As the new year kicks off, Tempe City Manager, Rosa Inchausti, extends holiday greetings and looks forward to the potential growth and innovation poised to define 2026 for the community. According to Inchausti's newsletter, Tempe has much to celebrate including over a dozen new locally-owned restaurants that have opened their doors in 2025, with many more gearing up to launch in the coming year.
Boosting the job market has been another feather in Tempe's cap, with over 2,500 new office and industrial positions added. This includes significant company expansions such as the global headquarters for Cognite and the regional headquarters for Goosehead Insurance. In an ambitious move set to continue this trend, tech giant Avnet's corporate headquarters is slated to transition to south Tempe, and the company Synsus is also scheduled to make Tempe their new home – decisions expected to significantly bolster local investment and job opportunities, Inchausti revealed.
Tempe's performance-based budgeting is aimed squarely at reflecting community feedback in its set priorities for a stronger 2026. This approach targets areas such as increasing the feeling of safety in parks and neighborhoods, addressing homelessness, improving the tree and shade canopy, and enhancing the quality of business services. "We are confident you will see broad improvements in our local businesses, our neighborhoods, the environment, and our community spaces as a result of our efforts," Inchausti stated in her December address, as per the City of Tempe website.
Tempe Police Chief Ken McCoy and other city officials are working together to ensure community safety, an effort that has already resulted in a 21% reduction in violent crime in the first six months of 2025. "This significant drop is our starting point for improving the feeling of safety for our parks and neighborhoods," Inchausti noted on the City of Tempe, highlighting proactive measures like the Real Time Operation Center and targeted initiatives against street racing that have contributed to these outcomes.
Infrastructure improvements have not gone unnoticed, with about 200 miles of roadway repavement already completed, all part of a larger urban master plan integrating sustainability goals, such as expanded bike lanes and improved ADA accessibility. In parallel, Tempe has made strides in reducing homelessness by 46% over the last three years, thanks in part to a substantial $140 million investment dedicated since 2022 to tackling this issue.
The city's environmental conscientiousness is seen in the commitment to restoring and growing the urban tree canopy. The community is rallying to replenish the loss of over 500 trees felled by a microburst, aiming for increased tree coverage to enhance the city’s resiliency and reduce water evaporation, mirroring Inchausti’s vision for a cooler, greener Tempe.
In a drive to cultivate a supportive business ecosystem, Tempe initiated a business license process to better identify local businesses, fostering a network of assistance and partnerships. This move is in line with the ongoing efforts to propel the city into a future that banks on innovation, community cohesion, and comprehensive support for its residents.
