A quality of life that’s second to none.

Today’s new corporate bottom line includes providing employees with access to great amenities and opportunities. To retain the best workers, successful companies that want to expand are moving to regions with standout character and a sense of place, with everything from transportation and education to healthcare and affordable housing.

But robust economic development isn’t just about smooth roads, convenient airports, great schools, top-notch hospitals, beautiful neighborhoods, stable tax policy and more than 300 days of sunshine a year. It’s also about creating connections with residents and giving them a variety of entertainment options.

The PHX East Valley has earned dozens of accolades for its lifestyle and amenities, and the region continues to invest in the arts, parks and pedestrian-friendly downtowns. Here, there are also plenty of things to do: taking in a show at one of the region’s world-class performing arts centers; hiking or biking scenic trails, watching a spring training game and enjoying farm-to-fork “agritainment,” with products crafted the old-school way, including at a 100-year-old family farm with a solar-powered flour mill.