Mesa welcomes White House policy adviser for update on federal program

PHOENIX — A White House representative was in the East Valley this week to see how a federal program is revitalizing downtown Mesa.

Ashley Bell, White House policy adviser for entrepreneurship and innovation, visited several sites Tuesday that have been designated as opportunity zones by the federal government.

Opportunity zones were created by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act in 2017. They provide a federal tax break to developers as a way to encourage them to invest in low-income areas.

“It’s got the small town feel. It’s got a lot of charm to it,” he told KTAR News 92.3 FM after walking through downtown.

“I can totally understand why people want to move here and move their families and their businesses,” adding that Mesa is “a great place to invest.”

The area has received the attention of investors over the last few years, and the opportunity zones in downtown Mesa could be a major reason.

Although critics worry the federal program could displace low-income residents through gentrification, Bell said he sees it as “a tool for economic revitalization.”

Mesa has 11 opportunity zones, eight of which are downtown.

The downtown opportunity zones have attracted the attention and investment of Scottsdale-based wealth development firm Caliber.

Rodney Riley, Caliber’s director of acquisitions and development, said they have 10 buildings totaling about 160,000 square feet in the area.

He said they intend to bring restaurants, businesses and creative office spaces to the area.

“We want to bring generational residents back to downtown Mesa,” he added.

Arizona has 168 opportunity zones.

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