Government and business collaboration has been crucial to the area's economic development. East Valley Partnership fosters these alliances with networking events such as the annual Statesperson's Luncheon and Economic Forum.

To familiarize media and key business influencers, the East Valley Partnership recently hosted the PHX East Valley THRIVE Economic Diversity Media Fam. Media experienced firsthand the elements of business diversification that has allowed the region to blossom. Special presentations from Boeing, Able Engineering, Orbital ATK, Intel, Michael Crow of Arizona State University and the PHX East Valley Education leaders, SRP and many others detailed the steps that have been taken by these companies to promote expansion and diversification.

East Valley Partnership will promote the following business and community assets through the PHX East Valley initiative: a highly-skilled, young workforce, cutting-edge business research concentrated in STEM, home to global business leaders, higher education establishments providing a tailored annual renewable workforce, robust infrastructure, local renewable energy initiative, global medical destination and more.

John Graham, president and CEO of Sunbelt Holdings, developer of the massive Marina Heights project in Tempe, spoke at length during the Media Fam event. He told GlobeSt.com: “One of the biggest challenges was the complexity of such a large deal and the need for speed. It took a village. It took a great tenant (State Farm), a great architect and a host of other entities. By October 22 we will have people in seats and by mid-2017 the project will be complete. The project began at 600,000 square feet, then jumped to 900,000, then finally to 2.1 million. This constant adjusting added to the complexity of the deal. There are components of construction underway 24/7. It's the biggest feather in our cap and it's been nothing but enjoyable. If you see the project, it speaks for itself.”