TEMPE, AZ—Innovators and entrepreneurs are an important part of Tempe's heritage and a vital part of its future. From the city's earliest beginning, with Charles Trumbull Hayden opening a ferry and flour mill, through the current successes of companies such as Sitewire, Picmonic, Four Peaks Brewery and Cartel Coffee, Tempe is known as the place to set up shop for success.

Businesses with fewer than 100 employees make up 42% of Tempe's business landscape. More than 2,000 businesses in Tempe have fewer than 20 employees.

“These local businesses are the heart of our city. We want to help small businesses start, grow and thrive,” says Tempe economic development director Donna Kennedy.

Small businesses and emerging entrepreneurs now have a new business resource center and coworking space in the community. Located in the Tempe Public Library at 3500 S. Rural Rd., the Business Resource and Innovation Center will host workshops to help small business owners as well as those considering starting new ones, provide business mentoring and offer tools that benefit the bottom line.

“Entrepreneurs and small businesses are vital to a sustainable economy,” mayor Mark Mitchell says. “Tempe is a city of great ideas. We want to empower our creative people to turn those ideas into successful businesses. Programs such as Business Resource and Innovation Center are important tools to help us accomplish this.”

Staff at the resource center can help entrepreneurs find applicable incentives, connect with mentors and enroll in beneficial training programs. The center is also a business-friendly place where professionals can come to work on ideas and projects in a coworking environment.

The resource center is available for meetings with potential investors, clients and suppliers, staff training, and business events. The facility offers free WiFi, a large conference room with A/V presentation equipment, large display screens and whiteboards. The Connections Café in the library offers coffee, snacks and lunch, as well as catering services.

Kennedy tells GlobeSt.com: “Business people from around the world come to Tempe and they often need quiet places to work, meeting spaces and conference rooms. Business Resource and Innovation Center offers that. We want to be instrumental in helping businesses forge relationships and succeed.”

The resource center will offer free workshops led by experts in subjects that business owners and managers can benefit from, such as finance, marketing, taxes, social media, attracting top talent, teen entrepreneurship, insurance and legal issues. ASU offers its Startup School and One Million Cups offers networking opportunities every Wednesday at the resource center.

A grand opening celebration takes place on Tuesday, September 20 from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. Mitchell and the city council will officially open the resource center for business at 5:00 p.m.

Businesses with fewer than 100 employees make up 42% of Tempe's business landscape. More than 2,000 businesses in Tempe have fewer than 20 employees.

“These local businesses are the heart of our city. We want to help small businesses start, grow and thrive,” says Tempe economic development director Donna Kennedy.

A grand opening celebration takes place on Tuesday, September 20 from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. Mitchell and the city council will officially open the resource center for business at 5:00 p.m.

Instant Insights /

Resource Center and Coworking Space Set for Opening

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