Corporate Headquarters Relocating and Expanding Their Horizons to PHX East Valley

Pro-business culture, skilled workforce, robust infrastructure fueling regional growth.

From State Farm, Orbital ATK, and Dexcom to Apple, Isagenix, Total Quality Logistics, and Wells Fargo, national companies and diverse industries are relocating and expanding to the PHX East Valley region.

More than 20 large United States and Canadian companies have relocated or expanded in the Phoenix East Valley region during the past 18 months. With a current population of nearly 1.2 million, talent is driving the trend to the region, as companies focus on quality of life environments in order to bring the workplace to the workforce.

The talent these companies hope to attract want the live/work/play lifestyle that abounds in the sunshine state and convenience of living, from easy commutes to lower living costs and affordable housing. Amazing weather and outdoor activities year-round coupled with a vibrant events scene, proves the talent is already here and they aren’t leaving.

One of the five top tech markets in the country, Chandler, Ariz. is home to two Intel factories and more technology workers than Denver or Austin. The Silicon Desert is more attractive than the Silicon Valley due to low cost of living, pro-business climate, thriving entrepreneurial environment, available infrastructure and a large pool of computer-science graduates from local universities.

The region’s talented young and diverse workforce can’t afford to live in cities like New York and San Francisco — a region who lost more than 7,500 residents to other areas of the U.S. last year — the first time since 2011 that Silicon Valley has lost more U.S. residents than it has gained. The loss of California’s strong business climate is Arizona’s gain as an emerging top destination for businesses relocating from California.

The recently completed 2.1 million-square-foot Marina Heights office campus in PHX East Valley’s Tempe, located lakefront with expansive water views, is now home to State Farm’s regional hub, housing more than 8,000 employees. The  largest office development in Arizona’s history, Marina Heights offers the convenience of two-level underground parking, on-site restaurants, fitness center, expansive park settings, nearby light rail and other conveniences that appeal to much sought after millennial employees.

“The balance of amenities, transit access, and engaging and dynamic live/work/play environments are driving businesses and innovation industries to relocate to the PHX East Valley region,” said East Valley Partnership CEO/President, John Lewis.

“The region’s growing top area for tech growth is being fueled by an influx of companies from other cities, due to a supportive business climate, low operating costs and access to a large, talented workforce,” he said.

PHX East Valley is quickly becoming a center of the rapidly growing industry of self-driving cars. Google chose Chandler as its next hub for testing and developing its expanding fleet of autonomous vehicles. Two years prior, General Motors selected Chandler as the site of one of its four centers responsible for inventing global software systems across the company’s business units with approximately 900 employees.

Arizona’s projected employment growth rate is a staggering 85 percent, compared to the 20 percent national average. CNBC recently ranked Arizona No. 2 in the U.S. in terms of training, quality and availability of workers, while maintaining one of the lowest costs for labor in the nation.

Forbes has ranked Arizona as the best state for future job growth an increase in population fueling jobs in healthcare, tech and consumer services, as well as affordability over the West Coast. Work commutes are short and easily accessible through major highway and interstate routes, while light rail continues to expand in the PHX East Valley.

The PHX East Valley region offers a labor force of more than 800,000 highly skilled workers experienced in scientific, technical, healthcare, and professional services, representing 42 percent of the total workforce in the Metro-Phoenix area.