Fifteen years ago, the desolate roads that connected Downtown Phoenix could have never foreshadowed the city’s growth into the buzzing metropolis it is today. With 2020 right around the corner, the city is projected to become the fourth-largest in the nation. This has prompted some Bay Area tech companies to call Greater Phoenix their new home. With the professional advancement of Phoenix, creative agencies have emerged alongside them illustrating the profound influence big tech companies can have on a city.

Big tech giants like Microsoft have begun to invest in millions in Arizona. According to Forbes magazine, Bill Gates, the CEO of Microsoft, purchased $80 million worth of land 45 minutes west of Downtown Phoenix. The purchase came with an announcement stating plans to build a “smart city” called Belmont.

According to a statement released by Belmont Partners, the real-estate group based out of Arizona, Belmont will be “a forward-thinking community with a communication and infrastructure spine that embraces cutting-edge technology, designed around high-speed digital networks, data centers, new manufacturing technologies and distribution models, autonomous vehicles and autonomous logistics hubs.”

But Microsoft isn’t the only tech giant making moves in Arizona.

Apple made its $2 billion global data command center right in the heart of Arizona. The center is 1.3 million square feet, employs upwards of 160 team members, and plans to build solar panels in the parking lot to help power the facility.

Big business enterprises are having a positive effect on the city.

Smaller professional communities have begun to gain traction in the Greater Phoenix as of recently. Entrepreneurs and startups groups are forming a community around them, sharing business plans, supporting each other, and even providing legal advice for one another. The #yesPHX is the “unifying banner of Arizona’s diverse startup ecosystem.” The group is %100 community-owned, a true testament to Arizona’s professional growth.

Indeed, seldom could have foreshadowed the exponential growth of Greater Phoenix 15 years ago. Big business does well not only for the city but for adjacent businesses, like marketing firms, branding agencies, and more in the area. With consistent blue skies, no risk for earthquakes, and a welcoming business environment, it’s hard to imagine a better environment for business to flourish.