Gilbert Arizona Focuses On Job Growth

The city of Gilbert is the fastest growing community in the valley. In fact, the population of Gilbert has doubled every five years since 1980 bringing the current population to 109,697. The large population growth is in large part due to the encouragement of businesses in the high technology industry. Gilbert has renewed its focus and recently has been offering incentives to bring huge job growth to the valley.

Advanced Business Services
The knowledge-intensive business firms and independent entrepreneurs that comprise Gilbert, Arizona’s advanced business services sector benefit from fast-growth opportunities with the need to operate globally. Critical to the success of any growing region, specialists in accounting, financial analysis, law, design, marketing, insurance, architecture, engineering, venture capital, investment banking, real estate, data centers, etc., are vital to the operation and success of existing and start-up companies within any business industry. These firms also have access to a workforce of over 1.23 million within a 45-minute commute to Gilbert. Advanced Business ServicesThe knowledge-intensive business firms and independent entrepreneurs that comprise Gilbert, Arizona’s advanced business services sector benefit from fast-growth opportunities with the need to operate globally.Critical to the success of any growing region, specialists in accounting, financial analysis, law, design, marketing, insurance, architecture, engineering, venture capital, investment banking, real estate, data centers, etc., are vital to the operation and success of existing and  start-up companies within any business industry. These firms also have access to a workforce of over 1.23 million within a 45-minute commute to Gilbert.

Retail, Entertainment & Hospitality
Gilbert, Arizona, offers a current population of 218,397 with an average age of 31.37 and a disposable income of $1.73 billion. Leading demographics include moderate- to high-income-producing residents with a 34.14% educational attainment of a college degree or higher. Many retain management or white-collar tech positions and range in age from 25 to 54. Gilbert’s affluent population, impressive growth record and superior development opportunities with freeway frontage all contribute to the steady expansion of the community’s retail, entertainment and hospitality sector. A cluster of entertainment, dining and upscale retail establishments serve a sophisticated pool of consumers with per capita income of $30,559 and a median household income of $86,077, the highest among Arizona communities with populations above 100,000 people. The SanTan Village Regional Shopping Center is a nationally recognized, mixed-use urban village that spans a total of 1.2 million square feet of office, retail, entertainment and restaurant uses. Adjacent is the SanTan Village Power Center with an additional 1.3 million square feet of retail and restaurant space, and Main Street Commons, a 45-acre, mixed-use site will soon offer another retail, office and residential lifestyle center. Gilbert’s Santan Motorplex has been recognized as Arizona’s largest auto mall when it reaches build-out, and Gilbert’s downtown Heritage District is also realizing opportunity with an award-winning theatre, the addition of new restaurants and the planned Heritage Marketplace, a 90,000-square-foot mixed-use office and retail development. Several new hotel developments include the Hyatt Place, Hampton Inn, Western Legacy Suites and Legado at SanTan Village Hotel and Conference Center, with a combined 450 rooms. Gilbert is also home to unique entertainment and recreational venues like 42-acre Big League Dreams, Arizona’s number-one baseball and sports complex with an estimated 400,000 yearly visitors, and Polar Ice, which hosts two ice rinks across 85,000 square feet with an estimated 300,000 yearly visitors and projected $100,000 in yearly tax revenue. With a strong representation in this industry sector, Gilbert is realizing investment in over 9.5 million square feet of retail opportunities in tenant-ready centers and commercially zoned land in high-traffic areas.

Entrepreneurship and Small-Business Advocacy

Business Ingenuity Fused with Entrepreneurial Programming

Gilbert’s economic viability is continually reinvented by entrepreneurs embracing innovative pathways of product development, intellectual property and delivery of services within today’s complex market environment. The next big idea encompasses the spirit of entrepreneurship, and leveraging a comprehensive business development model solidifies Gilbert’s ongoing efforts in providing  the best in entrepreneurial programming within the Phoenix metropolitan area.

Front Runner Portfolio

The Front Runner portfolio is the flagship for entrepreneurial and small-business programming and services. The portfolio is equipped with education courses, one-on-one business coaching, roundtables and networking events specifically designed for entrepreneurs and small-business owners. A partnership between the Gilbert Business Development Division and Gilbert Chamber of Commerce, the Front Runner flag provides a multi-tiered approach in supporting  entrepreneurs and small-business owners. Gilbert Entrepreneur & Small

Business Program

The Gilbert Entrepreneur & Small Business Program is a 10-week multi-tiered curriculum with a strategic focus on growing businesses through optimizing business tools, market research and analysis, use of financial tools, marketing, social media, one-on-one business coaching, and business insights through specialized guest speakers for each class topic. The platform for the 10-week session is the Fast Trac Growth Venture Program through the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. For more information, visit www.gilbertft.com. One-on-

One Business Coaching

As a continuation of the Gilbert Entrepreneur & Small Business Program, successful graduates are eligible for extended one-on-one business coaching at no extra charge. Front Runner consultants  provide continued support to graduates who want to take their  business to the next level. Roundtable The main objective of the roundtable forum is to promote collaboration and feedback for the evaluation of current programs as well as the development of the next generation of entrepreneurial and smallbusiness programs and services. The forum is held annually for all  Front Runner participants and serves as the segway for innovation  and collaboration.