Supporting local businesses strengthens Oro Valley

Published on April 14, 2026

By Oro Valley Mayor Joe Winfield

For most of my tenure as mayor, I have made it a priority to visit local businesses on a weekly basis. These visits usually include a member of our Town staff and a representative from the Oro Valley Chamber of Commerce. Together, we meet with business owners, learn about their work, and listen to their experiences operating here in Oro Valley. On any given visit, I might find myself speaking with a restaurant owner preparing for the lunch rush, a retailer helping a customer find the right product, or an entrepreneur working to turn a new idea into a growing business. These conversations are always a reminder that behind every storefront in Oro Valley is someone who has taken a risk to start a business and commit themselves to serving our community.

Business owners invest their time, resources, and often their personal savings to build something meaningful. They hire employees, serve customers, and contribute to the vitality of our community. Many also give back generously to local schools, nonprofits, and community events. They are an essential part of what makes Oro Valley such a special place to live.

These business visits also provide valuable insight into how our local economy functions. While Oro Valley is home to many outstanding businesses, we know that a significant amount of retail spending by residents occurs outside our community. When residents travel to other areas to shop or dine, the sales tax generated by those purchases goes to other communities instead of staying here in Oro Valley. Economists refer to this as “retail leakage.”

Some level of retail leakage occurs in every community. No town can provide every product or service residents may want or need; however, when a larger share of spending occurs elsewhere, it means revenue that could support local services flows to other jurisdictions instead.

In Arizona, sales tax is one of the primary ways municipalities fund essential services such as public safety, parks, streets, and other community amenities. This is especially critical in communities—like Oro Valley—that do not levy a property tax. When residents choose to support businesses in Oro Valley, more of those dollars stay here in our community and help fund the services we all rely on.

This is one reason supporting local businesses matters so much. Choosing to dine at a local restaurant, shop at a neighborhood store, or hire a local service provider does more than support an individual business—it helps strengthen the entire community. The next time you are deciding where to shop, dine, or hire a service, I encourage you to consider one of the many excellent businesses right here in Oro Valley.

Local businesses also contribute to something less measurable but equally important: community character. They give a community its personality and sense of place. They create gathering spaces where neighbors meet, friendships are formed, and community traditions take root.

Over the years, I have been impressed not only by the quality of businesses in Oro Valley but also by the dedication of the people behind them. Many business owners tell me they chose Oro Valley because of our quality of life, natural beauty, and strong sense of community.

One theme I hear consistently during these visits is the importance of public safety. Many business owners tell me that Oro Valley’s reputation as one of the safest communities in Arizona played a major role in their decision to locate here. A safe community creates confidence for families, employees, and customers. It allows businesses to focus on serving their customers and growing their operations, knowing they are part of a community that takes public safety seriously and invests in maintaining it. The professionalism of our police department and our community’s longstanding commitment to safety are important reasons why businesses feel confident putting down roots in Oro Valley.

Our business visits also serve another important purpose: listening. They give Town leadership an opportunity to hear directly from business owners about their experiences operating in our community. Those conversations help us better understand how Town policies, services, and processes affect local businesses. That feedback is valuable as we continue working to maintain a business environment where entrepreneurs can succeed.

Those conversations have also helped me better understand the challenges businesses sometimes face. During the COVID-19 pandemic, business owners shared firsthand how uncertainty, restrictions, and reduced customer traffic were affecting their ability to operate. Hearing those concerns directly reinforced my belief that the Town should step in to help where we could. I supported directing $1 million from the Town’s General Fund that had been freed up due to CARES Act funding, to assist local businesses so they could keep their doors open and their employees working during that difficult time.

Fortunately, many of those businesses weathered that period and have continued to grow and contribute to our community. Visiting with them over the years has given me a deep appreciation for the resilience, creativity, and determination of local entrepreneurs.

In many ways, a healthy local economy is the result of a partnership between businesses, residents, and local government. Businesses provide goods, services, and jobs. Residents support those businesses through their patronage. Local government works to maintain a safe and well-maintained community where businesses and families alike can thrive.

Over the years, these visits have given me a unique window into the spirit of Oro Valley. I have seen firsthand the dedication of people who invest their livelihoods here and the pride they take in serving our community. Their success is closely tied to the support they receive from the residents they serve.

Communities are shaped not only by public decisions but also by the everyday choices people make. When residents choose to support local businesses, they help sustain the jobs, services, and community character that make Oro Valley such a special place to live. Equally important, they are reinvesting their own, hard-earned dollars right back into this community, helping to fund key services like police, roads and parks.

I remain grateful to the many business owners who have welcomed us through their doors and shared their stories with us. Their hard work and commitment help ensure that Oro Valley remains a vibrant and thriving community for years to come.