By Kyle Backer | AZ Big Media
The East Valley region continues to be a destination for business attraction, thanks to its large population — 1.4 million people according to the economic development organization PHX East Valley Partnership — and favorable regulatory environment. The region is also home to high-paying jobs in a variety of industries such as aviation, defense and advanced manufacturing, and is expected to add another 300,000 new jobs over the next three decades.
AZRE magazine sat down with three East Valley economic development directors to learn more about how they attract businesses, the impact of the semiconductor boom and what lies ahead for their cities. The following responses have been edited for clarity and length.
Jaye O’Donnell
Economic development director
City of Mesa
AZRE: What sort of conversations do you have with businesses interested in locating in Mesa?
Jaye O’Donnell: Our sales pitch is always a business case that is compelling and customized for the company or industry that we’re recruiting. So, the points are nuanced accordingly, because a semiconductor manufacturer is going to be interested in different things than what a hospitality project is going to care about.