Phoenix Workforce Hub Will Launch Next Summer
Local business owners should track the upcoming Innovation 27 project for new recruitment and training pipelines.
Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Remote Work
Live Poll
Will the new Innovation 27 hub effectively provide long-term career growth for the local community?
Renovations at the former Kmart near I-17 and Northern Avenue in Phoenix are transforming the structure into Innovation 27, a workforce development hub slated to open in summer 2027. The project aims to provide local career and education resources through university and trade programs.
Why it matters
The development will provide a centralized location for specialized training in electrical, HVAC, and hospitality, potentially easing local hiring challenges. By embedding these programs in a repurposed big-box site, the city seeks to bolster regional labor skills while attracting further investment to the area.
The initial 40,000 square feet of the Innovation 27 hub will support partnerships with Arizona State University and Northern Arizona University. This repurposing project follows the facility's groundbreaking held in September 2025.
The players
Arizona State University
A public research university and a major provider of higher education and professional development programs.
Northern Arizona University
A public university focusing on academic research and workforce-ready degree programs.
The details
The facility repurposes an existing big-box structure, utilizing the glass-fronted portion for the main entrance. Planned programming includes OSHA and apprenticeship training alongside hospitality tourism coursework. The site also includes blueprints for a coffee shop and a future restaurant in the space formerly occupied by the garden center.
Timeline
The ground breaking ceremony occurred in September 2025.
The Innovation 27 hub is scheduled to open in summer 2027.
Market Landscape
Innovation 27 follows the broader national pattern of converting obsolete retail infrastructure into mixed-use or educational hubs. This development reflects a shift in city planning strategies aimed at revitalizing commercial corridors through public-private educational partnerships.
Operators in trades and hospitality should monitor the hub's curriculum to align recruitment efforts with new local graduate cohorts. Consider the potential for increased foot traffic in the I-17 and Northern Avenue corridor as the site approaches its 2027 opening.
The takeaway
The transformation of the former Kmart into Innovation 27 signals a push to align regional education with specific industry labor needs. Keep this site on your radar to evaluate new apprenticeship partnership opportunities as the 2027 opening date nears.
Further reading
For more on evolving office and hub strategies, visit the Remote Work section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KJZZ.
Live Poll
Will the new Innovation 27 hub effectively provide long-term career growth for the local community?
