My View: Axon looks to the future with Scottsdale’s nod
A dedicated workforce that has created life-changing innovations. An economic impact reflecting an S&P 500-listed company. A focus on protecting people.
These are traits of a world-class enterprise. And, of any place on the planet, this company calls Arizona home.
I’m describing Axon, one of Arizona’s leading technology companies. For long-timers, you may even still call the company Taser International, the original name reflecting its groundbreaking alternative to subduing people who pose threats to our safety.
Axon’s mission has been to make the bullet obsolete by developing nonlethal weapons inspired by science fiction, much like Captain Kirk’s phaser on “Star Trek.” In addition, they pioneered the body-camera industry, and now most police officers across the country use Axon’s technology to capture what they face in the field.
Axon’s cloud software ecosystem evidence.com stores more video than YouTube or Netflix, with daily uploads from hundreds of thousands of police body cameras and in-car cameras. The company is also at the forefront of artificial intelligence, applying it to help automate the administrative tasks for police officers. This promises to make policing more efficient and fairer, and ultimately save taxpayer dollars.
These products have led to a boost for our economy. Axon shares that the average target compensation for a job at one of its Arizona facilities is more than $135,000 a year—more than double the average annual salary here of a little more than $53,000.
With the rise of Axon as one of the largest tech companies, Arizona has the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of Austin, Texas, which has become a major tech hub in recent decades.
But Axon has outgrown its headquarters. To help it grow, it needs to think beyond just a building. In this new world, it needs to offer an experience to attract the best and brightest.
To make this happen, the company needs support from the city of Scottsdale. But Axon isn’t asking for tax rebates or public funding to fuel its plan. It simply is seeking approval to change the zoning of its site from industrial to mixed use.
Why the need for a change, you may ask.
Many employers are finding out that college graduates with technical degrees who are suited for the challenges of the job aren’t ready to settle down and buy a home. Members of this demographic value environmental and lifestyle factors, preferring to live in walkable communities where they can easily access work and amenities without needing to drive.
That’s why companies like Google, Amazon and Oracle invest in campuses that include housing to provide a complete live/work/play environment. Keep in mind that “campus” doesn’t mean that place with a student union and a locker room for the football team. Instead, think “mixed use.”
Axon project would drive other economic activity
Yes, Axon’s plans certainly call for a new corporate headquarters building on a site in north Scottsdale near the Loop 101 and Hayden Road. But there will be so much more. The development will feature a lifestyle-focused promenade, offering an attractive, walkable environment, as well as seven restaurants. Add to that condominiums and apartments that will help create a vibrant community. In addition, there will be hotels to host the 20,000 visitors and events Axon plans each year.
While Axon may bring 5,000 jobs to Arizona, there also is a multiplier effect that goes beyond the property. Each high-tech job has the potential to generate an additional five supporting jobs, significantly impacting the local economy.
Projects like this are about more than just the workers. They drive economic value in the broader community, infusing creativity, energy and capital. While some may be concerned about the impact of these tech jobs on housing prices, tech campuses instead tend to increase home values in surrounding areas. This project will help address the ongoing need for more housing.
This level of investment is necessary to be competitive. The Arizona Technology Council and its members are well-aware that other states are offering significant incentives to lure businesses away.
In this case, Axon isn’t asking for any help to fund its future. It boils down to the Scottsdale City Council approving the rezoning request in the coming weeks.
Such approval is a win for us all: better jobs and a chance to attract the talent to our state. (OK, I admit adding new dining options would be a plus, too.)
Scottsdale has the chance to keep one of our champions here in Arizona. For Axon, there’s no place like home.
Steve Zylstra is president and CEO of the Arizona Technology Council.