Business and Economic Development

To flourish, Fountain Hills must have a dynamic and healthy local economy. Flourish is committed to creating opportunities for new and existing businesses but recognizes the challenges of finding those opportunities in our unique Town.

Fountain Hills is a small community of fewer than 25,000 residents in a large metropolitan area, landlocked on the northeast portion of the Phoenix metropolitan area in Maricopa County—the largest county by land area and population in Arizona. Bordered on the north by McDowell Mountain Regional Park, on the West by the McDowell Mountains/Preserve and Scottsdale, on the south by the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, and on the east by the Ft. McDowell/Yavapai Indian Community, it is less than 22 square miles in size. Except for in-fill and two 640-acre plats of state trust land (that has been annexed by the Town but remains undeveloped), Fountain Hills has little room for significant business or population growth.

Flourish Fountain Hills believes that business and economic development will be significantly driven by population growth and local demographics. The community has in-fill population predictions between 30,000 and 35,000 at buildout. With that level of population, certain opportunities for additional economic growth exists, but may be limited. Flourish Fountain Hills believes that in-fill opportunities in terms of affordable multifamily housing solutions and smart development of the state trust land are key to future economic growth, but also recognizes with build-out that opportunities remain limited.

Economic development, for the most part, exists primarily in current/existing business infrastructure, including one anchor shopping center, a downtown business center, and some small-scale technological/industrial areas on the south and east side of the community, mostly developed. The town has three golf courses and one resort facility. Flourish Fountain Hills recognizes the limitations that come with these givens.

Recognizing the “bedroom-community” environment and work-from-home opportunities, which is the nature of Fountain Hills coupled with a growing retirement demographic and a shrinking of family demographics, creativity is a key aspect of sustained and growing economic development. Therefore, existing and some in-fill service and/or entertainment businesses may remain the lifeblood of the community.

Fountain Hills has a 2.9 percent local sales tax (not including county and other sales taxes) to support its general fund needs. Yet to expect significant anchor and large industrial development seems unlikely. In the past, Fountain Hills leaders have explored some options that could be located within the town, primarily college/university/trade school solutions and additional resort development (there remain two current in-fill options for resort development), but with little success to date.

Tourist opportunities remain a focal point of some. Flourish Fountain Hills supports those efforts, from sponsored events like business and cultural fairs, outdoor events, holiday celebrations, recreational opportunities like golf, disc golf, hiking, and the Town’s designation as a Dark Sky Community by fostering the development of the International Dark Sky Discovery Center. Coupled with the world-famous 560-foot namesake fountain, the town will always enjoy some return on those investments. We believe that these investments define our community and must continue.

Flourish Fountain Hills supports robust economic development opportunities as promoted by the Town of Fountain Hills, the Fountain Hills Chamber of Commerce, and some service organizations. Flourish Fountain Hills recognizes that it will remain a challenge to maintain existing businesses and to grow through economic development. As a result, the Town must be vigilant to address all opportunities to develop a balance between in-fill population growth, the appropriate mix of commercial and business development, and the preservation and expansion of green spaces, all while living in harmony with the natural desert landscape to ensure a sustainable and livable environment for all residents.