RESOURCES
Essential Information About Our Native Environment
RESERVATION & INDUSTRIAL PROPERTIES SIZE & LOCATION
The Ak-Chin Indian Community is adjacent to the City of Maricopa, just over 18 miles southwest of Phoenix, and 34 miles from Sky Harbor Airport. The Reservation currently encompasses an area of approximately 22,000 acres less than half of the nearly 48,000 originally assigned to the tribe by President Taft in May 1912. The Santa Cruz Commerce Center, the interstitial property known as the “Bunger Property” and former Phoenix Regional Airport, now re-named Ak-Chin Regional Airport are located on the eastern edge of the Reservation, between the Cities of Maricopa and Casa Grande in Pinal County, Arizona. For a map of the area, download the Ak-Chin Community Map (PDF).
TAXES
Save on State Taxes
- No Property Tax on Business Inventories
- No Corporate Franchise Tax
- No Sales Tax on Manufactured Good
- No Tax on Raw Materials, Finished Products or Parts
- Arizona Sales Tax is 5.6% (waived for certain transactions conducted on the Indian Reservation. Please consult your tax advisor regarding the applicability to your particular business. Or see Department of Revenue TPR 95-11
- Corporate Income Tax is 6.968%, minimum $50
- No Transaction Privilege and Use Tax on income producing capital equipment
- Tax discounts of 35% based upon assumed cost of labor from the gross of a prime contracting business. Some State discounts do not apply on Indian Reservations; please review the publications www.azdor.gov/Publications.aspx
Save on Local Taxes
- No Property Tax for Commercial/Industrial Property
- No City of Maricopa Sales Tax
- No Pinal County Sales Tax
Complete tax table comparisons for Arizona Cities and Towns (PDF)
WORKFORCE
While the Ak-Chin Indian Community is small with under 900 residents, it is the number one employer for the entire Pinal County region. 98% of its workforce comes from off-reservation, where there is an ample labor pool.
According to the 2010 US Census, the following are the population statistics for Ak-Chin and the surrounding communities:
- Ak-Chin Residents: 862
- City of Maricopa Residents: 43,482
- City of Casa Grande Residents: 48,571
- City of Queen Creek Residents: 26,361
- City of Chandler Residents: 237,161
Findings from a 2013 Labor Study conducted by Elliott Pollack & Co. for the City of Maricopa:
- 46% of Maricopa residents have a bachelor’s degree or higher
- 89% reported having some post high-school education
- 53% work in management and other professional occupations
- 37% of residents commute more than 30 miles one way to work
- The majority of the Maricopa workforce would leave their current company for a closer workplace
- Over 44% would even consider changing their career if a local job presented an opportunity.
2013 City of Maricopa Labor Survey Update Report [PDF]
Area’s Largest Employers*
- Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino Resort
- Maricopa Unified School District
- Walmart
- City of Maricopa Government
- Fry’s Food Store
- Volkswagen Proving Grounds
- Pinal Feeding Company Inc.
- McDonald’s
- Ak-Chin Farms
- USDA Arid-Land Agricultural Research Center
- Bashas’
- Legacy Traditional School
- University of Arizona Maricopa Agricultural Center
- Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club
- Sequoia Pathway Academy
- Arizona Castings Inc.
- Electrical District 3
- Duke at Rancho El Dorado
- Ace Hardware
- Scott’s Miracle Gro
- Banner Health
*Source: 2013 City of Maricopa Community Report [PDF]
TRANSPORTATION & THOROUGHFARE ACCESS
Santa Cruz Commerce Center, Santa Cruz Office Center and the Ak-Chin Regional Airport front the Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway (Highway 238) between the Cities of Maricopa and Casa Grande. These sites provide convenient access to the Phoenix-Tucson I-10 corridor and to the I-8 Yuma-San Diego entrance. Approximate distances are:
- 18 miles to Interstate 10 corridor
- 13.5 miles to Interstate 8 corridor
- 34 miles to Phoenix Int’l Sky Harbor Airport
- 8 miles to Highway 347
- 12 miles to Highway 84
Rail Services
The Union Pacific Railroad parallels the Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway and SR 238 from Casa Grande to Gila Bend. Currently, between 45 and 55 freight trains operate daily through Maricopa. Amtrak’s Orlando-Los Angeles Sunset Limited has a scheduled stop in Maricopa. The Amtrak station is located just east of the SR 347 crossing of the UPRR tracks.
Air Service
The Ak-Chin Indian Community bought the Phoenix Regional Airport in 2006 and recently, renamed it Ak-Chin Regional Airport. The first phase of planned improvements for the Airport, which included renovations to the 5,000-ft. runway and taxiway; installation of a new beacon, segmented circle, and wind cone; and upgrades to the FBO building were completed in December 2012. The next phase of planned improvements include installing runway lighting, expanding the apron, and constructing additional tiedowns, t-shades, and t-hangars.
Sky Harbor Airport: The Commerce Center is about 34 miles from this international airport by surface travel and about 28 miles by air from Ak-Chin Regional Airport.