldwide to receive the Destination Verified Seal from Wheel the World, an inclusive online booking platform for travelers with disabilities.  

Through the Destinations Verified Program, Wheel the World sends trained mappers to visit and assess destinations. These individuals evaluate accessibility information via WebApp, Wheel the World's Accessibility Mapping System, which amasses more than 200 data points of accessibility-related information. Once the data is gathered, the organization provides recommendations to travel service providers on enhancing their infrastructure, along with offering them access to their E-learning platform to expand their knowledge of disabilities and accessibility.

As part of Visit Mesa’s mission to ensure Mesa is regarded as one of the nation’s most inclusive and accessible travel destinations, the organization partnered with Wheel the World to provide travelers with advanced information on accessible experiences in Mesa and connect them with suggested itineraries based on their personal requirements. Providing reliable accessibility information in advance will ensure that their upcoming travels to Mesa are enjoyable. This free service is available to all visitors and can be accessed through AccessibleMesa.com and WheeltheWorld.com.