Bill Jabjiniak has served as the City of Mesa's Economic Development Director since October 2007, with more than 29 years of results-driven vision and leadership in revitalization strategies, public/private partnership opportunities, project financing and business recruitment. Mr. Jabjiniak leads a team of 13 professionals focused on business attraction, retention and expansion, workforce development and revitalization for the City of Mesa. Jabjiniak's mission is to grow the local economy primarily through the strategic expansion of Mesa's industries of opportunity -- Healthcare, Education, Aerospace and Tourism (HEAT). Since Jabjiniak took the helm, the Office of Economic Development has assisted in creating and retaining more than 7,500 jobs, successfully landing more than 80 projects and generating $260 million of capital investment to Mesa. Notable projects include retaining the Chicago Cubs and MD Helicopters at Falcon Field; expanding Banner Health's facilities; the attraction of five new higher education institutions; as well as attracting Cessna Aviation, First Solar and Crescent Crown Distributing. His office is also responsible for coordinating the redevelopment process for Arizona Laboratories for Security and Defense located next to Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport and ASU's Polytechnic Campus. Prior to joining the City of Mesa, Jabjiniak served as Director of Economic Development, and later as the Business Management Officer within the Deputy Chief Administrator's Office for Housing, Land Use and Community Development, for the City of Richmond, Virginia. In both positions he implemented creative financing solutions for a wide variety of economic and community development projects. Among his accomplishments, Jabjiniak developed a program for the Atlanta Braves to package a $50 million stadium with a new mixed-use, privately financed development. Additionally, he brought a new economic development tool to the city in the form of a $20 million line of credit with the federal government. While serving as Destination Manchester Coordinator in the Office of the Mayor for the City of Manchester, NH, he guided major development projects including a $40 million TIF-financed mixed use development and the $50+ million riverfront stadium development through the political and regulatory approval process. Jabjiniak received a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Franklin Pierce University, and holds both a Master of Science in Community Economic Development and a Master of Business Administration from Southern New Hampshire University. His professional affiliations include the Arizona Association for Economic Development (AAED), International Economic Development Council (IEDC) and International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC).

• published: 14 Mar 2014
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