Maryvale Revitalization Corporation (MRC), an established nonprofit serving the Maryvale village for over 25 years, launches the Maryvale Business Center and Maryvale Spark Center.
“Maryvale is a prime location to open a collaborative business workspace and offer entrepreneur training. There are hundreds of small businesses here, as well as across the west valley and central Phoenix, that can benefit from affordable office space and an experienced network of leaders to help their business flourish. This is one of many ways Maryvale Revitalization Corporation is committed to supporting the village through the continued economic growth of our vibrant community,” said Jeff Armor, Executive Director at Maryvale Revitalization Corporation. Members have 24-hour access to an affordable workspace that includes a variety of perks, from a stocked kitchen with coffee and snacks to office essentials and beautiful views overlooking the Milwaukee Brewers spring training facility.
Working within a business hub offers a built-in network of collaboration, as well as opportunities to engage with and impact the broader community through MRC’s regional efforts and partnerships. Steve Yamamori, President/CEO of Reveille Foundation, a nonprofit supporting holistic services to veterans and transitioning military, chose the organization’s home office to be a part of the Maryvale Business Center: “I am hard-pressed to think of a better place to house our organization than in Maryvale, where John F. Long created a vibrant community focused on the holistic needs of families. The rich history and strong community partnerships in Maryvale are valuable to our efforts,” Yamamori said. Norma Parraz, President of NNR Multicultural Business Development and member of the Maryvale Business Center agrees, “Maryvale Revitalization Corporation’s mission and strategic vision, along with
its deep roots and strong community partnerships are why NNR is here – in the heart of the greatest opportunity zone in the Valley.”
The Maryvale Spark Center will provide career training, placement and ongoing support to graduates in a variety of fields. Advanced Business Learning (ABL), an Arizona licensed vocational school, will launch its second Cyber Academy and Cyber Range at the center in partnership with MRC. Entry-level to advanced students can engage in IT and cybersecurity courses, then launch into career pathways utilizing ABL’s critical hands-on skill development and mentorship model.
ABL’s mission is in concert with the Governor’s strategy to make Arizona a Center of Cyber Excellence. With MRC and ABL’s efforts, valley residents will be trained for the 1.9 million unfilled positions in the global cybersecurity workforce. More than 200,000 jobs in the U.S. are unfilled today and there are currently 7,000 cybersecurity positions open in Arizona. Tom Jenkins, CEO of ABL, who actively participates on the Governor’s Arizona Cybersecurity Team said, “ABL’s graduates have achieved so much success from attending our Academy in Tempe. When Maryvale Revitalization Corporation invited us to be a partner and have a location in Maryvale, we felt privileged and honored to contribute to the advancement of MRC’s mission to support workforce initiatives in Maryvale and beyond, while creating a safer world for everyone.” ABL’s model is proven effective with clients like the Department of Defense and Fortune 1000 companies. ABL graduates are passing their certification exams at a better than 90% rate and their job placement rate is over 85%. With Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act (WIOA) grant funding, eligible individuals can earn two certifications with no out-of-pocket-costs.
Maryvale is well-positioned to fill the sector’s significant employment gaps as it is home to the largest concentrated workforce in Arizona: over 94% of Maryvale residents are workforce age, with the median age of residents being 26 years old. Maryvale is home to Arizona’s current and future entrepreneurs, workforce, and industry leaders. These are just a few of the many ways Maryvale Revitalization Corporation is executing its mission to bring opportunity, awareness and collaboration to the Maryvale village. Armor shared, “It is our strong belief that the residents of the Maryvale village are the best untapped resource of human capital in the valley.”
Event Details
What: Maryvale Business Center Grand Opening
When: Wednesday, November 6, 2019 at 10 AM
Where: 3802 N. 53rd Avenue, Suite 290. Phoenix Ribbon cutting ceremony hosted by the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Maryvale Revitalization Corporation
Information: maryvalelife.com/business or info@maryvalelife.com
