The City of Cottonwood, once a sleepy town which travelers passed through when visiting the nearby communities of Sedona and Jerome, is now a tourist destination. In the heart of Arizona, nestled in a green valley near the base of Mingus Mountain, Cottonwood, once one of the best-kept secrets in northern Arizona, is now a successful bustling destination.

One of the best-kept secrets in northern Arizona, Cottonwood is now a successful, bustling destination. Photo from the City of Cottonwood

Cottonwood was one of the few communities in northern Arizona where the commercial industry actually grew during the recent recession. That is directly attributed to a forward-thinking city council, a visionary city manager and economic development director who had what it took to get it done.

Downtown Cottonwood draws success from the local businesses.

Focusing on Old Town, city staff made it a goal to revitalize the area, with the first milestone being the wooing of entrepreneur Eric Jurisin, owner of the Old Town restaurants Nic’s Italian Steak & Crab House and the Tavern Grille. These two establishments gave Old Town the credibility needed to court other businesses. Cottonwood then opened a Business Assistance Center to help new budding small businesses with their needs. Seeing the potential of this diamond in the rough, local wineries began opening wine tasting rooms, and retail establishments followed. Soon after, neighboring Yavapai College’s Verde Campus took the plunge and incorporated a successful viticulture program into the curriculum.

The City of Cottonwood also recently went through an extensive rebranding process and is now known as the “Heart of Arizona Wine Country,” with a new logo and a renewed commitment to their community. Cottonwood also has an array of businesses, county offices, transit system, a major hospital and numerous medical facilities.

Local favorites, antique shops and wine tasting rooms draw visitors to the Main Street in Old Town Cottonwood.

A view from Cottonwood’s Main Street.

Cottonwood also opened a new Recreation and Aquatics Center, with state-of-the-art equipment, a dance studio, indoor leisure pool, community events hall, gymnasium, climbing wall, and electronic game room for the entire family. The facility attracts visitors from throughout the Verde Valley and is a quality of life attraction for those looking to relocate. In addition to this facility, the outdoor pool was also renovated and is now an AIA officially sanctioned venue for state swim meets.

Annual events such as the Old Town Main street Holiday Light Show, Walkin’ on Main, Chocolate Walk and the Tilted Earth Wine and Music Festival, plus the added attraction of Old Town Cottonwood with its historic feel along with wine tasting rooms, serving award-winning wines produced right here in the Verde Valley, now attracts thousands of visitors each year.

Cottonwood is a diverse, growing community nestled in the beautiful high desert of Arizona, inviting everyone to come and explore the many benefits Cottonwood and the Verde Valley have to offer.

Right up the road from the City of Cottonwood, sits the other gem of the Verde Valley: the town of Clarkdale.

The Town of Clarkdale, the place that makes sense, understands and fiercely protects its vibrant sense of history. Key to the revitalization in Clarkdale is the creative, passionate, and dedicated citizens, the leadership of the town council and staff, plus the property owners, both within the historic business and throughout the town, who believe in building a sustainable future on the foundation of the town’s history. Recognized as a registered historic district, Clarkdale is protective and proud of its history. With the two-acre town park in the center of the historic district, featuring a restored gazebo gracing the grounds, this park is home to the summer concert series in the park. The Town Hall Complex, itself a group of historic buildings features the first geothermal heated and cooled buildings in Arizona. In addition, many of the original homes are restored while retaining their historic charm.

In planning a sustainable future, the citizens overwhelmingly approved the updated Town General Plan in March 2012. Clarkdale’s citizens then completed the Sustainable Community and Economic Development Plan, a roadmap outlining the desired economic development directions for Clarkdale, with support from Arizona Public Service and town staff. The council set the plan into motion with its adoption in June 2013.

The commercial heart of Clarkdale, the first planned community in Arizona, has always been the historic business district along Main street. However, after the closing of the copper smelter in 1953, the town suffered from families moving away to find work. Now, Clarkdale is on an upswing.

The Arizona Copper Art Museum, located in the old Clarkdale High School building, showcases beauty, versatility and functionality of copper in all its forms.

Annually, 90,000 riders visit the Verde Canyon Railroad, enjoying the sights and sounds of the Verde River and its riparian areas. The award-winning Arizona Copper Art Museum opened in December 2013 and showcases the beauty, versatility and functionality of copper in all its forms. The new museum is located in the gloriously refurbished Clarkdale High School on the corner of Main and Ninth Streets; truly one-of-a-kind and a prime example of historic building revitalization.

Outside the Arizona Copper Art Museum, along Clarkdale’s Main Street.

Diagonally across the street from the museum is the charming Clarkdale Caboose and Gift Shop, offering fine pastries in the morning plus treasures created by local artists all tucked into the back of a restored train caboose. It’s not to be missed. Just up Main Street is the beautifully renovated 10-12 Lounge, so named because it open at 10 and closes at 12. There is always fun to be had there, especially on Saturdays and Sundays when live music and dancing fills the bar.

Main Street features local favorites like 10-12 Lounge, and Four Eight Wineworks. Local businesses are a destination for residents and tourists alike.

Just across the street is Four Eight Wineworks, with a nod to Arizona becoming the 48^th state. Not only is this the only winemaker’s incubator offering wine tasting of luscious, locally-made wines, but also the business calls the former bank building home. Tastefully updated with historic photographs on the walls updated with contemporary surprises delighting visitors, the teller windows ae wine display cases and the former safe is the merchandise room. Just up the street, the former pharmacy has been revitalized and now serves as professional offices. Underway is the renovation of the two-story building across the street from Town Park. Turning into a boutique hotel, the former miner’s apartments are under construction now and the former theater is coming back to life with the return of the box office on Main Street in the building once housing the Grand Theater.

The changing streetscape of Downtown Clarkdale. Photo from the Town of Clarkdale.

The streetscape is also coming back to life. Banners depicting various aspects of Clarkdale life line Main Street and signage with historic flare is under construction. The flag corps installs a river of flags down Main Street honoring military holidays throughout the year.

Clarkdale Town Hall. Photo from the Town of Clarkdale. 

All Clarkdale stories are nurtured and preserved under the watchful eye of the Clarkdale Historical Society and Museum located on ninth Street. The museum offers a glimpse into Clarkdale’s past and showcases treasured artifacts. For more information on your visit, stop in and chat with folks in any of the businesses, museums or Town Hall. All have Clarkdale stories to share.

The Verde River draws adventurers to Clarkdale and Cottonwood. Photo from the City of Cottonwood

Whether visitors are looking for a leisurely wine tasting, a journey through history, or an exploration of the natural destinations of the Verde River, state parks and national monuments of northern Arizona, the Verde Valley has become the top attraction. The revitalization of the Clarkdale and Cottonwood downtowns has put these communities on the map!

Phoenix has become a destination for popular events. Most recently, the downtown Phoenix area served as the main hub for the 2015 Super Bowl, hosting an array of events, concerts, and activities related to the big game. Photo from City of Phoenix.

Downtown Phoenix is hot in more ways than you can imagine!  As the urban heartbeat of the city, downtown is pulsing with activity. Riding the wave of the recent Super Bowl successes including Super Bowl Central and the NFL Experience, downtown is a vibrant sought after destination!

“The Super Bowl was the perfect event to showcase Downtown Phoenix and we really opened a lot of eyes,” said Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton. “Over the past decade, there have been nearly $4.7 billion in investments to revitalize the downtown core. The results speak for themselves — world-class shopping, entertainment and restaurants, METRO Light Rail, a top 25 convention center and more than 3,500 hotels rooms with a lot more to come.”

The new amenities in the area allows visitors to experience the Downtown Difference!

The Downtown Difference consists of more than 800,000 square feet of retail space featuring popular brands, professional sports, live entertainment, great food and fun activities.  CityScape, a 5-acre, mixed-use development that blends urban living with work, shopping and entertainment, includes notable restaurants, a hotel, offices and outdoor event space.

The Arizona State University Downtown Campus is home to more than 10,000 students. The downtown area is home to the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism, College of Public Programs, College of Nursing & Health Innovation and the future home of the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law. Photo from City of Phoenix.

Downtown Phoenix has more than 4,800 residential units, 9,000 permanent residents, and a workforce of 64,000 daily.  The Arizona State University Downtown Campus, which opened in August 2006 with 2,766 students, now has more than 10,000 students enrolled. The campus, which is continuing to expand, is home to the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism, College of Public Programs, the College of Nursing & Health Innovation and other notable programs.  The new law center, which will house the Sandra Day O’Conner College of Law, is expected to open in the fall of 2016.

Serving as an education capital, Phoenix is home to remote campuses of rival universities, Arizona State University and University of Arizona. The Phoenix Biomedical Campus provides advanced training to students from the U of A College of Medicine. Photo from the City of Phoenix

Education thrives in Downtown Phoenix!  The Phoenix Biomedical Campus (PBC), the city-owned campus sits on 30-acres providing advanced medical training to students at the UA College of Medicine and doing cutting-edge research at the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGEN). The campus looks forward to the opening of the 220,000 square foot $100M outpatient cancer treatment clinic operated by the UA Cancer Center and the St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, later this year.

Downtown Phoenix is hot and attractive to new residents.  High-rise projects such as 44 Monroe, Arizona’s tallest residential high-rise, opened its doors in 2008 offering 196 condos.  The Summit at Copper Square, the second tallest residential tower, overlooks Chase Field, offers 165 condo units. Downtown Phoenix residential developments continue to grow.  Portland on the Park, is the anticipated urban project that will include 170 luxury condos and lofts in 3 structures ranging from 4, 12 and 14 story towers. The property is within walking distance of the Light Rail, Margaret T. Hance Park, and the Japanese Friendship Garden.  The West Fillmore redevelopment project, which began taking proposals from private sector developers in spring 2015, will be one of the largest developments in downtown history. The 7.5-acre site is expected to meet the demand for downtown living, providing provide homes for 1,000 new downtown residents in addition to retail shops and restaurants.

Phoenix is seeing many new residential high-rises opening in the downtown area.      Photo from City of Phoenix.

The METRO Light Rail runs right by Chase Field, home of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Photo from City of Phoenix

New employers and their employees are making Downtown Phoenix home.  Jay Geier, CEO of The Scheduling Institute recently opened his Arizona Headquarters in the Warehouse District and cited that the location’s close proximity to restaurants, hotels, and entertainment is ideal for his clients when they fly in to town. Convenient transportation is key to the explosion of downtown development.  The METRO Light Rail connects Downtown Phoenix to points throughout the city and the world.  The commuter train launched in December 2008 provides reliable transportation connecting passengers from West Phoenix to the East Valley through Downtown Phoenix with dedicated stops at the Convention Center and Sky Harbor International Airport.

Speaking of the Convention Center, the expansion of the facility and construction of the 1,o00-room Sheraton Hotel enables Phoenix to accommodate 80% of the association meetings market and attract high profile events such as the MLB All Star Fanfest, NBA All Star Jamfest, WWE Fan Axxess and notable conventions such as the NRA and U.S. Greenbuild.  In 2015, the Phoenix Convention Center welcomed the Super Bowl NFL Experience and looks forward to hosting fan fests for the College Football Playoffs in 2016 and the NCAA Final Four in 2017.

A nighttime view of the Phoenix Convention Center. Photo from City of Phoenix
Speaking of the Convention Center, the expansion of the facility and construction of the

Downtown has something for everyone!  The redevelopment of Downtown Phoenix has redefined our city.  The Downtown renaissance provides lasting memories with lively indoor and outdoor activities at CityScape, including Lucky Strike bowling alley, Stand Up Live Comedy Club and a host of bars, restaurants and shops.  Sports fans will feel right at home at Chase Field where the Arizona Diamondbacks play and Talking Stick Resort Arena, home of the Phoenix Suns. Theater goers will enjoy visiting the Herberger Theater, Symphony Hall and the historic Orpheum Theatre.  Downtown Phoenix is more than a destination, it is a community that makes residents and visitors from around the globe feel right at home!

A view from above. The City of Phoenix is home to professional sports facilities Chase Field and Talking Stick Resort Arena. Photo from the City of Phoenix.

Payson’s Green Valley Park downtown is a community spot for events and gatherings. Photo from City of Payson

Payson is surrounded by the largest ponderosa pine forest in the world. To the north is the majestic Mogollon Rim that is home to some of the best camping, fishing, hunting and hiking trails in the southwest. In addition to all these surrounding recreational opportunities, in the middle of Payson is Green Valley Park, originally built as a water reclamation project.

From its inception, it was designed in a way that would collect runoff water but, at the same time, double as a park that offers residents and visitors alike beautiful surroundings and access to three lakes. These three lakes are stocked with trout and are part of the Arizona Game and Fish Rural Fishing Program. The park is also home to the Zane Grey Museum and the Rim Country Museum. During the town’s 4th of July Hometown Celebration, the park serves as the gathering place for over 15,000 people annually.

Payson’s Zane Grey Museum at the Green Valley Park Photo from the City of Payson

In June and July, on every Saturday night, you will hear the melodious sounds of great music coming from the ampitheater during Payson’s very popular Summer Concert Series. In the spring, Green Valley Park serves as the backdrop for over 300 classic cars that make up the Beeline Cruise-In Car Show. The economic vitality and all of these activities would not be possible if it were not for this great recreational venue.

We invite you to come to “Arizona’s Cool Mountain Town” and enjoy the “jewel” of Payson – Green Valley Park, located at the end of Main Street.

Downtown Payson’s Green Valley Park Photo from City of Payson

Downtown Chandler is emerging as an urban environment that continues to evolve and embrace many ways to work, live and be entertained. The destination for dining, retail and events is a hotbed for development.

Chandler City Hall. Photo from the City of Chandler.

Aerial view of Downtown Chandler during a block party. Photo from the City of Chandler

Alta steelyard Lofts open this fall with 301 residential units, igniting the next wave of multifamily, office and retail in the downtown core. Budding companies continue to enter the market, along with the presence of two state universities to create a dynamic work environment.

Alta steelyard Lofts will open this fall in Chandler with 301 residential units. Photo from the City of Chandler.

The mix of restaurants and shops is expanding with Peixoto Coffee and Crust Restaurant at the Crowne Plaza San Marcos Resort.

Downtown Chandler is a gathering place for many community events. Photo from the City of Chandler.

Chandler Center for the Arts, improvMANIA comedy club, festivals and the opening of an outdoor stage this fall are increasing entertainment options for all.

Shops along Flagstaff’s Aspen Avenue. Photo from City of Flagstaff <./em>

Downtown – the geographical, cultural and historic centerpiece of Flagstaff. Along historic 1890s streets, buildings and hotels, you will find numerous clothing boutiques, outdoor outfitters, art galleries, and retailers selling authentic Native American arts and jewelry.

A crowd gathers in Flagstaff downtown for the Downtown Art Walk event. Photo from the City of Flagstaff

Live entertainment can be found almost every evening at Heritage Square or within the great restaurants and nightlife venues. The downtown district is one of the most walkable downtowns in Arizona featuring regular events like the Firt Friday Art Walk or the Flagstaff/Grand Canyon Ale Trail to enjoy many of the unique local breweries.

Downtown Flagstaff boasts historic 1890s streets, buildings and a hotel. Photo from the City of Flagstaff

Venture south of the railroad tracks to the evolving Southside District with amazing dining and cafes lining the streets.

Downtown Tucson is a hub for University of Arizona students, residents, businesspeople and visitors to enjoy the unique attractions and gorgeous weather. Photo from City of Tucson

Tucson has perhaps focused their downtown area on three major t’s: transportation, trade and tourism.

A southern Arizona paradise, Tucson draws visitors throughout the year to encounter its unique attractions and gorgeous weather. The city embraces its position as a tourism hot spot, as tourism continues to be a significant driver of the local economy. Visit Tucson is a high-performing organization that works diligently to bring tourists, conferences, trade shows, and sporting events to the Tucson area. Tucson Mayor Jonathan Rothschild and the City Council have found a way to provide additional funding to Visit Tucson by having them share equally with the city any lodging tax dollars over and above current levels.

The continued renewal of downtown will no doubt bring even more visitors to the Tucson area. A proposed 136-room, $36 million upscale boutique hotel is proposed that will forever change the landscape in downtown Tucson and will additionally generate an influx of tourism dollars. Another highly anticipated hotel project will bring another 180 rooms right to the Sunlink Streetcar Line.

The Tucson Sunlink Streetcar is a 3.9-mile streetcar that connects major activity centers in the city. The streetcar saw its millionth passenger in May 2015. Photo from the City of Tucson

The City of Tucson is also fast becoming known as a logistics center due to I-10, I-19, and proximity to Mexico, Union Pacific Rail Line, the Tucson International Airport, and the Port of Tucson. In the International trade arena, the city has partnered with Visit Tucson to utilize their office in Hemosillo, Sonora as an extension of the economic development office located in Tucson. The city’s international trade specialist travels to the office monthly to meet business owners interested in exploring how to expand into the Tucson market.

The Tucson Sunlink Streetcar. Photo from the City of Tucson

Additionally, the city collaborates with Pima County and supports plans to construct a new limited access road from I-19 to I-10 called the Sonoran Corridor. This large infrastructure project will open up large tracts of land for industrial uses in the future, and will further solidify the Tucson region as a prime logistics center.

The city’s purposeful partnerships with other local organizations continue to bring more business and more visitors to the downtown area.

Downtown Tucson continues to be one of the hottest development markets in the region. City infrastructure expenditures and the Sunlink Modern Streetcar are certainly primarily contributors to the private investment the city is now experiencing. Downtown Tucson has been transformed in the last few years thanks to well-placed public and private investment dollars. However the lure to downtown extends beyond on-trend restaurants and housing. The area has welcomed many new businesses from the well-established to creative newcomers. These newest professional tenants have generated new construction, converted warehouses and breathed new life into historic homes and buildings. They are the next wave of newcomers to downtown Tucson and their presence will attract talented entrepreneurs and high-quality jobs to the available office space downtown.

The Rialto Theater is a mainstay of the Downtown Tucson area. Photo from the City of Tucson

The City of Tucson has driven the revitalization of downtown. Policies and incentives put in place by the mayor and city council have been geared toward turning downtown into an economic development engine. The city currently has 21 incentive tools that have made new development projects a reality in downtown.

Students are also injecting life into downtown like never before, with students from the University of Arizona’s Eller College of Management using co-working space downtown to house their student-run companies. Student-run businesses are part of a burgeoning innovation district and shared work environments are quickly becoming the new way to office for young professionals and startups.

The City of Tucson has also established the Small Business Assistance Line, which attracts callers on a daily basis. The help provided ranges from how to obtain a city business license to how to establish a new business in Tucson. The Economic Initiatives Office also staffs the Small, Minority and Women Owned Business Commission, which meets monthly to facilitate the success of small businesses.

Tucson City Hall. Photo from the City of Tucson.

The Tucson City Council have led the economic development effort for the city by proposing incentives and assistance programs, bringing new businesses to the city and supporting those that are already operating there.

Downtown Tucson is once again becoming a vibrant urban core and both seasoned and young professionals want to be part of its future.

Downtown Gilbert’s Heritage District lights up at night. Photo from the Town of Gilbert

Once known as the “Hay Shipping Capital of the World,” Gilbert, Arizona spans more than 72 square miles and is home to more than 235,000 residents. Its humble beginning started in its downtown, now known as the Heritage District. Gilbert’s Heritage District is the symbolic center of the community, where echoes of the Old West meet the world of modern cuisine. It has been named one of the five Best Food Neighborhoods in Metro Phoenix by the Phoenix New Times and is commonly referred to as “Delicious Downtown Gilbert.” This area’s growing popularity is years in the making, with past and present community leaders envisioning the Heritage District as a destination for people to shop, dine, work and attend school.

A parade runs through the main street of Downtown Gilbert in the 1940s. Photo from the Gilbert Historical Society

Today that vision is coming to life. If you visit the Heritage District you will see families lined on the picnic tables outside Joe’s Real BBQ and a line down the sidewalk to have breakfast or lunch at the Farmhouse.  Don’t forget Liberty Market, a Gilbert staple, that’s always busy at any time of the day.  Postino’s and Joy Ride, two of Upward Projects’ latest investments in Gilbert, have full and lively patios every day of the week.  Oregano’s, one of the first restaurants to kick-start the revitalization of Gilbert’s downtown, is always packed. And downtown’s newest additions Zinburger, Lolo’s Chicken and Waffles and Barrio Queen Café are bustling day and night.

Joe’s Real BBQ is a mainstay of the Heritage District. Photo from the Gilbert Historical Society

And it’s about to get even busier.

Later this year, Snooze AM Eatery, a trendy breakfast and lunch establishment, will also open its doors. Pomo Pizzeria and Petersen’s Ice Cream Company will also join the various restaurants in the Heritage Marketplace development, which at total build out will encompass over 70,000 square-feet of retail space.

What was once a quiet center of a small town is now a thriving hub of one of the fastest growing and safest communities in the country.  Under the iconic water tower, you will see families enjoying the splash pad, an outdoor concert or the Saturday Farmer’s Market while others are watching local theater at the Hale Centre Theatre.  But, before and after, you won’t want to miss a meal at one of the downtown’s many restaurant offerings.

To add to the growth and excitement Gilbert’s first University, Saint Xavier, will open its doors this fall, just steps behind the new Heritage Marketplace off of Gilbert Road.  This will bring a new energy of young, enthusiastic students; adding to the already eclectic vibe at the center of the community.

If you haven’t been to Gilbert’s Heritage District, get out and discover Gilbert.

Postino and Joy Ride, two of Upward Projects’ latest investments in Gilbert, have full and lively patios every day of the week. Photo from Town of Gilbert

A view from above in Downtown Bisbee. Photo from City of Bisbee

Historically known as the “Queen of the Copper Mines,” Bisbee, Arizona, is now a charming destination for travelers to experience history and culture.

After large-scale mining operations became obsolete, the city evolved into an artist’s colony, a tourist attraction and a relaxing place to relocate. Visitors will delight in strolling the sidewalks of this community, experiencing art galleries, small specialty shops, bookstores, cafes and local restaurants.

The City of Bisbee has evolved into an artist’s downtown, full of galleries, shops, bookstores and local restaurants. Photo from City of Bisbee

Bisbee is also home to the Bisbee Mining & Historical Museum, an ideal location for history buffs to learn about copper, architecture and Bisbee’s past. Many will also come to Bisbee to take the Copper Queen Mine Tour, a look into the days when copper was dominant in Bisbee’s culture.

Many visit Bisbee for the Copper Queen Mine Tour. Photo from City of Bisbee

The Paseo de Luces revitalization project opened in 2014. Photo from the City of Tolleson

The 2014 revitalization project of Downtown Tolleson into Paseo de Luces has spawned into an entertainment destination that people want to experience. Paseo de Luces (Path of Lights) is more than a downtown; with its family-style seating, it has become a gathering place for all people.

Visiting Paseo De Luces offers the opportunity to enjoy an amazing art collection designed and fabricated by West Valley Fine Arts Council’s Gallery 37. This collection consists of seven sculptures that comprise the Paseo de Arte (Path of Art), which embodies the city’s past, present and future.

The West Valley Arts Council recognized the City of Tolleson as its Champion of the Arts. Photo from City of Tolleson

Paseo De Luces offers family-style seating, making it a gathering place for all people. Photo from City of Tolleson

In 2015, the West Valley Arts Council recognized the City of Tolleson as its Champion of the Arts for including this art collection as a staple in the new downtown design, as a symbol of the community’s commitment to the arts. In addition to this remarkable artwork, Paseo de Luces has a Central Plaza with a water feature, free Wi-Fi and a sound system that plays music all year long.

Crowds gather to celebrate the holidays in the new Paseo de Luces. Photo from City of Tolleson