April is banner month for Mesa businesses, residents

April has been anything but boring for the City of Mesa.  Economic development opportunities, charitable campaigns and community announcements filled the City’s calendar.  From the wrap-up of a record-setting Cubs spring training season, to birthday celebrations for three of the city’s economic engines, this month has been filled with successes and achievements for Mesa businesses and residents. 

“On the first Saturday in April, I attended four events in Mesa and saw over five thousand people as they rode through our city or raised money for worthy causes,” Mesa Mayor Scott Smith said.  “The day started at six a.m. with the start of the Tour de Phoenix bike ride.  Next came the Chester’s Harley 10^th Annual Torch Ride benefiting the Special Olympics.  I then went to the East Mesa Relay for Life Event, and ended the day at the Broadway Palm Theatre where we raised money for the OneHeart Umbrella Campaign for conjoined twins Emma and Taylor Bailey.”

From an economic development standpoint, April has been a banner month.  California-based SolFocus, a solar generation company, expanded its plant in East Mesa.  The Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport celebrated its 15^th year this month.  The Mesa Convention and Visitors Bureau kicked off its 25^th year in a celebration hosted by the new Tobey Keith’s I Love This Bar and Grill restaurant in Mesa Riverview, and the Downtown Mesa Association hosted a party celebrating its 25 years.

“One of the most exciting economic development projects in Mesa came to fruition this month.  City officials participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony with Banner Healthcare officials at the new Banner Mesa Corporate Center.  This is a prime example of redevelopment, where the outcome is a spectacular rehab of an aging facility that will bring quality jobs to our more mature areas of the city,” Smith said.

April marked the end of Mesa’s annual Chicago Cubs spring training season.  Because of extra games and additional seating at Hohokam Stadium, Mesa broke a four-year-old attendance record by attracting 203,105 baseball fans into the city.  The city also rolled out a new rewards for recycling program, Recycle Bank, on Earth Day at a local elementary school.  Mesa is the first city in Arizona participating in this program, which will save the city money and help protect our environment.

Additionally, Falcon Field Airport hosted an open house which drew in thousands of aviation buffs from all over the city.  Thousands of visitors came to the Mesa Temple to view its annual Easter Pageant, and the Mesa Sister Cities organization received word that it would be awarded a prestigious Sister Cities International  award for its Caraz, Peru medical mission.

Source: City of Mesa

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