Most residents moved to Maricopa to find more affordable housing. By purchasing a home, they expressed a willingness to commute to job opportunities in and around Phoenix. This is the premise by which the City of Maricopa was founded.

But the times are a-changing. Commuting has become more challenging and residents long for local employment.

Cities have always been the nexus of prosperity and job creation. Workers flocking to cities for jobs is an age-old story. In theory, jobs are created in cities when firms are clustered together with close access to the labor market and potential clients. Productivity increases, revenues come in and new jobs are created. In other words, proximity economies take advantage of the possibilities of scale.

Certainly, this is the case for cities like Chandler, Tempe and so many others in our metro area that capitalize on our willingness to commute — not just for jobs — but also for shopping and entertainment.

So, how does a new city like Maricopa compete against well-established cities? By doing these things:

Recognize the most important solutions are local. What we need for job creation — entrepreneurs, enterprise energy and the leadership to put it all together — is right here at home. Our city can become a beacon for the most talented people in the world.

Wage a war for jobs. Everybody in charge of anything needs to focus on job creation. And there is much required to create jobs. Housing, infrastructure, zoning and population, but also creating a business park with all the benefits of proximity. But not just any job will do — we want good jobs. Good jobs are created by entrepreneurs working with innovators to create a winning business model. The jobs war is what gets city leaders up in the morning, what we work on all day and what keeps us from getting to sleep at night. The job carries through the continuum of time.

Align efforts citywide. Every city needs a team to work on the alignment, focus and strategies that put all local businesses and institutions on the same page. Meanwhile, the whole city must be participating, highly coordinated and working from the same playbook to win.

To energize our city’s GDP growth, brain gain, quality job creation, vitality and future prosperity, don’t expect national answers. “Everything is local” is truer regarding job creation than anything else. We must jumpstart our city ourselves.

The next step in the City of Maricopa’s job creation and economic prosperity plan is the development of a 1,200-acre business park. Land has been and will be acquired, a master plan has been authorized, and the city’s new Office of Economic Opportunity is working with area business leaders to forge a path to end your commute and provide quality job opportunities closer to home.

This business park offers a means to increase productivity and economic growth, improve social and environmental outcomes, increase civic engagement, and reduce fiscal stress. When coupled with investments in people, Maricopa can become a vibrant, inclusive community where firms and workers flourish.

520-316-6811
Office of Economic Opportunity
39700 W. Civic Center Plaza

Sponsored content

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR