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BUSINESS
GilbertSunNews.com
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GILBERT SUN NEWS | SEPTEMBER 26, 2021
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New performing arts center opens in Gilbert GSN NEWS STAFF
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nspire Entertainment has opened a new performing arts center and school in Gilbert. The 14,000-square-foot building, located at 4469 E. Baseline Road, houses seven large dance studio spaces, a preschool, cafe, recording studio and dancewear boutique. “We have always believed in the arts,” Inspire CEO Michael Sackett said. “We’ve seen it transform individuals and inspire others to make a difference in the world. This new facility will enable us to do that on a bigger stage.” Inspire was renting space in Mesa and in Gilbert for its classes. Now at its new location, it continues offering classes in dance, music and theater. “We love doing business in Gilbert so it’s a great location for us to expand our operations,” Sackett said. “It’s near some important established businesses and it’s a convenient location right off the 60 for our current and future studio families, too.” The company has seen explosive
Sadie VanShaar, 17, teaches a TikTok dance class at Inspire Dance Studio in Gilbert. (Pablo Robles/GSN Staff Photographer)
growth since putting down roots in the East Valley in March 2015, growing to over 650 students from 75, according to Sackett. The new building will allow the business to grow at the new location, able to accommodate up to 1,200 students.
“We believe in building community, inspiring positivity and encouraging hope in others,” said LaDawn Pettitt, Inspire president. “We are achieving this through our established programs in music, dance, theater, education and development for all ages.”
Fulton Homes was founded in 1975 by Ira Fulton after successfully buying and turning around a clothing business that was closed to bankruptcy. The company grew from building several homes a year to completing more than 1,200 single family units in 2020. “Quantity is not Fulton Homes’ motivating factor; the company’s overarching goal is to fulfill the needs of the ever-changing American family as best as possible,” the company release said. “It is important that homeowners know they’re moving into a home that is not only built with care, but with unmatched quality.”
Fulton Homes said its key to its business has been a variety of charitable endeavors, including large donations to educational institutions, water safety awareness campaigns, musical educational promotions and giveaways benefiting family pets and children literacy. Recently, the Tempe-based homebuilder announced details on more than 5,200 secured lots the company currently has in different stages of development in the local market. “As a company, we know exactly who we are and what we do best: Build single-family homes and large-scale master-planned communities featuring the
Inspire touts its family-centered lifestyle that includes value-based training, modest costumes age-appropriate music and no Sunday training. “We have been planning this building for a year now,” said Sackett in an earlier interview. “There will be a dedicated room for tumbling space, room for all our classes we currently have and additional classes we can add.” Sackett said the new building will allow the business to grow at the new location, able to accommodate up to 1,200 students. Inspire touts its family-centered lifestyle that includes value-based training, modest costumes age-appropriate music and no Sunday training. The company also has a nonprofit arm – Inspire: music.service.hope. Each year a group of students go on an international music service tour to developing countries like Puerto Plata, Columbia and Costa Rica, taking supplies and performing service projects. Sackett said the company has plans to
see INSPIRE page 21
Fulton Homes marks 45 years of building
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ulton Homes is marking its 45th anniversary. The Tempe company said in a release it prides itself on “quality single-family homes with high-grade amenities and plentiful greenspaces in communities across the Valley.” “Forty-five years of building residences in which families grow and raise children in is an amazing achievement,” said CEO Doug Fulton. “We are proud to share this success with our current and future homeowners. We look forward to many more years.”
highest grade of amenities and shared gathering spaces, all within our local market,” said Fulton. “Our pipeline is proof of that and our commitment to the community.” Fulton Vice President Norm Nicholls added, “For a local homebuilder that operates in-market, we believe we are in an extremely good position to compete with national builders in an active and healthy residential real estate market. “The lots are in front of us, and once the trades and supply chain catches up to the demand – a challenge all builders
see FULTON page 21
