The Apache Junction Economic Development department is starting off 2023 with a number of new initiatives and efforts to create community-driven assistance efforts and bolster the local economy.
These new efforts and initiatives include the 2023 Apache Junction Business Survey, Business Concierge Service portal, Business Suggestion Box portal and more.
There are several hundred businesses within the city of Apache Junction, and the Economic Development department wanted to obtain a thorough understanding of what local businesses are experiencing and what additional services and improvements should be implemented to directly benefit these businesses. As a result, the 2023 Apache Junction Business Survey was produced and sent out in February to the local business decision makers. With dozens of responses submitted so far, the results of this survey will help create a repertoire of services and seminars to get direct assistance to the local businesses. Survey collection will be finalized in March.
To further assist the existing business community, a new online portal system was created called the Business Concierge Service. This new webpage features allows any business owner, decision makers or any interested business representative to submit a notice to the Economic Development department for service/assistance with their business as, at times, business representatives may not know where to start when seeking help.
With a few bits of information submitted through the website portal, a notification will get sent to the Economic Development department. Staff will reach out to that contact and provide individualized attention with a high-level of customer service. Such topics that a business representative may request assistance with include workforce development training programs, employment opportunity databases, contacts to local non-profit or government entities that help businesses and even contacts for permitting and licensing. The city of Apache Junction understands that our local businesses’ success is our success as they collectively add to our vibrancy and the city wants the business community to know that help is just a few keystrokes away.
Another initiative that the city of Apache Junction recently launched is the online Business Suggestion Box portal which is hosted under the business tab on the city’s website, www.apachejunctionaz.gov. This new feature allows anyone in our community who might know of a person interested in opening a business in Apache Junction to submit a name, number and email of that interested entrepreneur. An alert will then get sent to Economic Development where staff will connect with the potential entrepreneur and offer information and resources to get started on opening a new physical business location. This new referral portal should help reactivate available commercial spaces as we all may know someone who has the ambition to open a business such as a bakery, boutique retail shop or other storefront. One of the favorite taglines in the city is, “Less Vacancy = More Vibrancy” and this tool will certainly make this tagline come to life.
“We wanted to give the power to the people in terms of helping attract new businesses to Apache Junction, and this online portal does just that,” said Patrick Ainsworth, director of Economic Development for the city. “Local residents and other business owners probably know a potential entrepreneurs who has interest in Apache Junction. Those residents and business owners can submit the contact information through the Business Suggestion Box and help watch their connection make a positive impact in their community. The connections who do move forward with opening a business in Apache Junction will be armed with information and resources to help set their business up for success.”
The city of Apache Junction is positioning itself to capture new businesses as well as foster an entrepreneurial environment for the existing business base. These and other tools are being put in place to assist anyone interested in opening a business or has an existing business feel confident that they will receive the red-carpet treatment when engaging the Economic Development department.
For more information on these and other economic development related items, please contact Patrick Ainsworth, director of Economic Development, via email at pmainsworth@apachejunctionaz.gov or at 480-474-5076.