American dream alive in Maricopa

Lori Duffy and her husband Thomas Duffy return to the city of Maricopa each day after putting in the required time at their respective jobs.

However, unlike most Maricopans, they do not come home to simply relax and enjoy some downtime. A return home is a return to work for this family.

The Duffys operate a home-based business called AZ Circuits. They started their company nearly three years ago and specialize in the sales of electrical components.

“The business was born out of a side job my husband was doing at the time, but we hope it eventually grows to take the place of both our jobs,” Lori said.

They are not alone; the Duffys are among nearly 300 Maricopans who operate home-based businesses.

“These home-based businesses are the untapped lifeline of potential future Maricopa employers,” said Jim Rives, President and CEO of the Maricopa Economic Development Alliance. “As an organization focusing on economic development in Maricopa, we see these businesses as a gold mine.”

Rives added that he believes the majority of people operating home-based businesses in Maricopa are like the Duffy family. “These home-based business operators are mostly people who work another job and are just biding their time until they can secure enough capital to make the investment into some type of brick and mortar location,” he said.

Rives is not the only one who sees the value and potential of these businesses.

“They are critical to the city of Maricopa,” said city Economic Development Director Danielle Casey.

To help home-based entrepreneurs grow their part-time enterprises into full-time endeavors, the city of Maricopa each year offers two 10-week small business training seminars.

“It is a great way to help people with aspirations to start businesses grow their network and give them the tools to successfully launch a business,” Casey said.

In 2010, the program, which cost the city $30,000, had 29 participants who created eight jobs with a total annual pay of $261,000.

“The United States Department of Commerce considers a $30,000 investment that creates one job a success, so we are very happy with the results we are seeing in this program,” Casey said.

The map below shows the name, location and contact information for nearly 300 home-based businesses in Maricopa.