Mesa Open Air for Businesses
It is a creative, healthy and safe way to enjoy our fabulous weather and give Mesa businesses a big boost! The City has started Mesa Open Air, allowing businesses to temporarily move their waiting areas outdoors to parking spots, sidewalks, green spaces and other places normally off limits. 

The City of Mesa is trying to do everything it can during the COVID-19 pandemic to help businesses have a more robust schedule and operate as normally as possible. Mesa Open Air encourages businesses to take advantage of our sunny, comfortable winter and early spring temperatures and safely serve more customers. Mesa Open Air is modeled after the highly successful Mesa Al Fresco program, adopted in September, to help restaurants and bars expand their services outdoors.

While businesses will need to pay for equipment needed to expand outdoors, permit fees will be waived, and the goal is to approve applications within two to four business days. Business owners will need to obtain approval from landlords or property managers and the expansion plans must comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), social distancing and other life/safety requirements to protect the public.


Heather Omta, Development Services Small Business Assistant, will be the central point of contact to receive, review and approve expansion requests. For more information, contact Heather at heather.omta@mesaaz.gov or (480) 644-6451, or click here.
Business Forum on Homelessness






Invitation to Business Forum on Regional Homelessness

You are invited to attend a forum on Thursday, March 11, 2021 (2pm to 4pm) to share your expertise as a leader in the business community. A series of outreach forums are being held with diverse groups to shape regional strategies to address homelessness. Forums are planned with nonprofit agencies, housing developers, educators, and the faith community. This forum is planned to provide compelling data about the current homeless crisis, offer feedback from leaders in other sectors, and to explore possible roles and partnerships to make our region stronger.

What's at stake
There is an alarming increase in the numbers of people experiencing homelessness. This increase threatens the region's ability to generate a quality workforce and quality of life that drives economic development. Your feedback is needed to vet solutions that will strengthen the region's response to homelessness and position the region to be more globally competitive.

Working together
This forum is co-hosted by East Valley Partnership, Greater Phoenix Leadership, Phoenix Community Alliance, WESTMARC, and the Regional Collaborative on Homelessness. The partners of the Collaborative include the Arizona Housing Coalition, Arizona State University (ASU) Action Nexus, Maricopa Association of Governments, Maricopa County Human Services Department, Valley of the Sun United Way, and Vitalyst Health Foundation. Arizona Town Hall is sharing their expertise in facilitation, recording, and reporting for this forum.

How to participate
Please register at this link https://aztownhall.org/event-4161402 by March 8, 2021. Please note that an RSVP is required to ensure all attendees are able to participate in the breakout rooms.
 
Meeting Information

Meeting ID: 977 6299 0545
Passcode: 840292
253.215.8782

In addition, a forum for the housing community is planned for Wednesday, February 17 at 9:30 am to 11:30 am. With the understanding that there is an overlap between the two communities, you have the option of participate in one of the two forums based on your availability and preference. Please RSVP to the forum for the February 17 forum for the housing community at https://aztownhall.org/event-4138052 by February 15, 2021.

If you have any questions, are unable to attend the forum but would like to provide input, or would like more information on other forums being offered, please email Amy St. Peter, Maricopa Association of Governments, at astpeter@azmag.gov.

Join the discussion on Twitter! #PartneringToEndHomelessness
Valley Metro Light Rail Schedule Impacts
Valley Metro is preparing for a temporary schedule adjustment for our light rail services in February and March. In order to build the Downtown Hub light rail project, light rail trains will travel on a single track between the Roosevelt/Central Ave station and 3rd St/Jefferson and 3rd St/Washington stations in downtown Phoenix on February 13-26th and March 13-26th.

This adjustment will impact light rail service throughout the Valley and the frequency of light rail trains will be reduced to every 30 minutes, instead of every 15 minutes.
 
Valley Metro wants to ensure that any patrons and workers in Downtown Mesa who may use public transit are aware of these adjustments.

More updates will be posted online at www.valleymetro.org/pardon-our-progress as construction dates approach. Please contact Valley Metro with any requests to reach out with a presentation, phone call or further details.

For more information, contact Jessica Park,
Community Outreach Program Coordinator (602-322-4436).
Downtown Mesa in the News - January








                                     
















(Television mentions include several per station, different times throughout the news day.)
Reminder: Downtown Mesa Website
The new Downtown Mesa website launches in early March, 2021.

This improved DowntownMesa.com includes a landing page just for you! Your page can include your hours, links to your website and social media, even photos and a logo. Simply complete this form, ASAP.
(If not completed, only your business name and address will be included).
Parking Permits
Business Owners/Managers: if you need parking passes for your employees, please email Lisa Hegeman at the Downtown Mesa Association.
Wear a Mask - Socially Distance - Be Safe
Director of Business Relations
Downtown Mesa Association | DowntownMesa.com
#dtmesarising