May 2026

Mesa’s economic momentum continues to create exciting opportunities for retailers, restaurants, entertainment concepts, developers and investors looking for their next great market. This week, I am pleased to join Hayley Freestone, Project Manager with the City of Mesa Office of Economic Development, at ICSC Las Vegas in coordination with The Retail Coach to share Mesa’s retail story with national brands, brokers, developers and site selectors.

ICSC Las Vegas is one of the most important gatherings for the retail real estate industry, with 25,000 registered attendees and more than 890 exhibitors representing the brands, brokers, developers, and decision-makers shaping the future of retail. For Mesa, this is a valuable opportunity to be in the room with companies that are actively evaluating expansion, new concepts, and development opportunities across the country.

Our goal is clear: to attract quality retail companies and development to Mesa, while building greater awareness of our city as a premier location for retail investment. Mesa offers a compelling combination of scale, growth, and market diversity. With more than 500,000 residents, a strong regional draw, major transportation access and distinct retail districts, Mesa can support everything from neighborhood-serving retail and dining to destination entertainment, mixed-use development and flagship concepts.

Mesa’s retail corridors each tell a different story. From Downtown Mesa’s cultural energy and historic character, to the Gateway Area’s rapid residential and employment growth, to the Riverview District’s year-round sports, entertainment, and shopping activity, our city offers a range of opportunities for companies looking to grow in one of the most dynamic markets in the Southwest.

Retail is an essential part of a vibrant economy, and our team remains committed to helping the right concepts find the right place in Mesa.

Check out our new and improved website at MesaAzRetail.com.

Jaye O’Donnell Named Economic Developer of the Year by AAED

Jaye O’Donnell, Mesa Economic Development Director, has been named Economic Developer of the Year, Large Community, by the Arizona Association for Economic Development (AAED), recognizing her leadership, results and service to the profession in Arizona. AAED’s Economic Development Distinguished by Excellence (EDDE) Awards honor individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to economic growth in the state.

O’Donnell leads Mesa’s Office of Economic Development and a 17-person team focused on business attraction, retention and expansion, redevelopment, entrepreneurship and workforce development. Under her leadership, Mesa outperformed its Fiscal Year 2025 economic development goals, securing 47 relocation and expansion projects, generating more than 5 million square feet of commercial development, $3.49 billion in capital investment and 3,370 new jobs with average annual wages above $65,000.

O’Donnell’s work has helped advance major business attraction and expansion wins across advanced manufacturing, healthcare, logistics, aviation and technology, while also supporting retail placemaking, redevelopment and small-business growth. Her team’s work included support for projects involving employers such as Hadrian, KoMiCo, Metso Outotec, FlightSafety International, Gifthealth, Strive Pharmacy, DSV and others. Mesa’s small-business support efforts also delivered 2,680 hours of consulting assistance to 151 businesses and drew more than 5,400 attendees to workshops and events at Mesa Business Builder @ The Studios.

Beyond project delivery, O’Donnell has played an active role in advancing the economic development profession. She serves on the AAED Board of Directors, has taught AAED Basic Training, and supports professional development across her team. She also serves in regional leadership roles that help align economic development strategy across Greater Phoenix and Arizona.

PRESS RELEASE

Arizona Tech Week makes record-setting debut!

The first-ever Arizona Tech Week made a record-setting debut, drawing more than 18,000 attendees to 419 events across the state and becoming the largest inaugural tech week ever held in the United States and internationally.

Arizona Tech Week by the Numbers

• 419 events statewide
• 29 participating cities/towns
• 18,000+ attendees
• 39 states and 27 countries represented

VIDEO

Arizona Athletic Grounds Selected as Team Base Camp Training Site for Turkiye Men’s National Team During FIFA World Cup 2026

Arizona Athletic Grounds, in collaboration with Visit Mesa and the City of Mesa, has been selected as the official Team Base Camp training site for the Turkiye Men’s National Team during the FIFA World Cup 2026™, further establishing the facility as a premier sports destination and marking a significant milestone for the city.

As Turkiye’s “home away from home” during the world’s largest sporting event, Arizona Athletic Grounds will host closed training sessions throughout the group stage and beyond, with security and operations coordinated closely with local and regional partners in accordance with FIFA protocols.

Turkiye earned their place at the FIFA World Cup 2026™ through the European playoffs, defeating Romania in the semi-final before edging Kosovo 1-0 in the final, securing the nation’s third all-time appearance, and first since 2002 where they achieved their best-ever finish, placing third. They enter the tournament in Group D alongside the U.S. Men’s National Team, Paraguay and Australia, opening play against Australia on June 13 at BC Place Vancouver in Vancouver, Canada.

The designation as a Team Base Camp Training Site is a testament to Arizona Athletic Grounds’ world-class infrastructure and will generate international visibility for Mesa ahead of one of the most-watched sporting events in the world.

A special Community Day is scheduled for Monday, June 8, where fans can watch an active training session on the stadium field, get autographs and photos with players, enjoy live music, entertainment, food and drink specials and other family friendly activations. Additional details on Community Day will be announced in the coming weeks.

The FIFA World Cup 2026™ kicks off on June 11, 2026, featuring 48 nations in the most expansive FIFA World Cup™ in history.