NFIB’s June Jobs Report shows that the Small Business Employment Index remained essentially flat, registering 100.2 in June after measuring 100.3 in May. This is the fourth consecutive month the Index declined. The current reading is below the 2025 average of 101.2 but still slightly above the historical average of 100.0. In June, 32% (seasonally adjusted) of small business … [More]
City of Phoenix
“On the consumer side, people are gravitating toward places that feel authentic, welcoming, walkable, safe and community oriented. Downtown Phoenix delivers on all of that,” says Devney Majerle, president and CEO of Downtown Phoenix Inc. (DTPHX), speaking of the interest behind the growth of downtown Phoenix. “The level of creativity in the environment is increasing every … [More]
Town of Gilbert
The Town of Gilbert eschews the generic term “downtown” for a designation that not only identifies the area but encapsulates its personality: The Heritage District. “We’re seeing strong interest in the Heritage District because both residents and businesses are seeking places that encourage people to stay longer and do more,” says Jennifer Graves, MPA, CEcD, MEDP, the Town’s … [More]
City of Tempe
“A thriving downtown isn’t an accident — it’s mix, management and momentum. Tempe is writing that playbook in real time, blending strategic urban planning, intentional placemaking and collective community effort to ensure the next chapter is even brighter than the last,” says Lori Foster, LPM, president and CEO of Downtown Tempe Authority. Observing that downtown districts … [More]
City of Mesa
“Downtown gets cooler every day,” says Jimmy Cerracchio, executive director of Downtown Mesa Association, which was formed in 1985 by the commercial property owners of Downtown Mesa as a tool to help with the revitalization of the Downtown square mile. Noting the area is trying to grow in a smart and healthy manner by aiming to keep local businesses healthy, he says, “Most … [More]
City of Scottsdale
“Successful downtowns provide a wide range of experiences in a walkable environment,” explains Kevin Burke, AICP, senior director of economic development and tourism at the City of Scottsdale. “The strongest downtowns combine restaurants, hotels, housing, offices, galleries, retail, public spaces and events in a compact, easy-to-navigate setting that creates a sense of place … [More]
Downtown Is the New Economic Engine
Pulsing with the personality of the municipality it anchors
A few years ago, Fry’s made big headlines when it opened a grocery store in downtown Phoenix. Why the hubbub and what the significance was, RED Development’s Mike Ebert discusses in the Phoenix section of this cover story. But point is, downtowns are important economic sectors. What’s driving their growth, and how are cities that are often folded into the general “Metro … [More]
More Than a Sale: Planning for Life After the Business Exit
Liquidity can create complexity overnight
After spending decades building a company, many business owners imagine the sale itself as the finish line. The transaction closes, the wire payment arrives, and years of hard work finally culminate in financial success. For many business owners, the closing table is not simply the ending but, rather, the beginning of a completely different challenge. Entrepreneurs spend years … [More]
Guest Editor: Steve Kaiser, Arizona Small Business Association
Let’s Go Downtown
Metro Phoenix is more than a conglomerate “major metropolitan area” of economic activity. It’s comprised of individual cities, each making its own identity in the vibrant mosaic of the whole — and that vitality is especially evident in their downtowns. Without a doubt, the heart and soul of a downtown are the people who live, work and play there. A good downtown has lots of … [More]
Arizona Businesses More Bullish Than National Peers
Nearly 70% of Arizona businesses say they are prioritizing making investments over cutting costs, according to new data released today by Columbia Bank. At the same time, half of Arizona business leaders say they plan to monitor current pressures from tariffs, inflation and rising energy costs for at least six months before making major decisions. The findings are … [More]
Phoenix Construction Momentum Builds as Supply Tightens Across Sectors
Phoenix’s construction market continued to gain momentum throughout Q2 2026, driven by sharpening industrial fundamentals, accelerating tenant improvement activity and a tightening supply picture across retail and office, even as tariff-driven cost pressures on metals and long-lead electrical equipment require early procurement planning, according to LGE Design Build’s newly … [More]
Arizona Workforce Outlook: 700,000 New Jobs by 2030
The Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity and the Governor's Workforce Arizona Council hosted the "2026 Arizona Workforce Summit: Connecting Today's Skills to Tomorrow's Opportunities" on June 9-10, a two-day event that brought together hundreds of industry leaders, educators and industry partners to address Arizona's most pressing workforce challenges. It also honored local … [More]
Greater Phoenix Single-Family Sales Post 12th Straight Monthly Gain
Greater Phoenix single-family home sales posted a year-over-year increase in each of the last 12 months, with May closings rising 4.6% from May 2025, and year-to-date closings up 4.7%, according to the latest data from Phoenix REALTORS®. Nationally, existing home sales edged up 0.2% from the previous month and were unchanged year over year. Year-to-date pending sales and new … [More]
U.S. Markets Hold Strong amidst Turmoil
The conflict with Iran continues, the Strait of Hormuz remains closed and 20% of the world’s energy supply has been constrained for more than 90 days. At the outset of this conflict, May 15 was often stated as the “pain point” when higher energy prices would begin cutting into economic activity. Inflation data have pushed higher, with core personal consumption expenditures … [More]
Arizona Secures Top-5 Spot for Q1 Job Growth
Arizona’s economy continued to demonstrate resilience in the first quarter of 2026, with total nonfarm employment increasing by about 15,500 jobs and the state ranking third nationally in percentage job growth, according to the Spring 2026 Arizona Economic Update. The report tracks labor market conditions and key economic indicators across the state, putting the data into … [More]
Cutting Food Loss: Practical Strategies Companies Can Use to Reduce Waste
Restaurants, grocery stores and food service companies account for nearly 40% of all food waste in the U.S., and, despite industry innovation, the volume of discarded edible food keeps climbing. Food waste is not just an environmental issue. It is a business problem that hits companies across the commercial food sector, from restaurants to grocery stores and large food-service … [More]
Chase Lane: Carrying a Legacy Forward at LT.agency
What it takes to bring a six-decade business into its next chapter
In 2025, Chase Lane and his wife Kelsi made the decision to become partners in LT.agency, a Phoenix-based marketing agency founded by his grandfather Ed Lane more than 60 years ago. Taking the reins as a third-generation CEO, Chase builds on the legacy carried forward by his father Beau Lane and his longtime business partner Chris Johnson, who have guided the company’s growth … [More]
Arizona’s Q1 2026 Jobs Report: Reading the Numbers in Context
Arizona is positioning itself for a new phase of economic growth
Arizona’s labor market showed positive signs of improvement during the first quarter of 2026, with total nonfarm employment increasing by 15,500 jobs, ranking Arizona third nationally in percentage job growth. These first-quarter job gains demonstrated resiliency, cutting into and shrinking year-over-year job losses through March 2026, even as national economic headwinds … [More]
