Mesa’s economic development team has opened a new front in the city’s long-running effort to broaden its industrial base: a Foreign Direct Investment strategy aimed at recruiting export-oriented, capital-intensive companies to locate operations here. Launched this year by the Office of Economic Development, the program zeroes in on markets that align with Mesa’s existing strengths and supply-chain connections, officials said. "Our strategy focuses on attracting export-oriented, capital-intensive industries that strengthen the city’s advanced manufacturing and global trade economy – really leveraging our core competitive advantages," Economic Development Director Jaye O’Donnell told the City Council’s Economic Development Advisory Board.
Aerial view of warehouses, vacant industrial lots and runways near Falcon Field/Mesa Gateway — areas Mesa officials are marketing to attract foreign industrial investment.
Mesa officials point to two local airports as central pillars of the FDI pitch. Falcon Field and Mesa Gateway provide air logistics options, while Mesa Gateway’s designation as a Foreign Trade Zone offers businesses potential duty deferrals and tariff exemptions. SkyBridge, an international air cargo facility at Mesa Gateway, houses both Mexican and U.S. customs, an arrangement the city says can help companies in Latin America move goods more quickly and cost-efficiently by reducing delivery times. Those logistics features are part of the package the city believes will appeal to manufacturers seeking a U.S. footprint for production, research and development, logistics or tech operations.
City leaders say Mesa also brings labor and land resources to the table. O’Donnell highlighted educational partnerships that produce workforce pipelines, a substantial amount of open land, and a broad inventory of industrial and flex buildings that developers and companies can access. She reported the city has nearly 46 million square feet of industrial and flex space, with annual absorption of about 4.3 million square feet. Mesa’s current vacancy rate stands at 21.6 percent, which translates to roughly 9 million square feet of vacant space; another 2 million square feet is under construction. "So it’s still a bullish market," O’Donnell said, noting steady absorption and investor confidence despite concerns about concentrated development in parts of southeast Mesa.
The new FDI strategy targets countries and industry sectors where Mesa officials believe global demand overlaps with local advantages. Japan is being pursued for aerospace and semiconductor-related investments; Taiwan for elements of the semiconductor supply chain; and Germany for advanced manufacturing. Canada and South Korea were also identified as priority markets for their strengths in aerospace, mining technologies, batteries and electronics, respectively. "These are our priorities now," O’Donnell said, adding that the approach is coordinated with regional partners to maximize reach and resources.
That coordination is deliberate. The city is working with state and regional entities such as the Arizona Commerce Authority and the Greater Phoenix Economic Council so Mesa can tap existing in-market resources rather than opening its own overseas offices. "We’re piggybacking on what they’re also targeting and using their resources that they have in market as well, so we don’t have to invest in opening an office, for example, in Taiwan. It’s already there," O’Donnell said. She also left room for flexibility in the future, noting the city could add other markets if emerging industries or companies elsewhere appeared to be a good fit.
Mesa officials emphasized that attracting foreign firms requires more than land and tax advantages; new international entrants often need help navigating visas, cultural adjustments and local business networks. Mesa already provides services through its Mesa Business Builder program, but O’Donnell said the city is developing a local version of an international "soft landing" program to smooth the transition for overseas companies. Working with Arizona State University and GPEC, the city is pursuing an Arizona International Soft Landing Experience that would offer low-risk, expert-guided support and resources for international firms. O’Donnell said she expects to bring the agreement with ASU and GPEC to the City Council in August for consideration.
Mesa has a history of international business presence, officials noted, with about 320 internationally owned companies currently operating in the city, representing roughly 3 to 4 percent of overall businesses. The region has seen several large-scale foreign-led projects in recent years, including Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.’s multibillion-dollar investment in the Phoenix area and Amkor Technology’s advanced manufacturing campus in nearby Peoria. Mesa’s existing industrial ecosystem also includes companies that service those larger semiconductor projects: Fujifilm completed an $88 million expansion in 2021, and KoMiCo opened a semiconductor-equipment cleaning and coating facility this year with an investment exceeding $60 million.
Beyond industrial recruitment, the Office of Economic Development is pursuing an elevated retail and hospitality strategy to complement manufacturing growth and keep spending local. O’Donnell said Mesa needs not only "more retail but elevated retail" so residents shop and stay in the city and so Mesa can draw visitors from outside the community. The strategy leverages eight distinct retail districts across Mesa — downtown, Riverview, the Asian District, Fiesta, Northeast Mesa, Superstition Springs/Dana Park, Power Road and Gateway — allowing developers to match concepts to neighborhood demographics and market needs. So far this year the city reports eight retail projects committed with about $200 million in capital investment and another 23 projects in the pipeline representing roughly $3.3 billion in prospective investment. Announced or under-development projects cited by city staff include the Gateway Auto Mall, a 107-room Cambria Hotel slated to open in spring 2027, Dragon’s Lounge in the Asian District, a dual Hilton Tempo & Homewood Suites development in Gallery Park, the EastMarket shopping center, and a 127-room SpringHill Suites by Marriott planned on the east side of Gateway Airport for next year.
Council members pressed staff on the tools available to attract and retain international firms. Councilman Rich Adams asked what inducements the city could offer businesses seeking a foothold in Mesa; O’Donnell pointed to the suite of programs already in place and the planned soft-landing support as ways to reduce barriers for international entrants. Councilwoman Alicia Goforth asked whether other Valley municipalities were outpacing Mesa in foreign investment; aside from headline-making investments elsewhere in the region, O’Donnell highlighted Mesa’s role in supply chains tied to the semiconductor industry and the steady arrival of internationally owned firms that integrate Mesa into global networks. City officials say the new FDI strategy and accompanying partnerships are intended to accelerate that trend and convert Mesa’s logistical and land advantages into additional international projects and jobs.
Arizona led the U.S. in foreign direct investment in 2025 with 55 projects and over $1 billion in new capital as part of $195.7 billion announced since 2020, per the Arizona Commerce Authority and Site Selection. Mesa has captured aligned wins including Japan-based Komatsu's $80 million mining facility that triples its local footprint and Canadian firm Cyclic Materials' first U.S. rare earth recycling plant.
Komatsu broke ground in Mesa on April 3, 2025 for a roughly 215,000-square-foot mining sales and service facility near the airport; the company says the $80 million project is scheduled for completion in summer 2026 and is expected to add up to about 100 long‑term positions.
KoMiCo formally opened a 125,000‑square‑foot semiconductor equipment cleaning, coating and repair facility in Mesa on January 12, 2026; the company described the investment as just over $60 million and said the site will start with about 50 employees and scale to more than 200 jobs over the coming years.
Cyclic Materials announced it is investing more than $20 million in its first U.S. commercial rare‑earth recycling facility in Mesa, a plant designed to process about 25,000 tonnes per year of magnet‑containing end‑of‑life components; the company began recruiting initial hires in Q2 2025 for the roughly 30+ operator roles and expected commercial operations in early 2026.
Danish logistics firm DSV broke ground in Mesa on January 21, 2026 for a new Arizona regional headquarters and supply‑chain facility, putting about $60 million in tenant improvements into the site and projecting an initial ~50 jobs with the ability to ramp to roughly 200 positions to support local semiconductor and tech customers.