Work-life balance is tough, and for most of us, it’s starting to feel like a thing of the past. Companies are demanding long hours and more hustle. Remote workers are being called back to the office and the ones still at home are stuck in “always on” mode. With layoffs happening left and right, everyone feels the pressure to constantly prove their worth. No surprise we’re all … [More]
Affordable Homes Outpace Market, Posting 4% Growth in June Sales
Sales of starter homes rose 3.9% year over year in June to the highest level in two years, a bright spot in an otherwise sluggish housing market where sales fell across other price tiers. That’s according to a new report from Redfin, the real estate brokerage powered by Rocket. June was the 10th consecutive month in which home sales rose year over year, indicating that … [More]
What Does the Revived PAID Program Mean for Employers?
The U.S. Department of Labor announced the return of the Payroll Audit Independent Determination (PAID) program. PAID is a voluntary compliance initiative that helps employers resolve inadvertent violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)—such as unpaid overtime or minimum wage—without litigation or civil monetary penalties. This announcement extended the reach of PAID … [More]
Streamlining Customer Verification: Lessons from AI-Powered Fintech
In the fintech industry, customer onboarding ensures new clients can effectively access and use financial or banking systems. A well-structured onboarding process helps companies build trust with customers while meeting compliance requirements in highly regulated markets. Traditional onboarding and KYC methods include manual checks, which are slow and difficult to scale. … [More]
Iconic PV Resort Announces $24M Renovation to Transform Luxury Well-Being Experience
JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn Resort & Spa announced a $24 million transformation of The Spa at Camelback Inn that will redefine the resort’s luxury well-being experience in Paradise Valley, Ariz. As one of Arizona’s most renowned wellness destinations and original full-service resort spas, the reimagined Spa at Camelback Inn is set to debut in January 2026, offering … [More]
Lucid Partners with Uber, Nuro on 20K Vehicle Robotaxi Deal
Lucid Group, Inc., Nuro, Inc., and Uber Technologies, Inc. announced a next-generation premium global robotaxi program created exclusively for the Uber ride-hailing platform. Expected to first launch later next year in a major US city, the new robotaxi service combines the industry-leading software-defined vehicle architecture of the Lucid Gravity, the scalability and proven … [More]
Survey Finds Growth in Social Corporate Responsibility
A new survey of 135 companies released by the Association of Corporate Citizenship Professionals and YourCause from Blackbaud reveals that 72% of corporate social responsibility teams have seen their roles expand amid heightened scrutiny of companies’ social impact efforts. This is the same percentage of respondents who said their team had taken on more responsibility in 2024 … [More]
Arizona Tops List of States with Biggest Rise in Homeownership since 2014
New research has revealed the states with the biggest increases and decreases in homeownership over the past decade. The study by Eden Emerald Mortgages, using data from the U.S. Census Bureau's Current Population Survey/Housing Vacancy Survey, analyzed homeownership rates across all states from 2014 to 2024 to identify which regions have experienced the most significant … [More]
Arizona Economic Development on Hot Streak in 2025
Following an unprecedented streak of record setting years, Arizona economic development efforts reached still greater heights in Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25). In the 12-month fiscal period that ended on June 30, 2025, the Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) and local economic development agencies successfully worked with companies that committed to creating a projected 24,285 new … [More]
Phoenix Startup Raises $5M, Disrupting Wine Industry with Alcohol Removal Tech
ALTR, a pioneering beverage technology company, announced the successful completion of a $5 million seed funding round to commercialize its groundbreaking alcohol removal technology. The company's proprietary "Flavor-First" process enables the creation of premium low-alcohol drinks that maintain the full sensory experience. Backed by leading investors in the … [More]
Inventory Stagnates as Phoenix Condo Sales Slide More Than 30%
The median U.S. condo sale price fell 2.2% year over year to $354,100 in May—the second largest drop in records dating back to 2012. That’s according to a new report from Redfin, the technology-powered real estate brokerage. The only time condo prices posted a larger year-over-year decline was in April 2023 (-2.9%), and that was largely because roughly one year prior, prices … [More]
Q1 Arizona Economic Insights Findings Released, Likely Higher Risks Seen for Q2
The Greater Phoenix Chamber and BOK Financial have released the First Quarter Arizona Economic Insights Dashboard findings. This enhanced tool provides access to real-time, interactive data updates on Arizona’s ever-changing economic landscape. The public can access detailed insights into key indicators such as unemployment, GDP, job projections, population changes, average … [More]
10 Hottest U.S. New Home Markets Revealed, Metro Phoenix High on List
Since 2005, Zonda's BUILDER has revealed the largest U.S. new-home markets through its Local Leaders list, which includes the top 10 builders within each. BUILDER's 50 hottest home building markets in 2025 went live. This year the list is dominated by Texas, Arizona, Georgia, and Florida in the top eight spots. The Sunbelt continues to have a strong presence on Local Leaders … [More]
The Cautionary Tale of Skype’s Rise and Fall: What Other Businesses Can Do to Avoid the Same Fate
Skype, the platform once synonymous with video calls, just shocked the world by shutting down after 22 years. How is it possible that a once-dominant business — with more than 300 million users at its peak — could fail? “If it can happen to Skype, it can happen to any business that stops innovating or becomes invisible,” observes Jason Kocina, Media Relations Agency’s … [More]
Their Take: Growth Isn’t the Problem—It’s the Answer
Arizona has experienced a bonanza of population and job growth over the last five years, and it's transforming our economy in exciting ways. Since 2020, roughly 100,000 people have moved to our great state every year, according to the Common Sense Institute. The momentum shows no signs of slowing. From major manufacturing to high-tech and corporate relocations, job growth has … [More]
Survey: Americans Are Torn on How Immigration, Tariffs Impact Housing Affordability
Over half of U.S. homeowners and renters (51.2%) strongly or somewhat agree with the following statement: “Less immigration will result in fewer construction workers, and thereby fewer new homes, making homes more expensive.” That’s according to a new survey commissioned by Redfin, the technology-powered real estate brokerage. But much of the nation holds the opposite view; … [More]
Study Reveals Where U.S. Healthcare Costs Increased Most in Five Years, Arizona Ranks Ninth
Healthcare costs have risen dramatically across the U.S. over the past five years, but a new study has revealed that some states saw increases nearly double the national average. Home health care software company Steno Health gathered data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis to calculate and break down each state's personal healthcare expenditures over a five-year period, … [More]
Arizona Ranks 1st in Worker Freedom and Economic Mobility
The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) released States That Work: A Labor Policy Roadmap Across America, a groundbreaking publication ranking all 50 states based on their commitment to worker freedom and pro-growth labor reforms. Arizona claims the top spot, earning recognition as the nation’s leading example of how principled labor policy fuels economic … [More]
