Updated
Updated · ABC15 Arizona in Phoenix · Aug 17
Arizona Legacy Center Revives 1966 Phoenix Tower Into Training Hub, Targeting 100,000 Jobs by 2035
Updated
Updated · ABC15 Arizona in Phoenix · Aug 17

Arizona Legacy Center Revives 1966 Phoenix Tower Into Training Hub, Targeting 100,000 Jobs by 2035

2 articles · Updated · ABC15 Arizona in Phoenix · Aug 17

Summary

  • October 1 is the planned opening date for the Arizona Legacy Center, which is converting Phoenix’s former First National Bank of Arizona building into a workforce and small-business training site.
  • Built in 1966, the landmark had sat vacant since a 2018 fire as the surrounding area deteriorated; private investment and coordination with Phoenix officials and police helped restore it.
  • The center aims to link job seekers, entrepreneurs and employers with training, capital, contracting opportunities, networking and business resources in one location.
  • Valley Metro light rail access is central to the plan, with project leaders saying the site can reduce transportation barriers for underserved communities trying to reach career programs.
  • Black Chamber of Arizona CEO Velma Trayham says the broader goal is to help create 100,000 Arizona jobs by 2035, including through small businesses that grow into employers.

Insights

Will the new Arizona Legacy Center's strategic light rail location actually bridge the wealth gap for Phoenix's underserved communities?
How did a fire-ravaged Phoenix bank surrounded by encampments transform into a premier innovation hub promising 100,000 new jobs?
Can a single restored 1966 landmark in Phoenix truly serve as the catalyst for creating 100,000 new jobs by 2035?