We're proud to have the support of these incredible sponsors for the 2024 Leadership Summit!

CHAIRMAN'S CLUB

Amazon’s Economic Development team supports worldwide expansion by building relationships with economic development organizations, policymakers, permitting agencies, and community stakeholders. We directly support Amazon’s investments, and we help integrate our businesses into the communities in which they are located. Our engagement is not transactional. We build long-term, collaborative partnerships with economic development organizations to advance job creation and economic growth.

Development Counsellors International (DCI) is “The Leader in Marketing Places." Since 1960, we have worked with more than 500 cities, regions, states, provinces, and countries, helping them to attract investors, visitors, and talent. We specialize exclusively in three areas of place marketing: economic development, talent attraction, and tourism, including websites, branding, public relations, social and digital media, research, prospect development, travel trade, and special events. Current clients include a range of states (Michigan, Florida, North Dakota, Vermont, Missouri, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey), cities and regions (Charleston, S.C.; Chattanooga, Tenn.; Cincinnati; Columbus, Ohio; Houston; Research Triangle, N.C.; and Jacksonville, Fla.) and countries (Netherlands, Switzerland, Costa Rica, and Georgia), to name a few. With a team of more than 60 place marketers, DCI is headquartered in New York City, with offices in Denver, Los Angeles, and Toronto.

Placer.ai is the leader in location analytics, instantly generating foot traffic insights for any location in the U.S. Commercial real estate, retail, and economic development professionals are using the product daily to optimize their decision-making. Placer.ai provides a range of easily accessible reports on-demand, including true trade areas, visit trends, customer journey data, demographics, cross-shopping, property rankings, and more. The breadth of perspectives empowers local governments to understand consumer behavior, attract the best-fit business, and enhance local business performance to drive economic growth.

CO-SPONSOR

Established in 1989, the Greater Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC) works to attract and grow quality businesses and advocate for the competitiveness of Greater Phoenix. GPEC works with 22 member communities, Maricopa County and almost 200 private investors to accomplish its mission, and serve as a strategic partner to companies across the world as they expand or relocate. Consistently ranked as a top national economic development organization, GPEC’s approach to connectivity extends beyond the fabric of the community. Known as The Connected Place, Greater Phoenix is in a relentless pursuit of innovative and entrepreneurial technology-focused companies that are committed to changing the game. As a result, over the past 32 years GPEC has fueled the regional economy by helping more than 895 companies, creating more than 163,000 jobs and $33.4 billion in capital investment.

PLATINUM

Accrisoft Corporation provides a finely tuned blend of technology and services that empower your economic development organization to accomplish your goals and better serve investors. Accrisoft Freedom™ is a comprehensive software solution that spans across your organization's operations, finance, marketing, and sales departments, allowing your entire team to work together harmoniously on a single platform.

The Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) is the state's leading economic development organization with a streamlined mission to grow and strengthen Arizona’s economy. The ACA uses a three-pronged approach to advance the overall economy: recruit, grow, create – recruit out-of-state companies to expand their operations in Arizona; work with existing companies to grow their business in Arizona and beyond; and partner with entrepreneurs and companies large and small to create new jobs and businesses in targeted industries.

The ACA is overseen by a prestigious public-private sector board of directors bringing together industry, academia, and government. Chaired by Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs, the board is comprised of the state’s most prominent private-sector business leaders, university and community college presidents, and elected officials.

The City of Mesa Office of Economic Development provides a vital link for Mesa's multifaceted business and commercial real estate community. We are committed to actively promoting and preserving the economic strength of the City to ensure that Mesa is the preferred location for new, existing and expanding organizations. Our team can provide information and direct assistance in all aspects of your planning. Whether you are looking to relocate to Mesa, already an existing Mesa business or following a dream to open a small business, we invite you to contact us.

GYEDC Greater Yuma, Arizona, is a metropolitan area comprising four states (Arizona, California, Baja-California, and Sonora, Mexico) and two countries, serving a bi-national population of more than 1.5 million people. The region's strategic location provides ease of access to major international and west coast markets with the ability to deliver manufactured goods in a single-day truck haul to 50M+ consumers. 

 Our aerospace & defense industries thrive due to an optimal testing climate with no weather disruptions, along with state-of-the-art infrastructure for R&D and MRO activities. An abundant cross-border workforce propels our burgeoning food processing/agriculture technology sectors that complement each other and create a diverse economic industry base.

SRP is a community-based, not-for-profit public power utility and the largest provider of electricity in the greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area, serving more than 1 million customers. SRP is also the metro’s largest supplier of water, delivering about 800,000 acre-feet annually to municipal, urban, and agricultural water users.

GOLD

Chmura Economics & Analytics is an applied economic consulting firm specializing in delivering advanced economic analysis. Our core competencies include economic consulting, economic impact studies, and our labor market software and data solutions. Our core audiences are corporations, economic development, workforce development, site selection, education, and staffing organizations. Chmura has the experience and expertise to transform data into information that drives effective strategy. Our premier technology platforms - JobsEQ®, and LaborEQ® - are in widespread use across the United States. Headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, Chmura was founded in 1999 and operates a regional office in Cleveland, Ohio.

As one of the fastest-growing cities within the United States, the City of Buckeye serves a pivotal role connecting businesses with their clientele at both local and national levels. Spanning an area of 639 square miles, Buckeye stands as the largest city in Arizona and is only 16% developed. Notably, in 2023, Buckeye issued over 2,500 permits for the construction of single-family and multi-family dwellings, in addition to witnessing 8 million square feet of commercial development. This rapid growth signifies substantial workforce and population prospects for employers, retailers, and developers seeking opportunities within Buckeye. We invite you to explore the possibilities for your next development in our thriving community!

The City of Goodyear has a diverse blend of amenities with abundant business, cultural, educational, and entertainment resources. Today, the city’s population is nearly 93,000 and features a highly educated and skilled workforce just minutes from the heart of Downtown Phoenix. The low cost of doing business, robust transportation options, fiber connectivity and a lot of Southwest charm create the right economic conditions to power any business. Goodyear is one of the most dynamic and rapidly growing regions in the U.S. and spring training home to MLB’s Cleveland Indians and Cincinnati Reds. Fortune 500 companies, including Amazon, Ball, Dick's Sporting Goods, Microsoft, UPS, and Darden Restaurants have chosen Goodyear as the place to be.

The City of Phoenix Community and Economic Development Department implements the Phoenix vision for prosperity in America’s fifth-largest city. Through value-added economic development programs, public-private partnerships, and innovation opportunities, Phoenix works with companies of all sizes to maximize capital investment, assist in creating and retaining quality jobs, training the workforce, and to facilitate development or expansion. Phoenix is a global market with the experience and ecosystems supporting our businesses’ successes locally and internationally. The experienced CED team provides technical assistance, development assistance, loan programs, and customized workforce development program. CED looks to enhance investment, create the workforce of the future and improve the quality of life in Phoenix.

The City of Scottsdale is one of the state’s leading job centers, with a diverse economy built on medical research, high-tech innovation, tourism, and corporate headquarters. Scottsdale is home to nearly 18,000 businesses supplying more than 150,000 jobs. The high-tech innovation center SkySong, located just a few miles from downtown, is designed to help companies grow through a unique partnership with nearby Arizona State University. The Scottsdale Cure Corridor is a partnership of premier healthcare providers and biomedical companies seeking to advance medicine and patient care through cutting-edge research. For more information visit www.choosescottsdale.com.

TIP Strategies is a privately held Austin, Texas-based consulting firm committed to providing innovative strategy solutions for public and private sector clients since 1995. The firm’s core competencies are strategic planning for economic development, talent strategies, organizational development, resiliency planning, and equity initiatives. Specific topics in which TIP has deep experience include entrepreneurship, target industries, workforce analytics, and defense industries and communities. During our 27 years in business, we have worked with more than 300 clients throughout the United States and around the world to develop innovative, publicly supported economic development strategies. Community leaders across the U.S. have embraced the TIP model of Talent, Innovation, and Place to achieve successful and sustainable economies. Our approach places a premium on well-informed decision-making, sound planning practices, and a commitment to an equitable future.

SILVER

Fiercely independent, Apache Junction sits humble yet proud as the final outpost just beyond the boundary of metropolitan Phoenix. We’re committed to downtown development, supporting small business, and exploring ways to diversify and grow access to quality jobs. As metro growth and development continues to march toward Apache Junction’s edges, those who embody our community’s tenacious spirit stand to make great gains by taking a risk on business and commerce within the area. With available land, proximity to expanding transportation infrastructure, and access to an educated workforce, Apache Junction is poised to accommodate major employment centers and robust residential and commercial development. Renowned for its natural beauty, Apache Junction is the gateway community to Lost Dutchman State Park, Tonto National Forest, and the Superstition Mountains with some of the best hiking trails in the state. Prospects for investment, exploration, and opportunity are abundant. We reckon you should come discover “AJ”.

Arizona Public Service powers approximately 1.4 million homes and businesses across Arizona. Customers count on us for reliable, affordable, and increasingly clean energy, and our nearly 6,000 employees are focused on delivering exceptional service and satisfaction. We are also committed to providing 100% clean, carbon-free electricity by 2050 – while providing the reliable and affordable service customers expect. At APS, we invest in the communities we serve and support our state’s continued prosperity – working to make every day brighter.

A big city feel with a small-town charm, Avondale, Arizona is a fast-growing suburb of the West Valley. Avondale EDGE, the City of Avondale’s’ Office of Economic Development and Tourism, is the force behind making the city a premier lifestyle and business destination in the Southwest. Located just 15 minutes west of Downtown Phoenix, the city’s close proximity to major sporting venues, world class medical facilities and top tier housing is just one of its greatest assets. Avondale attracts innovative and cutting-edge technology and manufacturing companies while also welcoming and embracing its small business community. As a minority-majority city, locals and visitors alike get to experience the diverse cultures, creativity and rich history of our city’s entrepreneurs.

The City of Surprise, Arizona is a fast-growing northwest Greater Phoenix community of nearly 150,000 people, most-known as the Spring Training home of the Texas Rangers and Kansas City Royals. The Surprise Economic Development Department accelerates an advanced quality of life and a thriving business environment through the facilitation of new employment opportunities, workforce development initiatives, retail attraction, and the retention and expansion of local businesses. We also promote entrepreneurship and small business growth through the operation of an award-winning business innovation hub, the AZ TechCelerator, www.aztechcelerator.com.

With 100 years of rich history and guided growth, Gilbert, Arizona, is one of the top communities in the Southwest worth discovering. Gilbert is the #2 fastest-rising city in the United States and has earned nods like “Phoenix's Coolest Suburb” and a “Top 5 Foodie Neighborhood in Metro Phoenix.” Gilbert's nationally recognized downtown, the award-winning Heritage District, offers unique dining experiences, live theater, a farmers' market, an art walk, and a stunning collection of public art. The Gilbert, Arizona Office of Economic Development (GOED) is committed to attracting, growing, and retaining business and industry to the Gilbert community. The Office provides expert site selection services, including operational cost analysis, incentive comparisons, workforce studies, research and information reflective of state and local tax structures, connectivity to key resources, and project management. The GOED also manages an array of workforce support and business assistance programs. To learn more about these and other business tools, visit online at www.GilbertEDI.com.

BRONZE

Chandler, Arizona, has built a reputation as a Community of Innovation. Life in Chandler goes beyond a thriving and dynamic business community with progressive entrepreneurship. Known for its rich diversity, the city offers an outstanding quality of life for all generations with great schools and recreational opportunities. Chandler has grown to become the state's fourth-largest city, with a population of more than 288,000. Chandler has been named one of the nation's Best Places to Find a Job and Best Cities for Women in Tech. The city is also one of the safest communities in the nation and boasts AAA bond ratings from all three national rating agencies, making it one of only 40 communities to achieve this distinction. For more information, visit the city website, or connect with the City on social media.

The City of Prescott has the reputation of having served some of the toughest customers in the history of the Wild West on its now famous Historic Whiskey Row. Unparalleled hospitality, exceptional outdoor activities, a variety of entertainment venues, and rich history attracts tens of thousands of visitors to Prescott every year. Known for its character and charm as a tourist destination, many are surprised to learn that this western town is also home to pioneering high-tech business sectors. In Prescott, the past of the Wild West meets the Future of Innovation. 

With advanced industries including cybersecurity, aerospace and defense, high-tech manufacturing, and even electric planes, Prescott’s business community is on the cutting edge of new technology. Assets like Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Cobham of North America, and Eviation continue to transform and improve the world we live in, while creating tomorrow’s business leaders.

The City of Tucson Office of Economic Initiatives coordinates the city’s economic development programs for the purpose of attracting jobs and investment. The Office of Economic Initiatives also offers local small business and entrepreneurial assistance and encourages workforce development to foster a long-term sustainable and diverse local economy. 

Esri, the global market leader GIS, offers the most powerful mapping and spatial analytics technology available. Since 1969, Esri has helped customers use The Science of Where to unlock the full potential of data to improve operational and business results. Today, Esri software is deployed in more than 350,000 organizations including the world’s largest cities, most national governments, 75% of the Fortune 500, and more than 7,000 colleges and universities. Esri engineers the most advanced solutions for digital transformation, IoT, and location analytics to create the maps that run the world. Visit us at esri.com/news.

Lightcast provides labor market data and analysis to help professionals make sound decisions in their regions. We tell stories with individual-level LMI data that are unmatched in the market. Our data, software, and consulting services help economic development professionals understand and communicate their communities’ workforce strengths, quickly respond to business inquiries, benchmark their regions against their peers, and boost their business services.

Founded in 2010, ResearchFDI is a specialized investment attraction consulting firm widely recognized within the economic development industry for its accomplished lead generation programs that have yielded more than $50 billion in new investments for its clients worldwide. In addition, ResearchFDI offers a suite of strategy, business intelligence, and research reports that act as precursors to any investment attraction campaign such as developing economic development plans, FDI strategies, marketing plans, benchmarking reports, sector profiles, industry reports, investor pitches, pitch deck development, and investment attraction training.

The world is changing—are you? Resource Development Group (RDG) was established in 1995 to provide experienced fundraising counsel to economic and community development organizations. RDG has worked with a wide variety of clients, including chambers of commerce, EDOs, community improvement corporations, and regional partnerships. Our specific expertise includes managing multifaceted fundraising initiatives in complex regions comprised of multiple political jurisdictions—we build organizations that build communities. We have managed more than 200 economic and community development funding projects generating more than $2 billion in operating revenue for our clients. In addition, we consult in areas designed to improve your organization’s ability to provide crucial solutions for your communities. Our products range from turnkey capital campaigns to specific consulting solutions, all designed with your unique challenges in mind.

The Town of Queen Creek was incorporated in 1989 to preserve the benefits of rural life and provide avenues for managed change. With significant resident involvement and input, the Town has adopted several award-winning plans designed to guide future growth. By preserving the past while providing for economic and recreational opportunities and a high quality of life, the Town of Queen Creek has grown from rich rural roots to what is one of the most innovatively planned, family friendly hometowns in Arizona. The Economic Development Department assists those looking for retail, office, industrial or land sites. The department also provides business resources and demographic information.

MEDIA

Business Facilities is the leading full-service media brand specializing in the site selection marketplace. In print, online, and face-to-face, Business Facilities has created a dynamic community that connects corporate site selectors with economic development organizations from across North America and around the world. Business Facilities magazine is read by C-Suite executives, corporate real estate professionals, site consultants and other business leaders. Published six times a year, each issue profiles state, regional and international locations. BusinessFacilities.com is the share of market leader among all site selection websites, providing up-to-the-minute site selection news and industry-specific features. Business Facilities LiveXchange is an invitation-only matchmaking event that connects corporate executives and site consultants that have active projects with economic development organizations from across North America.

Site Selection magazine, the leading publication covering global corporate real estate strategy and economic development, is in its 69th year of publication. It is mailed every other month to a qualified circulation of more than 42,000* corporate end users and available at www.siteselection.com.

Global corporate expansion experts Conway Data Inc., publisher of Site Selection, state economic development guides under its Custom Content Publishing Division, and the Site Selection Investor Watch newsletter, has been a trusted source of business intelligence to corporations, government economic development, and investment promotion agencies around the world since 1954.

Conway Data owns and manages Conway Data Events, organizer of the World Forum for FDI and FDI training seminars. Conway Data also manages the Atlanta-based Industrial Asset Management Council, a professional association of 600-plus corporate real estate executives, economic developers, and commercial real estate service providers.
 
*December 2021; all circulation information is publisher’s own data unless otherwise specified

The partnership of fDi Intelligence and GIS Planning makes us the world’s leading online investment promotion service, with the most powerful and comprehensive portfolio of online products and services to help you to drive investment into your location.