PHOENIX — Phoenix contains multitudes and the city is taking a big step towards celebrating and uplifting its international community.
The most recent survey by the U.S. Census (2018-2022) found nearly 37% of Phoenix residents, five years and older, spoke a language other than English at home. The data shows one-third of households in Phoenix spoke Spanish at home.
Specifically in the 19th Avenue and Camelback Road corridor, over 20 languages are spoken in households surrounding it. Many of the businesses nearby are run by people with diverse backgrounds, according to the Arizona Chamber of Commerce.
To celebrate that diversity, the Arizona Asian Chamber of Commerce and the city of Phoenix will hold a ribbon cutting to designate the area as the new international district on Friday.
"There's over 110 businesses [in the corridor]. 43 of them are owned by either refugees or first-generation immigrants, so it's really reflective of what Arizona's diversity looks like," Alexa-Rio Osaki with the Arizona Asian Chamber of Commerce, said.
It's more than just giving this place a name, she added, it's to help these small businesses flourish and connect with the community around them.
"The Arizona Asian Chamber of Commerce is working with the City of Phoenix to launch the International District. The heart and center of Phoenix in our communities, really celebrating cultural diversity but also crossing bridges of understanding and inclusivity," Osaki said.
Their first event happens this weekend at the Arizona Asian Chamber of Commerce Night Market. Over 100 different food and retail vendors will set up at the 19th Avenue and Camelback Road park and ride from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. The Night Market gives mom-and-pop businesses a space to advertise what they offer to a large crowd.
Osaki said, "the Asian Chamber of Commerce night market is a small business incubator." The Arizona Asian Chamber of Commerce said in Mesa's Asian District, near Main Street and Dobson Road, they found a 60% growth in revenue in 2022. She said the Asian District brought in $4 million to the Mesa community.
"We have helped over 30 small businesses grow and thrive and we want to ensure we're expanding that impact," Osaki said.
The ribbon cutting for Phoenix's International District will be on Friday at 5 p.m. The Night Market is scheduled to take over after the ribbon cutting.
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