Chandler Municipal Airport is a robust economic engine
BY COUNCILWOMAN NORA ELLEN
Last year, the City Council commissioned a study to determine the impact of one of our community’s greatest assets—Chandler Municipal Airport. The effort was led by the national design and consulting firm of KimleyHorn, in partnership with one of ASU’s top research economists, Dr. Lee McPheters.
The task was an arduous one, using surveys, economic data, estimations of the impacts of those who visit Chandler using the airport, and a review of the airport’s supporting services and activities. I will get to some of the interesting results in a moment, but the one that jumps off the page for me is the total economic output of the airport of nearly $300,000 each and every day. That is an incredible number.
have about 36,700 people visit Chandler each year who stay at least one night. We also have about 26,500 day visitors to the airport each year. With lodging, food, drink, shopping, entertainment and transportation, the revenues add up in a hurry. It was also interesting to see that many of our visitors are from Southern California, Nevada and Utah.
Mayor looks toward 2016
BY MAYOR JAY TIBSHRAENY
It looks like January 2016 will be another busy year for the Chandler business community. Here are a few things to look for that I believe will have a big impact on Chandler.
So, how did we get to that figure? Using methodology approved by the Federal Aviation Administration, the study took into account revenues, payroll and employment from those who work at on-airport businesses and public agencies, airport capital improvements and visitor spending.
There are 163 jobs on the airport with an annual payroll of just under $7 million. Businesses generate about $32.5 million in annual revenues. Visitor spending via the airport generates an additional $34 million in revenues and a little more than $9 million in payroll. All of that combined then creates additional “indirect”—or secondary—impacts that jump the total revenues to $109 million and create just under 800 jobs.
It was interesting to see some of the data related to airport visitors. We
Chandler Municipal is an exceptional airport for business and pleasure. It is used primarily for charter flights, transport and sightseeing excursions. It also is home to a number of world-class training institutions. It is among the nation’s busiest general aviation airports, with about 200,000 operations annually. It is located within an area we call the Chandler Airpark Area, a 9-square-mile, master-planned business park in and around Chandler Municipal Airport. This emerging employment center will one day be home to tens of thousands of jobs. The study did not include the entire airpark area, just businesses and institutions on the airport. However, we will next look at how the airport will develop over time and how best to determine future uses of the remaining land. This is a critical area for the entire community, and as you can see, a tremendous economic engine for our long-term fiscal health.
It’s an exciting future, and this study only confirms what a rare jewel this asset is to our City.
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Downtown Chandler. Alta Steelyard will bring more pedestrian density to our core which is good news for our restaurants, shops and other businesses. A new concept by Harkins Theaters will break ground on the corner of Arizona Avenue and Chandler Boulevard as part of “The Row” development. And we hope to also see development begin on the Site 6 parcel across the street from City Hall. Downtown’s energy and vitality just continues to build.
www.chandleraz.gov/gpupdate. And, I will share more important news on Chandler’s business community at my Feb. 18 State of the City Address at the Council Chambers, beginning at 6 p.m.
Adaptive Reuse. This is exciting for Chandler and the Arizona Avenue corridor as we provide new standards to allow for simpler redevelopment of older, existing space. The development industry is already showing a lot of interest and hopefully this will spark new restaurants and other businesses to the area.
Transparency in government. I will continue to partner with the Chamber on our Caffeine and Commerce meetings, allowing local business owners and operators a chance to discuss issues and ideas in an open forum. Our General Plan continues with four public meetings in January to give you an opportunity to weigh in. You can read a draft of the plan and learn more at
Continued fiscal responsibility
The City received good news from the three major credit rating agencies, which all reaffirmed their current ratings of the City’s Excise Tax Revenue Obligations. These bonds will be used to fund major upcoming water and wastewater projects. In their reports, the agencies applauded our conservative fiscal management and policies—including low debt and sound reserves—which enable us to maintain strong financial flexibility. And we will continue to show good stewardship with your tax dollars as we move into the coming fiscal year’s budget process.
Over the next 12 months, Chandler will continue to brand itself as The Information and Technology Hub of the Southwest, as several projects continue to develop. I also hope to see the economy continue to improve, meaning an easier go for our small business people who are out there on a daily basis working as hard as ever to survive—and thrive.
So, here’s to a prosperous New Year Chandler. I wish you well. And please remember to follow me on Twitter: @jaytibshraeny.
Letter to the Editor
Making miracles by helping others
Christmas is not just a time for family and friends. It’s about what we do for others, helping each other. We all need miracles, and if you believe in miracles they can happen. Maybe that miracle is finding that one person you have been hoping to meet all your life. Or calling an old friend and having him or her over for Christmas.
That miracle could be buying groceries for that family in line behind you at a store. Or paying for dinner for that family you don’t know. Christmas is not about what you get or how expensive the gifts are, but about the miracles you make happen.
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It’s about opening your heart and really listening to what people say around you. Most of all, if you are an owner of a business, remember the sacrifices that people have made for you and your company. And really appreciate what they have done to make it a special place to work. A long time ago, I made the mistake of not telling a young woman that she made a real impact in my life and how I felt about her. I regret it to this day. So remember to make the most of those miracles every day.
Scott Litaea Chandler
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Nora Ellen’s term expires in January 2017. She can be reached at nora.ellen@ chandleraz.gov. publisher
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