Economic Development priorities are guided by Mesa’s industries of
opportunity: Healthcare; Education; Aerospace; and Tourism. Based on Mesa’s
strengths, quality infrastructure, talented workforce, projected growth and
global market trends, the City of Mesa is already realizing significant
benefit in each industry space.
Healthcare
|
 |
- Medical services abound in Mesa and the East Valley. Mesa boasts
world-class specialty and general hospitals with more than 1,300
beds combined.
- Training and education is critical to build a workforce
pipeline. Banner Simulation Medical Center is the largest simulation
training center in the nation, while higher education in Mesa offers
healthcare programs and secondary education provides training in
biotech and life science industries.
- At Arizona State University Polytechnic, Applied Biological
Sciences students have access to state-of-the-art greenhouses and
the Laboratory for Algae Research and Biotechnology. Unique research
at the Polytechnic campus includes the work of scientists Milton
Sommerfeld and QiangHu and their conversion of algal feedstock to
fuel. Time magazine selected the researchers' work as one of the
best innovations for 2008.
|
Education
|
 |
- More than 40,000 students are enrolled in higher education in
Mesa at schools including Arizona State University (ASU)
Polytechnic, Arizona School of Health Sciences, Chandler-Gilbert
Community College, Mesa Community
College, A.T. Still University, and Arizona School of Dentistry and
Oral Health to name a few.
- Mesa Public Schools is the largest school district in Arizona and recognized nationally for
its superb educational programs and student achievements. Mesa also boasts a new biotech academy and
an advanced health sciences academy.
- Considered a model for career and technical education by the
U.S. Department of Education, the East Valley Institute of
Technology (EVIT) provides students with hands-on, advanced skills
and training in over 40 occupation-specific programs.
|
Aerospace/Aviation
|
 |
- In January 2010, Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport reached one
million commercial passengers and is projected to reach its next
million within 13 months.
- More than 100 companies are adjacent to the airports, employing
more than 10,000 employees in aerospace/ aviation high-tech,
manufacturing and software industry clusters.
- Cessna, Embraer and Hawker-Beechcraft all opened new business
jet services at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport servicing more than
2,000 planes in their first year of operation.
- Boeing manufactures the top-rated Apache attack helicopter as
well as the newly introduced Hummingbird Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
(UAV) in Mesa.
|
Tourism
|
 |
- Opened in 2005, the Mesa Arts Center (MAC) is the largest arts
center in Arizona offering comprehensive professional performing
arts, visual arts and arts education programming on one
state-of-the-art campus. MAC draws nearly 300,000 patrons each year.
- Mesa is home to Major League Baseball Chicago Cubs Spring
Training-the biggest draw in the Cactus League.
- 37.4 million domestic and international overnight travelers
visited Arizona-equal to roughly 102,000 visitors per day in 2008.*
- Travelers spent $18.5 billion in Arizona in 2008, which equates
to almost $51 million every day.* (*Source: azot.gov)
|