In business, the ambition of any astute entrepreneur extends beyond just staying afloat; it aims for robust growth. We’re not talking about modest increases. We mean explosive expansion that catapults an enterprise into a dominant position in its industry. So, how can you transition from merely operating to truly flourishing? In this article, we lay out a comprehensive, multi-step strategy to accelerate your business growth.

Revamp your marketing strategies

The only constant in business is change. Consumer preferences shift. New competitors emerge, and technologies evolve. Stagnation in your marketing approach could be your downfall. Periodically revisit your marketing strategies to incorporate new ideas and innovative techniques. A diversified, dynamic marketing plan can be a powerful catalyst for business growth. For marketing guidance to help your business flourish, Laveen-based AZ Media Maven can help.

Join your chamber of commerce

Joining your local chamber of commerce can help your business expand. Being a member provides networking opportunities with other business owners, fosters collaborations, and gives you access to valuable resources and support. Veing a part of the chamber also enhances credibility and reputation within the community, leading to increased visibility and potential customers. For businesses in Laveen and South Phoenix, the South Mountain and Laveen Chamber of Commerce offers this opportunity locally. The chamber is involved in the community in many ways, including sponsoring abd hosting events, and offering resources to small business owners in the South Mountain area. Find it in Laveen and AZ Media Maven are both members of the SMLCC, and Rose Tring, a Laveen resident who owns both businesses, is a member of the board of directors.

Network to expand horizons

Networking is not just a corporate buzzword; it’s a cornerstone for business development. By attending industry-specific events, workshops, or webinars, you can establish valuable connections that could lead to partnerships, collaborations, and client referrals. These networks can be essential in providing the resources and opportunities necessary for business growth. More importantly, networking gives you a chance to learn from your peers and competitors. Several local opportunities are available for networking, including Local First Arizona, Arizona BNI groups, and Tip Club. The larger groups have several local chapters to explore.

Add more products or services

Imagine a business as a one-trick pony; its growth potential would be decidedly limited. To broaden your appeal, diversify your product or service offerings. This doesn’t mean diluting your brand but enhancing it by adding value to your customers. The more you can meet varied customer needs, the more likely you’ll attract a larger customer base. Thus, diversification can be a powerful engine of business growth.

Keep track of credit scores

If your expansion plans involve securing loans or attracting investors, your business credit score will significantly influence those possibilities. A strong credit score can unlock better loan terms and interest rates. This financial leverage can be invaluable for business growth, allowing you to invest in new projects, hire staff, or enhance marketing activities. Keep an eye on your credit score, and take steps to improve it if necessary.

Create a center of dxcellence

Establishing a Center of Excellence (CoE) can be a transformative step in expanding your business. A CoE acts as a central hub of expertise, best practices, and innovation, fostering continuous improvement and knowledge sharing across the organization. By pooling expert skills and resources, a CoE helps streamline processes, enhance efficiency, and drive innovation. This centralized approach allows your business to discover more options for growth and development, by identifying new opportunities, technologies, and strategies. It also plays a crucial role in upskilling employees, ensuring that your workforce remains adept and agile in an ever-evolving market.

Master web tasks

It’s a digital work, and having a robust online presence is essential. While hiring professionals is an option, consider learning some basics yourself. Empowering yourself with digital skills can lead to significant cost savings and more agile management of your online platforms. Check resources like Code Profs to acquire relevant training about coding and fixing broken links. By mastering simple web tasks, you set the stage for an enhanced online presence, thus stimulating business growth. If that’s outside your comfort zone, Find it in Laveen works closesly with Arizona-based Websites by Toni for web design, maintenance, and updates.

Boost online visibility

Speaking of an online presence, it’s crucial to have a strategy for boosting your visibility on the web. Take advantage of social media, SEO techniques, and content marketing to draw attention to your brand. The internet has a global reach; use it to your advantage to connect with a larger audience. An optimized online presence is often directly proportional to increased business growth.

Expand your knowledge

Earning a cybersecurity degree online can be a strategic move, especially during the expansion phase of your business. The benefits of an online cybersecurity degree are multifaceted. First, it equips you with the latest skills and knowledge to protect your business’s digital assets, which are crucial as your company grows and becomes a more prominent target for cyber threats. With the flexibility of online learning, you can balance education with business responsibilities, applying new insights in real-time to fortify your company’s cyber defenses. Furthermore, this degree can help you develop a robust cybersecurity strategy, essential for safeguarding customer data and maintaining trust as your business scales.

Expand globally

While domestic growth is important, international expansion offers an entirely new set of opportunities. This is not without challenges—cultural nuances, legal frameworks, and consumer behavior can vary widely across borders. However, adapting your business model to suit international markets can open up new avenues for dramatic business growth.

Invest In continuous learning

The pursuit of business growth is an ongoing process. It requires you to be in a constant state of learning and adaptation. Keep yourself updated with the latest trends, technologies, and customer preferences. The more informed you are, the better equipped you’ll be to make decisions that will fuel your business growth.

To make significant strides in business growth, a multi-faceted strategy is key. Joining your chamber of commerce, networking, diversification, maintaining a good credit score, mastering web tasks, boosting online visibility, refreshing marketing strategies, international expansion, and continuous learning are all factors that combine to create a robust framework for business growth. By taking these steps, you not only prepare your business for growth but set the stage for sustained success in an ever-competitive marketplace.

Elena Stewart is a guest writer for Find it in Laveen, sharing tips and knowledge about business and business growth.

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In today’s era of digital transformation, ecommerce businesses are increasingly turning to technology to revolutionize their operations and improve their bottom lines. With rapidly changing consumer habits and preferences, it is no longer enough to just have an online store; businesses need to integrate digital technology in all areas of their operations to keep up with the competition.

In this article from Find it in Laveen, we will be discussing how businesses can embrace digital technology to drive growth, improve customer satisfaction, and optimize their business processes.

Advantages of digital transformation

One of the main reasons why ecommerce businesses need to adopt digital transformation is the inherent advantages it offers businesses. For one, it enables businesses to capture new opportunities and markets. For instance, ecommerce businesses can now reach customers in remote areas and unfamiliar markets, leading to increased revenue.

Also, digital technology makes it easier and more efficient for businesses to interact with customers, respond to inquiries faster, and provide personalized experiences to customers. By adopting technology, ecommerce businesses can easily identify customer needs and expectations, and adapt to meet them, thereby enhancing customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Cloud computing

Another effective way to integrate digital technology into your ecommerce business is through cloud computing. The cloud computing model provides businesses with a cost-effective and scalable solution for data storage and management. ecommerce businesses can leverage the cloud to store customer data, process transactions, and streamline their internal processes. Cloud computing also enables businesses to access data anywhere and anytime, which is critical for businesses that operate in different locations.

Data analysis

Incorporating data analysis into your ecommerce business is another way to optimize your processes and improve your bottom line. Using data analytics tools, businesses can collect and analyze customer behavior patterns, purchase history, and other trends to make better business decisions. For instance, businesses can use data analysis to develop targeted marketing campaigns, optimize pricing strategies, and identify profitable product niches.

B2B2C eCommerce

It also makes sense to add a B2B2C ecommerce model to your business. This model involves partnering with other businesses that sell complementary products or services and leveraging their customer base to sell your products. B2B2C ecommerce offers several advantages, including increased reach, sales volume, and profitability. It is also a cost-effective way to expand your customer base and offer a wider range of products to your customers. Take time to explore solutions for B2B2C ecommerce to see if it’s the right direction for your business.

Mobile applications

Creating mobile apps is another way to integrate technology into your ecommerce business. Mobile apps have revolutionized how people shop and interact with businesses. By developing a mobile app, ecommerce businesses can offer their customers a better experience while on the go. With a mobile app, customers can easily purchase products, track orders, and receive notifications in real-time. ecommerce businesses can also use mobile apps, in combination with data analytics, to develop targeted marketing messages and promotions.

Digital marketing

Digital marketing is a no-brainer for any ecommerce business looking to succeed in today’s highly competitive market. By leveraging digital marketing channels such as social media, search engine optimization, and email marketing, businesses can reach vast audiences and build brand awareness. Digital marketing also allows businesses to advertise products and services in real-time, target specific customer segments, and measure the effectiveness of their campaigns. If you need help with your business’s digital marketing approach, contact Laveen-based AZ Maven Media. The local agency provides public relations, social media, and other services specifically geared toward small business owners.

AI and machinel learning

Lastly, businesses can use artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to optimize their operations. AI and machine learning can help businesses automate repetitive processes, reduce operation costs, and improve customer service. AI-powered chatbots, for example, can help businesses answer customer inquiries in real-time, provide personalized recommendations, and improve overall customer satisfaction.

Digital technology has revolutionized the way ecommerce businesses operate and interact with their customers. By adopting digital transformation, businesses can streamline their operations, boost their sales volume, and improve their bottom lines. Whether by incorporating cloud computing, data analysis, B2B2C ecommerce, mobile apps, digital marketing, or AI and machine learning, ecommerce businesses can leverage digital technology to gain a competitive edge in their respective markets.

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Many people want to launch a home-based business but may feel hindered by their current house. Maybe it doesn’t have enough space to meet your professional needs or is missing a key feature. As a result, you’ll need a new home to make your dream a reality.

If you want to move and start a home-based business all at once, you’re in luck. There are specific activities that you can tackle at the same time, allowing you to move forward with both goals. Here’s a look at what you can do simultaneously, as well as what may need to wait until after your move.

AZ Media Maven can help you boost your business’s profile, engage your customers through social media, and manage your online reputation. Schedule a conversation today!

Moving and Starting a Business: What to Do Together

Overall, it can take five to six months to shop for and ultimately buy a house, especially in today’s extremely tight housing market where demand is outpacing supply. Activities like finding the right property, submitting an offer with contingencies, and conducting a property title search, home appraisal, and buyer’s inspection all take time. Plus, there can be several rounds of negotiating along the way. That gives you a lot of time to plan a move and get your business off of the ground.

You’ll also need to shop for mortgages. If you have good credit, conventional loans offer lower interest rates and a variety of down payment options. Review the latest home mortgage interest rates to familiarize yourself with your options.

Would you prefer to rent a home first instead of buying? Rentals.com currently lists more than 4,000 homes for rent in the Phoenix area. You can visit the site and filter by price, number of bedrooms, amenities, and much more.

When it comes to the move, planning in advance and breaking the process into small steps both work in your favor. Start getting quotes from moving services or truck rental companies as soon as your first offer is accepted. Focus on ones that don’t charge fees if you need to change your moving date, allowing you to start scheduling what you need while maintaining some flexibility.

Additionally, if you want to save money, start packing on your own right away. Begin with non-essentials like out-of-season clothes or holiday decorations. Slowly work your way through lesser-used items until all that remains are personal property you use daily. That way, when your moving day arrives, nearly everything is ready to go.

As you handle the move planning, you can make certain decisions about your business. For example, you can decide if a structure like an LLC is best for you or if another option is a better fit.

Deciding on your company name is also a good idea. Once you come up with a name, you can handle even more steps. You could get an EIN for taxes, secure social media handles, and more.

The Steps That Need to Wait Until After You Move

If you’re moving and starting a business, there are a few activities that may need to wait until you officially own your new home. The biggest involves registering your business.

If your new house is in a different state, waiting to register isn’t a bad idea. Filing in your current state means you’ll either need to go through a domestication process or register as a foreign LLC once you move. If you don’t intend to operate in your old state, that’s a lot of work without any gain. By waiting, you can avoid the excess steps and paperwork.

Similarly, you may need to wait to get permits until you’ve officially moved. Permits don’t always cross state, county, or city lines, so getting them handled before you own the new house may not be an option.

Starting a business while moving can be a stressful endeavor. But with the tips above, you’ll be in good shape to get started and find success.

Image via Pexels

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The day of giving is part of Jersey Mike’s 11th annual month of giving in March and is supported by local valley owners Duane Layton, Bill Mapes, and Josh Barton.

Throughout the month, all are invited into their local Jersey Mike’s restaurant to grab an authentic fresh-sliced or grilled sub and donate to the Phoenix Children’s cause.

The restaurant is hoping to raise a record-breaking amount for charity this March. Mark your calendars to get your hands on a sub, signature wrap, kid’s meal, or anything else on the delicious menu to support the sick and injured children at Phoenix Children’s.

Phoenix Children’s Hospital is Arizona’s only children’s hospital recognized by U.S. News & World Report’s Best Children’s Hospitals. For 35 years, Phoenix Children’s has provided world-class inpatient, outpatient, trauma, emergency and urgent care to children and families in Arizona and throughout the Southwest.

As one of the largest children’s hospitals in the country, Phoenix Children’s delivers care across more than 75 pediatric specialties.

Jersey Mike’s is a fast-casual sub sandwich franchise with more than 2,000 locations open and under development nationwide. The Laveen store is at  5130 W Baseline Rd Ste. 104, Laveen Village, AZ 85339

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Evolve PR & Marketing

LAVEEN VILLAGE – Locally owned and operated Angry Crab Shack, a restaurant specializing in seafood boils with Asian-Cajun flavors and signature sauces, has opened a new location in Laveen at 35th & Southern avenues.

The restaurant is open 3-9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturday for takeout and delivery only. Angry Crab Shack operates 13 stores with 12 in Arizona, one in Orange Beach, Alabama, and a 14th location opening in Henderson, Nevada this month.

 “Angry Crab Shack has been growing and evolving quickly in Arizona and we’re excited to be able to open our 13^th location in Laveen,” said Ron Lou, founder of Angry Crab Shack. 

Angry Crab Shack’s features a menu of Cajun seafood boils as well as seafood-focused appetizers, sandwiches, soups and salads with its interactive, all hands-on deck dining experience where butcher paper covers tables, no plates are used and hands serve as utensils with cutlery available upon request. 

The restaurant offers a variety of new holiday seafood packages to-go including: a boil for two, family feast, neighborhood block party, and much more! Additionally, Angry Crab Shack is running a holiday gift card promotion through December 31 that could make for a great stocking stuffer, purchase a $25 gift card and receive a free $5 bonus card. In order to receive the free bounce back card, guests must purchase them in store. Gift cards are also available to purchase online without the complimentary bonus card option. 

Angry Crab Shack is experiencing rapid growth and is hiring at all locations throughout Arizona, in addition to Laveen. The seafood restaurant focuses on providing fresh, top quality taste at an affordable price point, sourcing lobster from the East Coast, Dungeness Crab from the Pacific Northwest, King and Snow Crab from Alaska, and crawfish from the Gulf of Mexico. 

The family-friendly Laveen restaurant will present a similar look and feel to the other Angry Crab Shack locations, incorporating its well-known, vibrant décor elements including live fish tanks, ocean life decorations and wood-boarded walls that guests can sign. 

Located at 6360 S. 35^th Avenue, the restaurant is open Sunday through Thursday 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday through Saturday 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. To place an order for pick-up, call the restaurant at 602-975-1065 or order online at the Laveen location HERE. To place a delivery order via DoorDash click HERE.  Normal hours of operation are Sunday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and will resume at a later date. For more information about Angry Crab Shack and to stay up-to-date on business hours, dine-in service and new locations, visit angrycrabshack.com or follow on Facebook.

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It’s a Thanksgiving tradition at the Laveen family-owned farm to bake thousands of pies in advance of Thanksgiving, sure to meet even the pickiest family member’s expectations for a delicious dessert.

“Everyone needs to be thinking about their holiday orders now,” says Eric Amadio, who owns and runs the farm with wife, Christina. “Deadline to order is Tuesday, Nov. 22, and we sell out very quickly. The only way to guarantee a Thanksgiving pie is to preorder.”

The Amadios, who run the ranch with assistance from a variety of employees and their young adult children, are introducing a brand-new flavor this year for those who can’t decide whether to go with a traditional pumpkin pie, or the newly introduced cheesecakes. The Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake layers pumpkin pie, then cheesecake, and finishes with a whipped cream topping.

“Though traditional fruit pies are our mainstay throughout the year, pumpkin is the traditional Thanksgiving dessert,” Christina said. “We spent two years and several thousands of dollars building a commercial kitchen just so we could do more pies, including the pumpkin pie, for Thanksgiving.”

Several fruit pies are on the menu, including apple, Dutch apple, peach, cherry, blueberry caramel apple, strawberry rhubarb, and Very Berry (strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries). The fruit pies start with 2 cups of fresh fruit, and like all the Amadio Ranch pies, contain all-natural ingredients.

Other pies available include several variations on pecan pies: Pecan, caramel pecan, and bourbon pecan with Jim Beam whiskey. Chess Pies – a custard-style pie – such as buttermilk, buttermilk eggnog with rum, and sweet potato pie.

And, as mentioned before, Eric and Christina have added cheesecake to their repertoire. The cheesecake comes plain with a choice of toppings: strawberry, cherry, blueberry, or lemon.

For anyone with dietary restrictions, call ahead and talk to Christina or Eric to request sugar-free, gluten-free, dairy-free, or vegan. “We’ll let you know which pies we can modify to meet your needs,” Christina said.

Pies can be picked up from four locations on Wednesday, Nov. 26, the day before Thanksgiving:

• Amadio Ranch Farm – 4701 W. Dobbins Road, Laveen on 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Uptown Farmer’s Market – 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 5757 N. Central Ave, Phoenix
• Ahwatukee Peach Truck Stop – 4 p.m.-7 p.m. at 3930 E. Chandler Blvd, Phoenix
• Gilbert Peach Truck Stop – 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at 830 S. Higley Road, Gilbert

Amadio Ranch was established nearly a decade ago, at 4701 Dobbins Road, the ranch is a heritage farming venture, employing a traditional, small-family farm approach, emphasizing sustainability and all-natural farming techniques.

The farm produces heirloom vegetables, including vine ripe tomatoes, zucchini, summer squash, cucumbers, eggplant, okra, peppers, non-GMO sweet corn, carrots, beets, gourmet onions and garlic.

There are also apricots, apples, pears, plums, figs, grapes, and peaches, of course. Enough produce, in fact, to supply nearly 80 percent of the family’s needs and offer true farm-fresh produce at the family farm stand.

Pie-making was a natural progression using from farm-to-table ingredients grown on Amadio Ranch.

ABOUT AMADIO RANCH

Amadio Ranch is owned by Eric and Christina Amadio in Laveen, AZ. The family has rural roots in the Midwest but are now firmly planted in Arizona. With a deep love of the farming life, the couple and their family have grown a local treasure in the Southwest Valley. Contact them  via email: happyamadios@yahoo.com or visit amadioranch.com

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For Buyers:

Greater Phoenix is officially back to a frenzy market with more properties under contract than what’s available for sale.  Over the past four weeks the number of contracts accepted weekly has jumped another 20% since last month’s report, bringing the total recovery since April 5th to 68% and 2.5% higher than it was in late February; before the stock market crashed and the stay home orders were imposed due to COVID-19. 
 
The most frenzied areas are those with average sale prices between $200K-$400K.  That includes just about all of Southeast Valley and West Valley, North and South Phoenix.  At last count, there were 2,061 properties for sale between $200K-$300K and 4,333 under contract already.  Between $300K-$400K, there were 2,006 available for sale and 3,017 under contract (24% higher than this time last year). 
 
While all price ranges have rebounded in contract activity, May saw the largest comeback between $500K-$1M where the number of accepted contracts soared 167% from a low of 148 contracts the first week of April to 395 the first week of June.  That’s 58% higher than last year’s count in the same week of 250 contracts. Even more dramatic, contracts over $1M are now up 85% compared to this week last year.
 
The result for buyers is an inventory that’s back to a pre-pandemic low. In our March update, inventory was at a historic low of 11,087 listings before vacation rentals began flooding the market for sale.  Inventory rose 35% over the course of 4-5 weeks and peaked in mid-April. Since then, inventory has consistently dropped week over week and now lies at 11,232; just 145 more listings than before this whole situation began.
 
Low interest rates and positive affordability indicators continue to fuel demand and cause prices to rise.  The big question buyers ask, “Is it still a good time to buy?”. The answer is yes, for now.  Affordability is still within normal range, which is a good reason as to why there’s so much demand. However, if affordability drops below the normal range for those making the median family income, then the market will begin to cool.  We are not there yet. It’s best to get in while it’s affordable.

For Sellers:

Not surprisingly, there is an increasing percentage of closings over asking price.  23% of all closings so far in June have recorded over asking price, up from 17% recorded in January and 19% recorded in February.  That percentage increases to 38% for closings between $200K-$250K and 27% between $250K-$300K.  It’s not uncommon for sellers to experience multiple offers, escalation clauses and appraisal waivers in today’s environment. In fact, there have been reports of 70 competing offers or more on homes under $300K.
 
Sellers who have been on the fence about listing their home lately should seriously consider it now and take advantage while the market is hot.  This spurt in buyer activity may peak very soon and then fall into the typical seasonal decline the Greater Phoenix market experiences every year from July to December.  Pent up demand from the pandemic is now being released, but there’s no guarantee that it will continue at this level for long.  If you planned to sell your home this year, now is the time to list it.
 
Commentary written by Tina Tamboer, Senior Housing Analyst with The Cromford Report
©2020 Cromford Associates LLC and Tamboer Consulting LLC

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“We make a wide variety of pies from scratch,” says Eric Amadio, who owns and runs Amadio Ranch with his wife, Christina, and their young adult son and daughter. “If there’s a holiday called Pi Day, then it’s definitely an occasion to celebrate with pie.”

Amadio Ranch offers mouth-watering pies year-round including Apple, Peach, Cherry, Blueberry, Caramel Apple and Strawberry Rhubarb. For the holiday, the ovens will be baking some specialty pies, including Rhubarb, Very Berry, Buttermilk, Pecan, Bourbon Pecan, Buttermilk, Pumpkin, Chocolate Chess Pie and more. They have recently added a delicious Chicken Pot Pie to their lineup. 

Pi Day originated more than 30 years ago to pay tribute to pi, the infinite mathematical number that represents the ratio of the circumference of any circle to the diameter of that circle. (Pies are circles – another reason to eat pie on Pi Day!)

Physicist Larry Shaw started the celebration in 1988. He chose March 14 because the numerical date (3.14) represents the first three digits of pi. The date also happens to be Albert Einstein’s birthday.

Where and when to get your pies

Eric, Christina and everyone at Amadio Ranch are busily baking and getting pies ready in advance for the March pie date. Orders (which can be made online) will be delivered on or near March 14. Here’s the schedule for where to pick up your pre-ordered pie:

• Ahwatukee — 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. Friday, March 13 at 3930 E. Chandler Blvd.
• Uptown Farmers Market – 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, March 14 at 5757 N. Central Ave.
• Gilbert – 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, March 14, Made with Love Market, 388 N. Gilbert Road
• Chandler location – to be announced.
• Laveen – 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., 7 days a week, Amadio Ranch Farm Store, 4701 W. Dobbins Road

Christina said that all pies are made with simple ingredients such as flour, oil, milk and salt. Fillings include fruit with sugar, flour, lemon juice and wholesome spices.

Even if you can’t make it to the Laveen location, you can still get their fresh produce and pies around the Valley. The Amadios bring the ranch to you with their mobile farm trucks at several area farmers’ markets in Phoenix, Tempe and Ahwatukee.

Find them every Friday in Ahwatukee from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in front of the Century 21 offices at 3930 E. Chandler Blvd, Phoenix; Saturdays at Uptown Farmers Market, 5757 N. Central Ave. from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m.; and in Gilbert – 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Made with Love Market, 388 N. Gilbert Road; or every Sunday at the 6th Street Market in Tempe from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.

Established nearly a decade ago, the ranch is a heritage farming venture, employing a traditional, small-family farm approach, emphasizing sustainability and all-natural farming techniques.

The farm produces heirloom vegetables, including vine ripe tomatoes, zucchini, summer squash, cucumbers, eggplant, okra, peppers, non-GMO sweet corn, carrots, beets, gourmet onions and garlic.

There are also apricots, apples, pears, plums, figs, grapes, and peaches, of course. Enough produce, in fact, to supply nearly 80 percent of the family’s needs and offer true farm-fresh produce at the family farm stand.

ABOUT AMADIO RANCH

Amadio Ranch is owned by Eric and Christina Amadio in Laveen, AZ. The family has rural roots in the Midwest, but are now firmly planted in Arizona. With a deep love of the farming life, the couple and their family have grown a local treasure in the Southwest Valley. Learn more at amadioranch.com

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(Video Link: https://vimeo.com/380101846/1c435538f0 )

PHOENIX – The Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway is open to traffic, providing a much needed alternative to Interstate 10 through downtown Phoenix while improving the quality of life in a fast-growing region.

 The freeway opened Saturday, Dec. 21, three days after a grand opening ceremony that featured Governor Doug Ducey, Arizona Department of Transportation Director John Halikowski and other Valley leaders.

 Using an innovative public-private partnership for the state’s largest-ever highway project, ADOT was able to open the 22-mile freeway three years earlier than if it had been built as a series of traditional projects. The agreement also allowed ADOT to deliver the $1.7 billion South Mountain Freeway at a cost savings of more than $100 million.

 “Arizona has solidified its reputation as a state that is open for opportunity, and as we welcome hundreds of new residents every day, we are making sure our infrastructure remains some of the best in America,” Governor Ducey said. “This Loop 202 opening represents a big step forward in connecting the East and West Valleys, as well as prioritizing safety for drivers. My thanks to the local, state, tribal, federal and private partners who helped bring this project to fruition ahead of schedule with major cost savings.”

 Completing the Loop 101 and Loop 202 system, the South Mountain Freeway travels between Interstate 10 at the Loop 202 Santan Freeway in the East Valley and I-10 at 59th Avenue in the West Valley. It is projected to carry about 117,000 vehicles per day within its first year and as many as 190,000 vehicles per day by 2035.

 It’s Arizona’s first highway project built using a public-private partnership, which combined design, construction and maintenance in a single contract. Connect 202 Partners, the developer chosen for the project, will maintain the South Mountain Freeway for the next 30 years under the agreement.

 “This freeway is open on an ambitious timeline because of the innovation, creativity and dedication of our teams at ADOT and at Connect 202 Partners,” ADOT Director John Halikowski said. “This monumental achievement will benefit Arizonans for decades to come.”

 While the freeway is open to traffic, work will continue into 2020 in several areas, including a traffic interchange at 32nd Street, a 6-mile multi-use path between 40th Street and 17th Avenue in Ahwatukee and landscaping. The 32nd Street interchange was added after the initial design at the request of area residents.

 Connect 202 Partners, consisting of Fluor Enterprises Inc., Granite Construction Co. and Ames Construction Inc., with Parsons Brinckerhoff Inc. as the lead designer, completed more than 5.5 million hours of work without an incident causing lost time while using more than 120 subcontractors and suppliers.

  “Working in partnership with ADOT over the last three and half years, we have achieved our goal of providing Arizona with a safe, innovative, cost-effective and much needed freeway that will help alleviate traffic congestion, stimulate the economy and improve the safety and operational efficiency for drivers throughout the Phoenix-metro area,” said Walter J. Lewis, III, senior project director for Fluor and Connect 202 Partners.

 Among the freeway’s 15 interchanges are Arizona’s first two using a diverging diamond configuration that promotes traffic flow and safety. The freeway’s 40 bridges include two half-mile spans over the Salt River that have the longest concrete bridge girders – 175 feet – ever used in Arizona.

 It features three travel lanes and an HOV lane in each direction.

 As with any new highway, ADOT will continue working with nearby residents to examine any concerns related to noise or lighting.

 Signs at each end of the South Mountain Freeway honor the late Arizona Congessman Ed Pastor, carrying a designation approved this fall by the Arizona State Board on Geographic and Historic Names.

 The South Mountain Freeway has long been part of the region’s transportation plans. Maricopa County voters approved it in 1985 and again in 2004 as part of the Maricopa Association of Governments’ Regional Transportation Plan.

 For information on the project and to sign up for project updates, please visit SouthMountainFreeway.com. For additional current and planned construction information, click on the Construction Info tab.

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“Our Pumpkin Patch events feature arts and crafts booths, fall colors, face painting, food, a hay maze, and other activities for the whole family,” says Eric Amadio, who owns the family-run organic farm with his wife, Christina. “And of course, we have a large pumpkin patch where the kids can hunt for just the right pumpkin and provide beautiful fall color photo opportunities.”

Guests can wander through the booths featuring home-made crafts from local artisans, perhaps finding a gift item or two, then stroll through the orchard to see farm animals and feed the goats.

Activities ranging from a giant slide ride to face-painting — designed to keep families of all ages entertained.

The events start at 8 a.m. each Saturday morning, and also include a variety of fresh produce from the organic farm on Dobbins Road to choose from, made-from-scratch pies from Amadio Ranch, and snacks to include cotton candy, kettle corn and Pie in a Jar parfaits.

“I’m from the Midwest where fall is much more pronounced,” Christina Amadio says. “We want to create that ‘fall is in the air’ nostalgia at our farm.”

Pumpkin Patch Details

WHEN: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Oct. 19 and Oct. 26

WHERE: Amadio Ranch, 4701 W. Dobbins Road, Laveen AZ 85339

WHAT: Pumpkin Patch, kid activities, food, crafts vendors and more

Admission is free

ABOUT AMADIO RANCH

Amadio Ranch is a heritage farming venture in Laveen, AZ, on the outskirts of Phoenix. Established in 2010, Amadio Ranch produces peaches, apricots, plums, apples, pears, figs, and grapes in their orchards and garden. They also grow vine-ripe tomatoes, zucchini, summer squash, cucumbers, eggplant, okra, peppers, non-GMO sweet corn, carrots, and beets. The farm’s Peach Truck takes produce to farmers’ markets in Ahwatukee, Gilbert, Tempe, and Phoenix while their farm stand at the ranch is open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.

Learn more at www.amadioranch.com

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