Join the City of Chandler in celebrating the exploration of invention by attending the Chandler Innovation Fair. This annual event showcases businesses, artists, students and innovators in the community as Chandler participates in the statewide Arizona SciTech Festival. This year's festivities will be held in Downtown Chandler on Saturday, Feb. 21, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Now in its 15th year, the city is again partnering with the Chandler Unified School District's Innovation Fair, which brings about greater district participation. This free event offers unique opportunities for attendees to explore the discoveries of science engineered in their own backyard and taught in Chandler Unified schools.

Local K-12 schools and organizations have once again been invited to participate in the Annual Chandler Innovation Fair Competition. Six winning teams will be awarded a $500 prize that will be presented to their school's science club or program for the most educational, most creative and most passionate projects.

This year's event is anticipated to bring together more than 100 exhibitors from local technology companies and schools registered to participate.

Learn more

The Phoenix Business Journal recently wrote an article on the city's Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for a development opportunity at Tumbleweed Park. The 205-acre park is a major recreation draw in Chandler and the city has for decades reserved approximately 16 acres at its northeast corner for future commercial development. This site is envisioned to be a commercial destination that complements the park's existing amenities, adds economic vitality and meets the needs of residents and employers.

Developers that respond to the RFQ are expected to include plans for an upper upscale, resort or boutique hotel to help satisfy demand in Chandler for these product types, as demonstrated by a hotel feasibility study by consulting firm HVS. Other development could include a combination of full-service restaurant, retail and entertainment uses. The city views this as a legacy project opportunity and is looking to provide unique, high-quality experiences for residents and visitors to Chandler.

RFQ submittals are due by March 11. Developers that make the shortlist will be invited to respond to a more detailed Request for Proposals (RFP).

Phoenix Business Journal Article

Request for Qualifications

The Youth Career Event is a city-led hiring and career exploration event designed to connect Chandler-based employers with local young people (ages 17-24) interested in entry-level employment, internships, and work-based learning opportunities.

This event will be hosted on Feb. 25, from 3 to 6 pm, at the Downtown Chandler Public Library. Due to space constraints, it will be limited to 25 Chandler employers. If your business is interested in participating, we encourage you to register today to secure your spot.

Youth Career Event

Wednesday, Feb. 25

3 to 6 pm

Downtown Chandler Public Library (Copper Rooms)

22 S. Delaware Street

Employer Registration

Youth Job Seeker Registration

Chandler has been ranked the 14th best place to find a job in a recent nationwide study from leading personal finance outlet WalletHub.com.

WalletHub's analysts compared more than 180 U.S. cities across 31 indicators of job-market strength. Their analysis looked beyond just number of jobs available and included other key factors, such as average starting salary, job security, and overall satisfaction.

The new ranking reflects the continued growth of Chandler's economy. Chandler has ranked among the top 30 cities on WalletHub's list each of the past 10 years.

Chandler Endeavor is a free business incubator program sponsored by the city and managed by community entrepreneurship leaders from ASU's J. Orin Edson Entrepreneurship + Innovation Institute.

This spring, the program has introduced a Prototyping Venture Boost series to help founders move from the minimum viable product (MVP) stage to production-ready solutions. Featured speakers have been brought in to break down what it really takes to develop a formal prototype, navigate engineering and legal considerations, and prepare for manufacturing. Chandler Endeavor clients walk away learning:

• The essential decisions founders must make when moving from prototype to production, including design requirements, materials, and engineering considerations.
• How production pathways differ across industries - whether they are building med-tech hardware, consumer products, or something entirely new.
• Common pitfalls that slow founders down, plus the signals that it is time to bring in engineering, manufacturing, or legal partners.

The third session in this three-part series will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 3 at 5 pm at the ASU Chandler Innovation Center (ACIC). The following evening, Chandler Endeavor will host its monthly forum with the topic being the importance of knowing your numbers. If you have not visited ACIC before, we encourage you to stop by to see everything available to Chandler Endeavor clients, including free coworking space, conference rooms, and a prototyping lab.

Register for Prototyping Venture Boost

Register for the monthly forum