Technology

 

MESA: A Strategic Location for Technology Companies

The City of Mesa has a longstanding history of encouraging the growth of technology-focused companies across numerous industry sectors. High-technology companies such as Apple, AT&T, Boeing, Dexcom, Infineon, ElectraMeccanica, Exro Technologies, Waymo, and many others have major operations in Mesa.

WORKFORCE: ABUNDANT, SKILLED, AFFORDABLE

The Phoenix-Mesa metro labor pool is abundant, affordable, highly educated, and technically skilled. Arizona is a right-to-work state with a unionization rate of 5.4%. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2020

Compared to other metro markets, Mesa offers a compelling value proposition for wage rates and payroll costs for many different technology occupations.

 

  Phx-Mesa
Metro		 Austin
Metro		 Denver
Metro		 San Jose
Metro		 Seattle
Metro
Laborforce (Age 16+)
 2,558,100
 1,355,800
 1,736,000
 1,071,300
 2,229,600
Average Wage (of all metro employment in all industries)
 $56,610
 $60,260
 $66,750
 $99,430
 $76,170
Engineers
 $91,520
 $94,580
 $98,090
 $133,750
 $108,260
Software Developers and Programmers
 $115,520
 $112,520
 $120,750
 $167,420
 $148,220
Computer Programmers
 $81,150
 $83,660
 $106,370
 $144,130
 $92,910
Life Scientists
 $74,880
 $74,880
 $85,560
 $107,760
 $92,560
Biological Scientists
 $107,670
 $67,880
 $89,120
 $115,840
 $97,940





 
Source: BLS, Local Area Unemployment Statistics August 2021; EMSI 2021 Q3; U.S. DOL

COMPETITIVE OPERATING COSTS

The Phoenix-Mesa metro area compares well to competitive technology markets.


 Phx-Mesa
Metro		 Los Angeles
Metro		 San Francisco
Metro		 San Jose
Metro
Employee Annual Payroll
  $7,044,735 $7,726,680
 $8,893,859
 $8,609,823
Annual Fringe & Mandated Benefits
  $1,787,432 $2,172,423
 $2,492,686
 $2,414,895
Utilities (electric, water, wastewater)
 $54,162
 $75,567
 $115,496
 $115,600
Building/Lease Payments
  $342,000 $516,000
 $1,122,000
 $833,500
Property Tax
 $109,530
$58,350
 $59,000
 $59,950
Total Operating Cost
 $9,337,859
  $10,549,220 $12,683,041
 $12,033,769
Index
 100.00%
113.00%
135.8%
128.9%

Source: GPEC, Applied Economic MetroComp Tool Project assumptions are based on the creation of the 150 jobs, 50,000 sq. ft. of space, and $5,000,000 in capital investment. 2021

LARGE EDUCATION PIPELINE

More than 36,000 students are enrolled in Mesa’s 14 institutions of higher education including Arizona State University Polytechnic Campus, A.T. Still University of Health Sciences, Benedictine University, Mesa Community College, and others.

  Arizona
State Univ.		 Univ. of
Colorado
Boulder		 Univ. of
Texas
Austin		 Univ. of
California
Berkeley		 Univ. of
Washington
Seattle
 Total
 Enrollment
 (2021)		 77,881 (excludes online programs) 35,897 51,992 45,057 48,582
           

Enrollment Sources: Individual school websites for Fall 2019 - asu.edu, cu.edu, utexas.edu, ope.berkeley.edu, studentdata.washington.edu.

THE NATION'S LARGEST ENGINEERING PIPELINE

The Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University ranks No. 3 in the nation in degrees awarded for Engineering. ASU’s Research Awards for 2019 totaled $617 million and Research Expenditures were $89.06 million. For the seventh straight year, Arizona State University has been ranked No. 1 on the “Most Innovative Schools” list by U.S. News & World Report.

 Engineering Enrollment 2021
 Undergraduate Graduate Total
ASU Polytechnic Campus (Mesa)
 4,537  1,008  5,545
ASU, All Campuses (Mesa, Tempe, Online)
 22,295 7,030 29,325
 

Source: www.asu.edu/facts/#/facts/research/total, 2021

IN GOOD COMPANY

Mesa is home to more than 24,000 businesses including many technology companies. Here are just a few of the companies with major operations in or planned for Mesa.

AREAS OF OPPORTUNITIES

LaunchPoint, the Mesa Technology Incubator, is a unique place for entrepreneurs and small companies that provides flexible space, business development assistance, networking, and training opportunities. Located in the heart of Downtown Mesa, LaunchPoint helps companies launch and scale to create new jobs and capital investments in the community.

Arizona Laboratories for Security & Defense Research® (AZLabs™) is a 92,000-square-foot, full-service research facility engineered to the highest security standards and well suited for hosting sensitive research projects. The city-owned facility houses numerous companies involved in a broad range of high security projects including experimentation, research, and development, prototyping and manufacturing, and cybersecurity.

The Elliot Road Technology Corridor® (ERTC®) is uniquely positioned to offer more than 700 acres of shovel-ready sites with robust infrastructure and a streamlined entitlement process. Within the ERTC, the City of Mesa has created a Planned Area Development Overlay Zone that reduces entitlement risk and expedites the development process. Current and future campuses within the Tech Corridor include Apple, Facebook, Niagara Bottling, Dignity Health, EdgeCore, Google, Digital Realty, NTT, and Comarch.

The Pecos Road Employment Opportunity Zone is located in southeast Mesa and is planned to become a campus-type setting for advanced manufacturing companies. The Zone is ideal for manufacturers interested in large assemblies of land for their operations. By establishing the Employment Opportunity Zone, the City of Mesa has reduced the entitlement risk and greatly expedited the development process. The Zone allows landowners to keep their current zoning until ready to develop their property, at which time they can opt-in.

The Falcon District is an innovative, high-tech hub for aerospace/ aviation, defense, advanced manufacturing, and technology companies. With highly skilled technology talent, abundant land and building options, substantial infrastructure, and convenient market access, the Falcon District is perfectly suited for high-tech startups to large international manufacturers.

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