2.5.3 Goals and Policies

Surprise is a business and commerce center.

The Surprise Economic Positioning Study shall provide a framework for economic development planning and implementation programs.
Ensure that adequate land is reserved for business/employment land uses as the population grows.
Establish a business development framework strategy for expansion of businesses related to rail-served industries such as distribution and manufacturing.
Concentrate high-intensity business infrastructure development in the growth areas and employment corridors. Establish entrepreneurial business development overlays for mixed use areas.
Develop a comprehensive telecommunications implementation program that will upgrade the current system and create guidelines for installing upgraded future infrastructure in employment, commercial, and residential developments.
Facilitate the development of a medical research campus that will incorporate research, advanced medical care and product development, and attract scientific entrepreneurial enterprises.

Surprise has an active tourism industry.

Identify and establish community-wide attractions and amenities that take advantage of the resources of the planning area for tourism-related development.
Work with Maricopa County and the State Land Department to ensure that lands around White Tank Mountain Regional Park are attractive for tourism/resort-type development.
Promote Surprise’s parks and recreation facilities as well as its visitor attractions.
Identify and develop potential sites for resort amenities and development.Develop a conference center in conjunction with local hotels.
Work with surrounding communities to establish and promote regional tourist attractions and amenities.
Create a year-round festivals and events of interest to regional, national, and/or international audiences.

Surprise has programs to educate and train a local workforce that encompasses a commitment to lifelong learning.

Identify and develop potential sites for community colleges and/or a university.
Foster partnerships between private businesses, the city, and school districts to offer relevant educational programs and internships in Surprise.
Establish partnerships with higher education research institutions to leverage knowledge-based business development opportunities based on technology transfer and commercialization strategies for applied academic research.

Surprise has stable, long-term municipal revenue streams to enhance quality of life and to provide community services and new amenities.

Reserve sites for commercial development to accommodate residents and encourage retail businesses to locate here.
Utilize the community mixed-use areas as activity centers to draw shoppers from other communities to Surprise.
Target and recruit unique businesses with regional drawing power and countercyclical business cycles.

Assistance and support for small business and start-up enterprises is available in Surprise.

Surprise successfully recruits new businesses and industries.

Continue to improve permit processing efficiency.
Create incentive programs to offset impact fees for target industries and ensure that Economic Development has funding to support new business ventures.
Expand publicity generating programs.
Encourage the development of an inventory of available buildings.
Provide incentives to encourage a diversity of integrated land uses in village centers.

Surprise encourages growth in foreign direct investment.

Create an international marketing program aimed at attracting foreign direct investment.
Foster an open, internationally minded community culture through city programs and policies, alliances with appropriate cultural organizations, and the development of internationally oriented facilities and institutions.

Educational and job training programs are available at all levels.

Create a community college campus in Surprise.
Work with state and private universities to establish branch campuses in the city.
Encourage the creation and growth of technical and vocational schools.
Foster the development of lifelong learning programs.
Form alliances with the K-12 public and private school systems to improve educational access, achievement, and offerings.