Mayor to lay out economic plan for Mesa

Mayor Scott Smith of Mesa made economic development a cornerstone of his campaign and tackled the issue days after taking office last month.

Speaking at a forum June 11, he said Mesa can no longer afford to be a bedroom community.

At an event planned for Tuesday morning, Smith, City Manager Chris Brady and Economic Development Director Bill Jabjiniak will discuss what government can do to boost high-quality business investment in Mesa.

"We're going to try to get some specifics to say, as a major partner in this activity, here's some examples of what the city can do to attract and retain business activity - the kind we want," Smith said.

That last point is the key, said Charlie Deaton, president of the Mesa Chamber of Commerce.

"We have always said we have wanted to see the city put economic development higher up on the list, make it a priority," Deaton said.

Mesa's emphasis on retail - and the unsteady sales-tax revenue it generates - will no longer do, he said.

"I'm talking about quality development," Deaton said. "Rather than spending our energy chasing retail, we need to be concentrating more on the high-wage opportunities."

An Arizona State University study recently found that of nine major communities in the Valley, Mesa ranked No. 8 in median income and ranked only No. 7 in the percentage of residents with high-school diplomas.

Deaton thinks Mesa's reputation as a not-so-business-friendly city is beginning to turn around.

"The city has been making changes in that area, and I hope we are going to hear about some of that at the mayor's breakfast," he said.

Smith said Deaton will get his wish.

"The city is ready and willing to implement the kind of effort to really work as a partner in economic development," he said.

But Smith said it can't be a one-way street, and he will "lay out a challenge to the business community" to ramp up the quality of its investment in Mesa.

A version of this story may have appeared in your community Republic.