The Global Concierge program, operated through the city’s business innovation center- the AZ TechCelerator, won the West Valley Excellence in Innovation Award.

“We are honored to receive this recognition from Westmarc and for the outstanding regional partnerships that encourage and support our global focus at the AZ TechCelerator,” said Jeanine Jerkovic, City of Surprise Economic Development Director.

This program offers international businesses a unique “Soft Landing” program, intended to help these companies expand into the U.S. market with less upfront costs and risks by providing more support resources, such as:

  • Assistance with establishing their U.S. corporation in safe, secure, government-owned office space

  • Recruitment of local talent and hiring in the U.S. market

  • Access to knowledgeable mentors and contacts with experience in issues such as U.S. taxation, incorporation, marketing, language translation, banking, patent protection and other legal issues.

Among the program’s many success stories is Taiwan-based MagQu, whose technology aids in early detection of debilitating diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

In March 2018, the Global Concierge program was formally accepted into the Global Soft Landings Network by the International Business Incubation Association (InBIA).  It is now one of 31 members in more than eight countries with the highly competitive InBIA Soft Landings designation.

The Southwest Railplex, located in Surprise, was a finalist in the West Valley Economic Engine Award category.

This shovel-ready and rail-served industrial park has celebrated grand openings, groundbreakings and expansions that translate to more than 300 new jobs, tens of millions in direct capital investment and over half a million square feet of new construction. 

Plus, construction is underway for three additional businesses that will bring $57M of direct capital investment, 300 more jobs and 620,000 square feet of new construction – that represents a 50 percent increase in square footage at the Railplex in just 18 months!

Its designated foreign-trade zone status has helped to attract companies from Japan and Canada, growing the city’s share of foreign direct investment dollars.

For more information about these two programs visit www.aztechcelerator.com and www.surpriseaz.gov/econdev.