GCC has an integral role in a cooperative program with the City of Glendale to develop strategies to retain existing businesses and attract new commerce to the city. Randy Kimmens, GCC's Dean of Instruction for Business and Technology, has been working diligently with the City of Glendale's Economic Development Office, ASU West and the Glendale Chamber of Commerce to develop a "Business Attraction and Retention Model."

One of the GCC "pieces" of the retention plan would include working with the plan's other partners to implement and share the duties of a "visitation calendar" whereby local businesses would be visited and queried to see what additional services or training they need to be successful and to remain in Glendale. GCC also would be one of the "training and education" players that would be essential in "luring" new businesses that need a "trained workforce."

Having a college nearby also would be attractive to the employees of businesses contemplating relocating in Glendale and to their families. This planning continues.