Governor Katie Hobbs and the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity announced that the BuildItAZ Apprenticeship Initiative is awarding an additional $3 million to ten Arizona registered apprenticeship programs as it works to fill more than 20,000 construction jobs the state projects will be needed by 2030. These grants, which follow other rounds of funding, connect Arizonans to … [More]
What Federal Marijuana Rescheduling Could Mean for Healthcare, Banking, and Cannabis
Last month, President Donald Trump issued an Executive Order directing U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to take “all necessary steps” to reschedule marijuana intended for medical use to Schedule III from Schedule I, making medical marijuana more readily available for research, testing, and personal treatment programs. For healthcare providers and legal marijuana businesses, … [More]
Business Travel Gets a Boost Under IRS’s 2026 Mileage Rates
The Internal Revenue Service announced that the optional standard mileage rate for business use of automobiles will increase by 2.5 cents in 2026, while the mileage rate for vehicles used for medical purposes will decrease by half a cent, reflecting updated cost data and annual inflation adjustments. Optional standard mileage rates are used to calculate the deductible costs … [More]
Arizona Issues Employer-Focused Heat Safety Guidelines Ahead of Summer
Governor Katie Hobbs announced that the Workplace Heat Safety Task Force has issued its final recommendations to protect Arizona workers from heat-related risks. These recommendations, published by the Industrial Commission of Arizona, follow the Governor’s Executive Order earlier this year to establish the Task Force. The task force, composed of leaders from the private … [More]
Arizona Expands Medical Debt Relief, Eliminating $642M in Bills Statewide
Governor Katie Hobbs announced that 141,000 more Arizonans have had their medical debt erased through her historic initiative to improve economic stability and health outcomes for working class Arizonans. To date this effort, which is a partnership between the Hobbs administration and the national nonprofit Undue Medical Debt, has eliminated $642 million in medical debt for … [More]
Arizona Puts $27M toward Grid Upgrades to Boost Reliability and Stabilize Costs
Governor Katie Hobbs awarded $15.6 million for four grid resiliency projects that will strengthen and modernize Arizona’s power grid against wildfires, extreme weather, and other disasters. Awarded through the Governor’s Office of Resiliency’s Arizona Grid Resilience Grant Program, the four grid improvement projects will help reduce the number of outages and outage durations … [More]
Phoenix Adds Two Deputy City Managers, Completing Executive Leadership Team
Phoenix City Manager Ed Zuercher announced the appointment of Cynthia Aguilar and Frank McCune as Deputy City Managers, filling the final open positions on the City’s executive leadership team. "Cynthia and Frank bring decades of experience, proven leadership, and deep commitment to the City of Phoenix," said City Manager Ed Zuercher. "Their appointments strengthen our … [More]
State Issues First Groundwater Credits, Opening New Path for Housing Growth
Governor Katie Hobbs announced Arizona’s first issuance of Groundwater Savings Credits, granted under the state’s landmark “Ag-to-Urban” Groundwater Conservation Program. The approval of these Groundwater Savings Credits provide enough water for 825 new homes to be built and will save over 437 million gallons per year compared to the land’s historic agricultural use - an 80% … [More]
Arizona Secures Nearly $1B for Statewide Broadband Expansion
Governor Katie Hobbs announced a critical milestone in Arizona’s plan to invest $967 million to expand broadband infrastructure across the state. Arizona received final approval from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, paving the way for the project’s implementation. Arizona's Broadband Equity, Access & Deployment Program (BEAD) Program is the … [More]
Arizona Appoints Experienced Health Administrator to Lead State Agency
Governor Katie Hobbs announced the appointment of Debbie Johnston to lead the Arizona Department of Health Services. For the past 21 years, she has worked for the Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association, focusing on policy development and regulatory affairs. During her tenure at AzHHA, Debbie served on various public health boards and committees at the Arizona Department of … [More]
City of Phoenix Sets Framework for Housing Trust Fund to Target Affordability Gaps
The City of Phoenix solidified the framework for an innovative solution to accelerate the creation and preservation of affordable housing in Phoenix. The City Council approved a new policy that guides how the City’s Housing Trust Fund will be used now and in the future. There is a shortage of nearly 60,000 affordable and available rental units in Phoenix, with the greatest … [More]
Arizona Launches First-in-Nation Broadband Permit Finder to Speed Infrastructure Development
As part of Arizona’s expansive efforts to expand high-speed broadband access statewide, the Arizona State Broadband Office recently launched the Arizona Permit Finder, a first-of-its kind interactive permitting map. The first-in-the-nation Permit Finder seeks to reduce regulatory barriers and accelerate the pace of broadband expansion – supporting new economic opportunities for … [More]
Policy Reset in Washington: What HR and In-House Counsel Must Do Now
Business leaders are seeing a rapid re-calibration of federal labor and employment priorities. With the White House expected to revive many of its earlier pro-business initiatives, the coming years will likely bring a move away from regulatory expansion and toward deregulation, employer flexibility, and economic growth. From the EEOC’s new enforcement posture to evolving DOL … [More]
Their Take: Diplomacy at the Local Level – How Cities Like Phoenix Shape Global Opportunity
When most people think of diplomacy, they picture world leaders gathered at summits or foreign ministers negotiating across long tables. But today, diplomacy is just as alive in our cities. Mayors and local leaders are at the front lines of international engagement, and the impact is both immediate and profound. For Phoenix, diplomacy and protocol are not abstract concepts. … [More]
Capital in a Shutdown—Why Relationships and Readiness Win
When government shutdowns occur, small businesses face immediate financial hurdles as SBA loan approvals grind to a halt. During these uncertain periods, maintaining access to capital becomes critical for business survival and growth. As a lender with over 30 years in commercial banking, I've witnessed firsthand how these disruptions affect entrepreneurs and the creative … [More]
Falcon Field Wins FAA Grants Targeting Capacity and Airfield Modernization
The City of Mesa's Falcon Field Airport has been awarded a series of grants through the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Airport Infrastructure Grant (AIG) program. The funding will support design work for key projects that strengthen safety, efficiency and connectivity. Grants include a $363,485 award to design a new Taxiway I and Runway 22L holding apron on the … [More]
Executive Order Seeks Faster Permitting for Energy Projects
Governor Katie Hobbs signed an Executive Order 2025-13 to cut red tape, unlock Arizona’s energy potential, and deliver lower energy costs for Arizonans. The Executive Order directs State Land to develop a report within 30 days outlining proposals to streamline and expedite processes for energy infrastructure development on state land. State Land will also be directed to … [More]
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act: What Business Owners and Operators Need to Know
On July 4, 2025, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) was signed into law. The sweeping piece of legislation included an array of provisions that impact both individuals and businesses. If you’re a business owner or leader, it’s important to understand what these changes could mean for you. For many businesses, the OBBBA changes how certain expenses are taxed. Specific … [More]
