Economic Development
Week 2020
Total Number of Weekly Business Call Participants
Number of Businesses Reached Out To
Total Social Impressions Over 6 Weeks
Economic Development Week , hosted by the International Economic Development Council, and Travel and Tourism Week, hosted by the U.S. Travel Association, work to highlight the positive impacts of economic development efforts and tourism activity on communities across the world. This year, the COVID-19 global pandemic has affected all communities in profound and unexpected ways.
To support the Gilbert business community, the Gilbert Office of Economic Development has focused on connecting directly with local businesses to provide assistance with navigating through this unprecedented climate. The team is co-hosting weekly calls for the Gilbert business community to hear from experts and discuss concerns, connecting directly with hundreds of Gilbert based businesses to understand the impacts of COVID-19 on businesses across all industry sectors, and we launched the #GilbertTogether a collaborative marketing initiative focused on supporting local businesses through free and paid advertising.
To celebrate this year’s Economic Development and Travel and Tourism Weeks, our focus is on the community – drastically impacted, but coming together to support each other in BIG ways.
Long after our Economic Development and Travel and Tourism Weeks are over, Gilbert will continue to support one another, and we are highlighting the initiatives, resources, and Gilbert businesses that are helping to make a difference.
Gilbert Community Resources
Gilbert's Resources & Programs
To assist the community during COVID-19, the Town of Gilbert has created various resources and programs to help both our residents and our business owners. These vary from business outreach, interactive maps, temporary signage, and texting campaigns.
Gilbert Office of Economic Development
The Office of Economic Development supports the attraction, growth, and retention of business and industry for the community. If you are seeking general economic development assistance, have employment-related questions, or are a job seeker; call us at (480)503-6010 or email our team at econdev@gilbertaz.gov.
COVID-19 Weekly Business Call
Weekly Business Call: Wednesday Mornings @ 9:00 am
Join Mayor Jenn Daniels, other Gilbert leaders, and the Gilbert Chamber for a community teleconference focused on understanding Gilbert’s business concerns throughout COVID-19. We will be providing updates to keep you informed of the changes that are impacting your business and provide available resources to support you in this climate.
This teleconference is specific to Gilbert-based businesses. Register here for the next call.
Weekly Business Engagement Call: Navigating Economic Disruption Together
05.06.2020: Navigating Economic Disruption Together, Meeting 7
Week 7 Recording password: Gilbert100
Recap of May 6, 2020 Conversation
04.29.2020: Navigating Economic Disruption Together, Meeting 6
Week 6 Recording password: Gilbert100
Recap of April 29, 2020 Conversation
04.22.2020: No meeting
04.15.2020: Navigating Economic Disruption Together, Meeting 5
Week 5 Recording password: Gilbert100
Recap of April 15, 2020 Conversation
04.08.2020: Navigating Economic Disruption Together, Meeting 4
Week 4 Recording password: Gilbert100
Recap of April 8, 2020 Conversation
04.01.2020: Navigating Economic Disruption Together, Meeting 3
03.25.2020: Navigating Economic Disruption Together, Meeting 2
Week 2 Recording password: Gilbert100
Meeting begins at 4:00 mark
Recap of March 25, 2020 Conversation
Small Business Administration Economic Injury Disaster Loans Presentation
03.19.2020: Navigating Economic Disruption Together, Meeting 1
Gilbert’s Response to COVID-19 Page
Gilbert launched a landing page specific to COVID-19 to keep our community notified of Executive Orders, health resources, business resources, and frequently asked questions. This website is updated daily with information to keep the community informed and connected.
Gilbert Texting Service
Residents and businesses can now text ‘GILBERT’ to 313131 to be automatically notified throughout the day with the latest information related to COVID-19, its impact on our community, and available resources. Once they send the message, they will get a text message with the latest information and follow-up texts as we receive new information from our teams, state leaders, and health experts.
Text message and data rates apply. Phone numbers will not be shared or used for any purpose other than to communicate updates related to COVID-19.
Temporary Signage
In light of COVID-19 and the Governor’s emergency order, the Town of Gilbert understands that local businesses and organizations need to communicate with their customers now more than ever. Temporary signage is a good communication tool. Therefore, the Town is allowing an increase in the total number of temporary signs allowed and no sign permit will be required for such signs. Please note, however, that while the allowable number of temporary signs on private property temporarily increased, all other requirements and limitations of the Land Development Code remain in place. These include size and type limitations, as well as prohibitions on temporary signs in public rights-of-way. After May 15th, all temporary signs will be required to comply with Section 4.405 of the LDC and all non-permitted signs will need to be removed.
Please contact the Town at 480-503-6700 or at OneStopShop@gilbertaz.gov with any signage questions.
Environmental Services
Our Environmental Services team wants to continue providing uninterrupted service to our business customers. Businesses that are generating trash can do their part by making certain to:
- Bag & tie all trash before placing it into the dumpster
- Keep the dumpster lid closed at all times, opening it only to load trash into it
- Provide the operator a clear path to the dumpster and not place items in front or beside the bin
- Not place any bags or debris on top of the lid of the container
- Order a special pick up or increase service level to eliminate overflow
If you find that your business is generating less waste or no waste at all, call the Environmental Services team at (480)503-6622, or your provider, to reduce your service level. This can help businesses decrease their costs and help right-size their capacity.
Support Local Gilbert Businesses
Arizona Restaurant Weeks
In support of local restaurants during this trying time, the Arizona Restaurant Association is announcing Arizona TakeOut Weeks 2020.
Restaurants are encouraged to submit their take out menus, delivery options, and curbside hours to takeout@azrestaurant.org. This website will also serve as a resource to local diners regarding take out, curb side, and delivery options for participating restaurants. Click.Order.Take Out. Repeat.
Gilbert’s Interactive Map
With the Gilbert Interactive Map hosted on Alex, Gilbert’s Open Data Portal, businesses can submit or find local businesses throughout the Gilbert community who you’re able to support through gift cards, online consultations, and future appointments.
Explore the map: alex.gilbertaz.gov/helpgilbertbusinesses
Submit your business or nonprofit: glbrt.is/BizHelp
#GilbertTogether
The Gilbert Office of Economic Development created a marketing campaign, #GilbertTogether, to help our local businesses promote and advertise their services. By creating free and paid co-op opportunities for Gilbert businesses, our goal is to help them through an unprecedented time. For more information on #GilbertTogether, visit DiscoverGilbert.com.
Employment Opportunities in Gilbert
Arizona@Work
Arizona@Work is a statewide workforce development network that helps employers recruit, develop, and retain employees, and helps job seekers by providing services and resources to pursue employment opportunities. Arizona@Work is working with employers who are still hiring, and a list of Arizona employers with immediate job opening can be found on their website. People looking for a job should refer to Arizona’s largest jobs database, Arizona Job Connection, to create a resume, search for jobs, and get matched with hiring employers.
PipelineAZ
PipelineAZ is also positioned to help alleviate the impact of COVID-19 on businesses and employees by compiling immediate job openings in real-time and offering a unique solution to connect out-of-work Arizonians with businesses.
The Arizona Office of Tourism created the Arizona Hospitality Workforce Connection to help place trained and motivated tourism industry employees to employers with urgent hiring needs. Openings range from food service, housekeeping, security, and more.
Gilbert’s Essential Services
On March 23rd, Governor Ducey issued an Executive Order clarifying businesses and operations deemed “essential” by the state. Gilbert is home to many businesses deemed to be essential services, and through COVID-19, they’ve each responded to keep their operations moving.
Deloitte
Deloitte, an international professional services network, coordinated a global response totaling more than $12.5 million and provided support to frontline workers, organizations focused on education, and communities in need.
In the United States, Deloitte has committed $2 million to support funding unique and varying responses and relief efforts of local communities such as the United Way Worldwide’s COVID-19 Community Response and Recovery Fund, which provides support for the 211 networks, a free and confidential 24/7 hotline service that helps people find the local resources they need).
Northrop Grumman
Northrop Grumman, a global aerospace and defense technology company, is working with its suppliers to ensure their critical industrial supply chain survives by continuing to place an order and accelerate payments. Northrop Grumman is advancing approximately $30 million per week of payments to these critical suppliers.
Additionally, Northrop Grumman is focusing on employee’s safety throughout COVID-19. Currently, they have over 10,000 job openings in the U.S., which includes Gilbert, AZ. To help with hiring during May, they’re offering virtual hiring events.
Silent-Aire
Silent-Aire, a custom manufacturer of HVAC solutions and world-class data center cooling systems, is critical infrastructure to the United States by supporting the information technology and data centers.
Silent-Aire is doing its part in providing high-quality products to reinforce the internet and ensuring communications stay active. Additionally, many of the data centers that Silent-Aire provides air cooling solutions to are in the healthcare sector.
They quickly began to implement protocols and guidelines to keep their employees healthy and safe, like rolling out a Plus-Six Emergency Response Program, and the following:
- launched their ‘work from the home program’
- transitioned to night/weekend shifts to balance workforce
- launched company-wide text and voice emergency response broadcasts
GoDaddy
GoDaddy, the largest domain registrar in the world, works with entrepreneurs and small businesses every day. They’ve seen how COVID-19 has impacted the small business community and wanted to offer assistance through this unprecedented time. On March 20th, they launched their #OpenWeStand campaign to help their clients and businesses adapt.
With #OpenWeStand, GoDaddy is offering free tools such as websites and marketing for as long as the business will need it. In addition to those tools, they’re also providing free and collaborative resources, plus 24/7 support. GoDaddy is also offering three months of its Digital Marketing Suite that will help businesses stay connected through email and social media.
#OpenWeStand is a resource that connects business owners to one another to find solutions that work and are geared to helping keep businesses open.
Rising to the Challenge
Due to COVID-19, many businesses have had to rethink their business strategy and begin offering services in a new way. Two Gilbert-based businesses that quickly evolved their business model are the Made with Love Market and FunkFit.
Made with Love Market
Made with Love Market typically fills up part of Gilbert’s Heritage District two Saturdays a month from September through April. This year due to COVID-19, Made with Love Market made the decision to cancel their in-person events indefinitely but knew they wanted to continue to support the small business community. Their dream to support local helped push them to launch the Made with Love online marketplace within 3 days, an endeavor that they originally planned to take months.
FunkFit
FunkFit temporarily closed on March 18th, however, they have been busy supporting their community and their patrons. They pivoted their business model to provide at-home Zoom and on-demand workouts. Additionally, along with CycleAve and Park Studio, they started an initiative to support the local business community by selling COMMUNITY t-shirts to bring unification and hope for the future. 100% of the proceeds from the shirts, (over $3,000) were put into the hands of small businesses impacted by COVID-19 through the purchase of gift cards. In addition to the COMMUNITY t-shirts, they also partnered with Feeding America and donated 5,000 meals to the organization.
Making a Difference
The Gilbert community has come together to provide PPE, hand sanitizer, cleaning supplies and services, and food donations to those in need, including the Gilbert Fire and Police Departments. A huge shoutout to these businesses, among others, who have made donations to the Gilbert first responders.
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