While much of the American West was settled over a century ago in the spirit of possibility and innovation, few cities have embraced that legacy into the 21st century with as much style and success as Scottsdale.
The city is internationally recognized as a premier destination for travelers and businesses alike. Over nine million people visit Scottsdale each year to enjoy the city’s world-class golf courses, resorts and shopping destinations. Tourism has a $4 billion annual impact on Scottsdale’s economy and frequently brings global attention to the area’s cultural and sporting events.
As one of Arizona’s leading job centers, Scottsdale is home to nearly 18,000 businesses supplying more than 150,000 jobs. In addition to the tourism industry, the city’s diverse economy is built on medical research, high-tech innovation, and corporate headquarters. Last year, Scottsdale welcomed over $96.7 million in new capital investments, making it one of the most successful years for economic development since 2008.
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The city’s reputation for innovation dates to the 1960s, when two major projects revolutionized their respective industries and put Scottsdale in the spotlight as a global leader in municipal technology.
In 1964, a Scottsdale city councilman proposed a solution to the area’s flood control problems that was both aesthetically pleasing and civically purposeful. Rather than build a concrete channel that would physically divide the community, Scottsdale created the Indian Bend Wash Greenbelt.
It became the nation’s first flood control solution of its kind – an oasis of canals, parks, lakes, paths and golf courses traversing 11 miles through the heart of the city.
Scottsdale also played a pivotal role in mechanizing the waste collection industry when, in 1964, a city employee designed the first mechanical bin grabber.
The mechanism, known as “Godzilla,” was soon put to work around the city, setting a new industry standard that reduced on-the-job injuries and improved quality of service.
The McDowell Sonoran Preserve is another example of the community’s unparalleled commitment to sustaining a world-class quality of life. The preserve is a permanently protected, sustainable desert habitat that includes an interconnected network of non-motorized trails.
It was dedicated in 1994 and is a textbook example of a grassroots political movement that changed the face and character of the city. Today, the preserve consists of more than 30,500 contiguous acres – nearly 47 square miles, roughly one-quarter of the city’s total land area.
Scottsdale’s historic Old Town boasts a growing list of hotels, restaurants, night clubs, retail shops and art galleries. The Scottsdale Airport and its surrounding Airpark is home to nearly 2,500 businesses with more than 48,000 jobs.
The high-tech innovation center, SkySong, located just a few miles from Old Town, is designed to help companies grow through a unique partnership with nearby Arizona State University. The 1.2 million-square-foot facility is home to startups and Fortune 500 companies alike.
Its thriving economy has made Scottsdale one of only a handful of cities nationwide to enjoy a “AAA” bond rating from all major financial rating organizations. With low taxes and high levels of city services, Scottsdale consistently ranks among the best-run cities and top places to live in the nation.
With a 188 percent increase in its population since 1980, Scottsdale has become a study in contrasts. Where the pristine, natural beauty of the Arizona desert is preserved alongside contemporary architecture, bike-friendly cityscapes and state-of-the-art infrastructure.
Whether it’s in business or community development, Scottsdale’s unfailing commitment to innovation and its long-standing legacy of creativity-driven growth continue to usher in new eras of possibility in the West’s Most Western Town.
