Focus on Both Work and Play Makes Scottsdale Thrive

Scottsdale, AZ regularly receives praise for its high quality of life and is lauded as a business and cultural center for the Southwest. It should come as no surprise, then, that Scottsdale is committed in equal measure to the health of its residents and the vibrancy of its businesses – the city won the 2014 Voice of the People Awards for Excellence in Economy as well as Recreation and Wellness. In addition to being a major economic hub and tourist destination complete with recreation opportunities to suit the taste of almost any visitor, the City of Scottsdale also focuses on the well-being of its residents by offering outdoor amenities to encourage year-round activity.

Preserving open spaces and Scottsdale’s natural beauty has long been a priority for residents – since 1995, citizens have used a portion of sales tax to purchase 36,165 acres, equal to about one-third of the city’s overall landmass, set aside for the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. This is in addition to the 41 parks covering 975 acres that Scottsdale Parks and Recreation manages as well as lifelong fitness programs serving every age group. Additionally, Scottsdale residents and visitors enjoy Pinnacle Peak Park, McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park, the McDowell Mountain Ranch Aquatic Center, and an extensive network of biking trails.

City efforts in creating a healthy and welcoming outdoor environment don’t end there: Scottsdale has implemented Arizona’s first green building program which has led to energy-efficient LED light fixtures, LEED Gold Standard construction for city buildings and remodels, and improved water reclamation and conservation programs.

Scottsdale works hard to provide spaces for business as well; the city partnered with Arizona State University to launch SkySong, a space that provides access to technology, capital networks, business education and skilled employees to startup businesses. The 50 firms that occupy the space represent 10 countries and 1,000 employees. SkySong has performed so well that it has a 97{7d2d4cb14c544bbeb3cd4763dc2b1aa4e79f5bb51403ad6dac1e84ac9d980b0d} occupancy rate in its two buildings with a third building in the works.

The City of Scottsdale furthers its support for small business through a variety of city-led initiatives. The Small Business Series offers monthly classes for small and emerging businesses, the mayor’s office mails outreach and marketing support materials enclosed with all business license mailings, the city’s economic development team sends a quarterly economic development report to local business, and the Alexandria Network/Eureka Loft offers training, mentorship, and meet-up opportunities for entrepreneurs and small businesses.

It’s no wonder why the City of Scottsdale has an easy time attracting and retaining residents – there are myriad opportunities to enjoy its high quality of life for anyone who seeks them. Although difficult to balance the quality of work and recreation opportunities, doing so results in a vibrant community that residents are happy and proud to call home.

This is the first installment in a series focusing on the 2014 winners of the Voice of the People Awards.

Photo credits: Visions of Scottsdale photo contest in order from top to bottom Ken Greshowak, Jeffrey Luth, Scott Amonson and Stephen Botel.