Official Web Site of the City of Phoenix

Phoenix College, Golden Bear Public Service Partner Award

(May 2009) Employees Melanie Smith, Kathy Thiessen and Jill Buschbacher from the Community and Economic Development Department's Small Business Division (SBD) and Phoenix Workforce Connection (PWC) received the award for assisting in the successful development and implementation of a customized phlebotomy training program for the college. Other training programs on which the SBD and PWC participated included ones for medical assistants, pharmacy technicians and medical interpreters that trained more than 50 individuals in healthcare occupations.

Entrepreneur Magazine, Top Ten Start-Up Friendly Cities

(August 2009) The magazine included Phoenix in the list of great places for small-business owners to get started due to the city's generous loan and grant programs for newcomers and well-developed institutions. Read the news release

Official "Best of Arizona," 2009 Best Meeting and Event Venue

(June 2009) The Phoenix Convention Center was featured in a two-minute video as a part of the 2009 "Official Best Of" TV program featuring 13 Arizona attractions and businesses. The program aired on KPNX-NBC, Channel 12 and will remain on the OfficialBestOf.com travel Web site throughout 2009. Read the news release

Arizona Association of Economic Development (AAED), 2009 Economic Developer of the Year

(May 2009) Phoenix Convention Center Interim Director John Chan received this distinguished honor in the large community category for having made a significant contribution to Arizona's economic development as a result of his leadership of the Phoenix Downtown Development Office. Read the news release

Arizona Commercial Real Estate Magazine, Real Estate Development Award

(March 2009) The magazine recently presented the city with a major honor for the Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Hotel, the Convention Center and other projects. The magazine’s 4th annual Real Estate and Development Awards recognize the most notable commercial real estate projects from the previous year and the construction teams involved. The Downtown Development Office was there to accept the top honor – “Developer of the Year.” The city also was awarded "Best Hospitality Project" for the Sheraton; "Most Challenging Project" for the Phoenix Convention Center Expansion, Phase II; and "Honorable Mention of Best Mixed-Use Project" for ASU’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism.

District of Columbia Survey, Top Ten Tax-Friendly Cities

(March 2009) The city of Phoenix was named in the top ten in a list of tax-friendly cities. The District of Columbia survey of state and local tax burdens put Phoenix at number eight in the country.

Sporting News Magazine, Top Ten Sports Cities

(October 2008) Greater Phoenix was ranked No. 6 in the magazine's annual list of top ten sports cities due to its high-profile venues and its role as host to the 2008 Super Bowl, annual Fiesta Bowl BCS Game at University of Phoenix Stadium and the famed FBR Open in Scottsdale. Read the news story

Silver State Bank/ASBA/O'Neil Associates Arizona Economic Indicators Monitor, Most Business Friendly City

(July 2008) Twenty-seven percent of the Arizona Small Business Association's 3,000 members polled in the June survey listed Phoenix as the most business friendly government entity in the state's metro areas. Glendale with 17 percent of the vote, and Scottsdale, at 15 percent, were next in line. Trailing in the poll were Tucson and Chandler, both at 11 percent, Tempe with 10 percent, Pinal County at 7 percent and Mesa at the bottom with 3 percent.

Arizona Minority Business Enterprise Center

(June 2008) The Aviation Department’s Johnnie Funderburg was recognized as the Minority Business Advocate of the year. The center also awarded the Aviation Department its corporate award for supporting and advancing the growth of local minority businesses.

POLICOM Corporation, 2008 Economic Strength Rankings

(June 2008) POLICOM, an organization that specializes in studying the dynamics of local economies, recently ranked the Phoenix Metropolitan Area sixth out of 363 metropolitan areas in terms of economic strength. Last year, Phoenix was ranked seventh. Read news release

Phoenix Ranks No. 1 in Retail Building

(September 2007) The Phoenix area leads the nation’s list of regions for retail space under construction. Real estate information provided to CoStar’s study says metro Phoenix had 13.4 million retail square feet under construction in the most recent figures.

Governor's Heritage Preservation Honor Awards

(June 2007) The city was honored with two of the awards, for the Phoenix Union High School Exterior Rehabilitation for the University of Arizona College of Medicine and the Post World War II Commercial Historic Building Photography Project. Read news release

Arizona Community Action Association (ACAA), President's Award

(May 2007) Councilman Greg Stanton was recognized by the ACAA with the organization's highest honor, which recognizes individuals for their commitment to fight poverty and homelessness in the state. Read news release

National Parks and Recreation Association, Excellence in Aquatics Awards

(March 2007) The Parks and Recreation Department was recognized at the organization's National Aquatics Conference in Atlanta for demonstrating excellence in planning and managing diversified aquatics services. The department earned the award for cities with more than 500,000 residents, and this is the third time the department has won the award. Read the news release

Amateur Softball Association, Award of Excellence

(Nov. 2006) The Parks and Recreation Department won the award for conducting two of the highest-rated national championships in 2006. The city hosted the 2006 ASA Coed Major National Championship and the 18 & under 2006 Girls Western National Championship.

Maricopa Association of Governments, 2006 Desert Peak Awards

(June 2006) Two city projects were selected to receive the awards: the TGen/IGC Headquarters project received an award in the Public-Private Partnership category and the Rio Salado Habitat Restoration Project received an award in the Public Partnership category. The prestigious awards are presented to agencies and individuals who have demonstrated a commitment to promoting, recognizing and attaining the ideals of regionalism. Read the news release

Arizona Business Magazine, Economic Engines of Arizona Award

(Oct. 2006) The Phoenix Biomedical Campus was chosen to receive one of the awards in the "Places" category as an economic development project that demonstrates local, regional and statewide collaboration. The award honors the top people, places, products and services that have made significant contributions to Arizona's economy. Read the news release

United Latino Business Coalition, Services Provider of the Year Award

(Oct. 2005) The coalition honored the Community and Economic Development Department's Small Business Division with the award for its small business assistance programs. The programs included the Management Technical Assistance program, the EXPAND equity gap lending program and the Mind Your Business educational seminars. Read the news Release

National League of Cities, Model City Designation

(Oct. 2005) Phoenix was selected as a "model city" for its commitment to improving the lives of low-to moderate-income families by developing initiatives to foster asset building and financial literacy. As part of the honor, Phoenix hosted representatives of the NLC and six cities to showcase the ways in which city leaders can support and/or initiate asset-building initiatives within their own communities. Read news release

Valley Forward, Environmental Excellence Awards

(Sept. 2005) Phoenix was honored with nine awards for its outstanding contributions to the environment and quality of life in Phoenix. Read the news release

Greater Phoenix Black Chamber of Commerce, Business of the Year Award

(Dec. 2004) A small business at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport was named Business of the Year by the chamber. Pass the Popcorn, owned by Christopher and Nina Payne, opened two new stores in Terminal 4 as part of the redevelopment of Sky Harbor’s busiest terminal. Read the news release

South Phoenix Rising, Individual Award

(Aug. 2004) The neighborhood association group recognized City Council District 8 Councilman Michael Johnson for his contributions to South Phoenix. South Phoenix Rising was established in 1999 by area residents as a Fight Back neighborhood to prevent crime and enhance social initiatives. Read the news release

Leadership West, Alumnus of the Year Award

(June 2004) City Council District 5 Councilman Claude Mattox, a graduate of the organization's year-long leadership training program, was honored for his community-building activities in the west Valley. Read the news release

Arizona Business Magazine, Most Outstanding Meeting and Convention Facility Award

(Feb. 2004) The Phoenix Convention Center was recognized by its peers and the Arizona business community, as published in the 2004 issue of "Ranking Arizona - The Best of Arizona Business." This was the seventh year in a row Phoenix Convention Center has won this prestigious award. Read the news release