The Greater Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC) is the region’s premier economic development organization. With the support of Maricopa County, 20 member communities and more than150 private-sector investors, GPEC works cooperatively with our partners to create an ideal business climate for your company to compete and thrive in today’s global economy.

GPEC provides companies with valuable tools, expert support and complimentary site-selection services to assist in the expansion or relocation process. We will also help foster partnerships with key leaders and match your company with the necessary resources to ensure your successin the market.

EXPAND WITH US.Greater Phoenix

MARICOPA COUNTY

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RenewableEnergy

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gREATER PHOENIX: Greater oPPortunity

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Greater LivinG

Phoenix-area residents enjoy more than 300 days of sunshine each year

at an affordable cost of living and high quality of life. In 2010, the median family household income in Maricopa County

was $54,700 with a median home value of approximately $147,500.

Arizona is home to five professional sports teams, more than 400 golf courses, NASCAR at Phoenix International Raceway and

MLB Cactus League Spring Training. In January, nearly half a million spectators attend the Waste Management Phoenix

Open to watch members of the PGA tour golf at the Tournament Players Club in Scottsdale.

The region also boasts one of the nation’s most renowned classic car events. Every year, more

than 200,000 spectators gather at Westworld in Scottsdale to view more than 1,000 collector and special interest

automobiles at the Barrett-Jackson Classic Car Auction.

In addition to premier lifestyle events, residents in Greater Phoenix enjoy year-round access to outdoor hiking trails, bike routes, rock-climbing and water recreation

activities. Residents can choose to explore the local area or visit popular Arizona destinations like Grand Canyon National

Park or the Painted Desert in Sedona within a few hours.

Greater Phoenix is located within a five-hour drive of the Pacific Ocean with nearby beaches in

California and Mexico. In the winter, residents can escape to the mountains and ski at one of Arizona’s two major ski

resorts less than 250 miles north of Phoenix city limits.

Greater ConneCtivity

Arizona is centrally located in the heart of the American Southwest. Situated just north of Mexico, the United States’ third largest trading partner, Greater Phoenix maintains a competitive geographic advantage that is designed to maximize distribution and travel efficiency. The region is also conveniently located between the nation’s first and second largest economies – California and Texas – granting Arizona businesses unparalleled access to major markets and a broad consumer base.

As one of the fastest growing regions in the nation, Greater Phoenix represents approximately 75 percent of the state’s economy. Arizona’s favorable business climate and close proximity to major markets creates an advantageous operating environment for companies looking to expand or relocate to the region.

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Between 2000 AND 2010, U.S. population increased 9.7 percent.

In that same period, population in Greater Phoenix increased 29 percent, nearly three times the national rate.

By 2030, the population in Greater Phoenix will likely reach 6.9 million.

Greater PeoPLe

Maricopa County is home tonearly four million residents –making it the fourth largestcounty in the United States.The vibrant growth of the Greater Phoenix metropolitan area has outpaced U.S. population growth for the past 21 years and is one of only 10 U.S. markets expected to see most of the nation’s growth over the next40 years.

Greater Phoenix is also the sixth youngest metropolitan region in the nation. The region’s median age of 34.7 is younger than the Denver, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, San Francisco and Seattle areas. Arizona’s population represents a broad base of cultural backgrounds with approximately 110 different languages spoken in the Greater Phoenix community.

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Greater inDustry

Greater Phoenix’s economy provides fast-growth opportunities for your company in a competitive, business-oriented environment. The market boasts ample development and reliable infrastructure in a number of key areas, strategically positioning Greater Phoenix to embrace growth in any of its concentrated industries:

Renewable Energy

Biomedical/Personalized Medicine

Advanced Business Services

Manufacturing and Logistics

Mission Critical

Aerospace & Aviation

Emerging Tech

Greater Phoenix has also become a leaderin emerging technology and innovation.Top entrepreneurship programs at the state’s major universities and a favorable businessclimate for startup companies contribute to Arizona’s consistently favorable rankings. Arizona State University ranks second in global student entrepreneurs and the University of Arizona ranks seventh in the nation for its McGuire Entrepreneurship program. Similar programs, like ASU’s Technopolis, provide entrepreneurial coaching to help individuals and businesses succeed in the innovation and emerging technology environment.

With the third largest labor pool in the West, Greater Phoenix businesses have access to a broad and talented workforce. In 2010, the total labor force reached two million people and is now projected to increase 85 percent over the next two decades compared to a nationalgrowth average of only 20 percent.

More than 60 percent of the population has atleast some college education and the state’seducational assets provide a continuous pipelineof skilled employees. In 2011, CNBC rankedArizona’s workforce higher than any otherstate in terms of training, quality and availabilityof workers while maintaining one of the lowestcosts for labor in the nation.

Greater resourCes

Greater aCCess

The modern and dependable infrastructure of Greater Phoenix offers easy and reliable access to the market and your company’s consumer base. Sky Harbor International Airport, the one of the top 10 busiest airport in the nation, serves more than 38 million passengers annually and provides direct flights to hundreds of international and domestic locations. The region is also home to Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport, 10 additional reliever airports, US Airways headquarters and a Southwest aviation hub.

In addition to air travel options, Greater Phoenix also boasts a number of sophisticated freeway, rail and Light Rail systems that enhance the region’s ability to move efficiently both in and out of the market. Two major interstates, five freeways, and the Union Pacific and Burlington Northern Santa Fe rail terminals provide comprehensive means for transportation and distribution methods to connect Greater Phoenix with the rest of the United States.

Phoenix-area service providers ensure that the region has consistent and reliable access to important business resources like water and natural gas. J.D. Power and Associates recognized the region’s two primary electric utilities companies, Arizona Public Service and Salt River Project, as reliable energy providers in the Southwest.

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Greater CuLture

Arizona is home to more than 40 National Historic Landmarks including two attractions in Maricopa County at the Pueblo Grande Ruin and Irrigation sites, and Frank Lloyd Wright’s winter home at Talesin West. The region’s distinct cultural scene features some of Arizona’s most recognizable history from Native American traditions to the pioneer days of the Old West.

The area’s diverse arts scene is prominently featured at galleries and museums throughout the Valley such as the esteemed Phoenix Art Musuem, featuring rotating international exhibits alongside 18,000 works of art from around the world. Frequent community events also encourage resident participation in the arts. There are more than 100 galleries in Scottsdale where residents can explore the arts district during weekly ArtWalks or monthly opportunities to take free, self-guided art tours through downtown Phoenix at ArtLink’s First Friday events.

The region also offers a number of theaters and live arts venues that showcase award-winning plays and renowned musical performances at places like the historic Orpheum Theater in Phoenix, Mesa Arts Center in Mesa and Gammage Auditorium in Tempe. The venues frequently showcase performances from Ballet Arizona, the Phoenix Symphony and Broadway Across America.

Greater Fun

Alongside the region’s dynamic economy, Greater Phoenix also boasts a decadent dining scene and vibrant nightlife. The area offers thousands of dining options to choose from including 18 establishments in the Greater Phoenix area with a four or five Diamond rating from AAA Arizona. If you are in the mood for pizza, downtown Phoenix’s Pizzeria Bianco has received national recognition from publications like Bon Appétit, New York Times and Vogue, and earned celebrity status from Rachel Ray, Martha Stewart and Oprah.

Greater Phoenix houses a number of local breweries and wine bars to grab a drink and appetizers in the evening before heading out to a nearby live music or comedy event. Arizona is also home to more than a dozen local wineries where residents and visitors can indulge in wine tours and wine tasting experiences. Other casual entertainment attractions include the Scottsdale Culinary Festival, Glendale Chocolate Festival or one of Tempe Beach Park’s 100 days of events held at various times throughout the year.

Old town Scottsdale is home to some of the region’s most vibrant nightlife with a number of late-night restaurants, and more than 80 bars, lounges and nightclubs to explore. In 2011, two of Scottsdale’s most popular clubs, Axis Radius and Shade at the W Hotel, ranked favorably among the top 100 nightclubs in the nation. Other popular nightlife includes live music, an independent film bar, various patio bars, western bars and saloons, lounges, pubs, sports bars and everything in between across 20, side-by-side cities.

Greater aDvantaGe

Companies in Arizona enjoy the benefits of low business costs, minimal regulation and advantageous operating environment. Greater Phoenix offers a dynamic and competitive regional economy with business costs nearly 30 percent lower than neighboring California. The state also boasts a minimalist regulatory approach, no corporate franchise tax and is constitutionally recognized as a Right-to-Work state.

In addition to the overall pro-business climate of the state, Greater Phoenix maintains one of the lowest total payroll costs of all major metropolitan regions due to low rates of unionization, reduced workers compensation benefits and minimal requirements for unemployment insurance coverage. Businesses have also witnessed consistent decreases in average employer and individual tax rates over the last 10 years.

Greater KnowLeDGe

Greater Phoenix’s talented workforce stems from a continuous pipeline of professionals and entrepreneurs from various institutions including Arizona State University, Thunderbird School of Global Management, Maricopa Community Colleges, University of Phoenix and the University of Arizona.

Arizona State University, the nation’s largest university, is the number one producer of bachelor’s degrees in the United States. ASU offers students more than 250 undergraduate degree programs across four campuses including its world-ranked life and social sciences departments and top-tier graduate programs in nursing, business, education, engineering and law.

The region is also home to one of the nation’s largest providers of higher education at the Maricopa Community Colleges – which includes 10 colleges, two skill centers and more than 1,000 occupational programs. The Maricopa Community Colleges serve more than 270,000 students annually and are recognized as a statewide leader in job training and regional workforce development.

In addition, Arizona is home to more than 35 nationally ranked high schools – 25 of which are located in the Greater Phoenix region. Maricopa County offers a continuously evolving public education system with more than 325 high schools, 180 middle schools and nearly 700 elementary schools for parents and students to choose from. The region also boasts a strong system of highly ranked charter schools, which account for nearly 10 percent of the nation’s top-rated public schools.

Other benefits include:

• No income tax on dividends from out-of-state subsidiaries

• No worldwide unitary tax

• Aggressive and accelerated depreciation schedules

• R&D Tax Credit Program

• Foreign Trade Zone Program

• Job Training Program

• Arizona Competitiveness Package (established in 2011)

- $9K corporate income tax credits per job - Starting in 2014, corporate tax rate will steadily decrease to 4.9 percent - Starting in 2014, Sales Factor ramps up to 100 percent - Reduces commercial property taxes by 10 percent

2 N. Central Ave., Suite 2500, Phoenix, AZ 85004 Phone: 602.256.7700 | Fax: 602.256.7744 | www.gpec.org