SURPRISE, AZ - WELCOME HOME

www.surpriseaz.gov
Surprise, Arizona, northwest of Phoenix, has leaped to the top ranks of new American cities and is attracting widespread attention. With a growing population of 110,000, Surprise continues to be recognized as one of the top “North American Cities of the Year” by Foreign Direct Investment (fDi) magazine.

Why are people and businesses voting with their feet and moving to the City of Surprise?

• Creative partnerships: Surprise is open to collaborations that work for everyone.

• In March 2009, we announced a strategic partnership with Catapult Bio. to help us advance the bioscience industry in the Northwest Valley (visit www.catapultbio.org).
• We are also strategically aligned with Rio Salado Community Colleges, which via their local “Communiversity” will be offering workforce training as well as Associates, Bachelors, Masters and even PhD degrees.

• New infrastructure: Surprise is on the verge of becoming the most technologically advanced city in the nation.
• Young workers: The median age in Surprise fell to 35 in 2005.
• Access to innovation: Surprise has great relationships with neighbor Sun Health Research Institute and is in close proximity to all of the emerging centers of excellence of the Greater Phoenix market.
• Outstanding Quality of Life:

• Surprise is home to Spring Training for the Kansas City Royals and the Texas Rangers as well as professional tennis.
• 75% of homes in Surprise were built after the year 2000.
• Surprise City Center offers: 5 acre urban fishing lake, 2 dog parks, the West Valley branch of the Heard Museum, an aquatic center, Dream Catcher Park, a disability-accessible safe-play sports area for children, and a new City Hall (move in mid-June 2009) and Public Safety Building.
• New shopping and restaurant amenities, including both local “mom-and-pop’s” and high-end.

• Forward-thinking: The Surprise City Council and City Manager support the community moving in a direction that will advance local employment, economic diversity and create healthcare and medical innovations and are committed to the success of the Arizona TechCelerator.