NFIB’s May jobs report found that 34% (seasonally adjusted) of small business owners reported job openings they could not fill in May, unchanged from April, and the lowest since January 2021. “Amid uncertainty, small business owners’ hiring plans remain subdued in May,” said Chief Economist Bill Dunkelberg. “Compensation pressures have also eased offering some much needed … [More]
$10.5M Grant to Revitalize News Industry through ASU’s Knight Center for the Future of News
Powered by funding from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and an additional $4 million investment from Arizona State University the Knight Center for the Future of News at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication aims to transform and strengthen the American news ecosystem. Upon its official launch July 1, the … [More]
Ready to Roll: Celebrating Major Transportation Projects across the Region
Two of the Valley’s most high-profile transportation projects are nearing completion, and the week of June 2–7 marks a regional celebration of this long-awaited progress. The Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG), in partnership with regional and local agencies, is launching Ready to Roll Week, a celebration showcasing newly completed infrastructure, key safety … [More]
Verizon Business Launches Vehicle-to-Everything Connected-Driving Platform, ACA Partners
Arizona Commerce Authority the first partner to sign on for the Edge Transportation Exchange platform
Verizon Business has commercially launched Edge Transportation Exchange, a mobile-network vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication platform for connected vehicles, with multiple customers already signed on, including the Arizona Commerce Authority. Following a successful U.S. Department of Transportation and 5G Automotive Association joint demonstration, the Arizona … [More]
VC Joins $51M Arizona AI Data Center Land Deal
Arizona Land Consulting (ALC), Arizona’s AI data center investment fund led by Anita Verma-Lallian, has closed on a landmark $51 million land deal, further solidifying its position as a driving force in the state’s AI infrastructure race. In a major vote of confidence, renowned venture capitalist Chamath Palihapitiya has joined the investment group backing the deal, alongside … [More]
Chemical Logistics Co. Announces Opening of Chemical Logistic Facility in Casa Grande
NRS Logistics America, a leading chemical-logistics company providing transport, storage and distribution, and asset leasing services for the chemical and industrial markets, announced the opening of its Chemical Logistic Park in Casa Grande, Arizona. A joint venture company between NRS Corporation and the Japan Overseas Infrastructure Investment Corporation for Transport … [More]
Survey Shows Diverging Industry-Specific Small Business Optimism
Quarterly survey focuses on the construction, manufacturing, retail, and services industries
The NFIB Research Center released an industry-specific quarterly Small Business Economic Trends survey highlighting the construction, manufacturing, retail, and services industries. According to the report, the Optimism Index across the four reported industries decreased from the previous quarter. Despite this decline, optimism in the construction, manufacturing, and services … [More]
Banner Health Breaks Ground on Scottsdale Medical Campus
Banner Health officially broke ground today on the new Banner Health Center plus in Scottsdale, launching the first phase of a comprehensive medical campus. The nearly 120,000-square-foot building will include a surgery center, Banner Family Pharmacy, Banner Imaging, and a wide range of primary and specialty physician services all under one roof. “Today’s groundbreaking … [More]
Data Center Developer Announces Expansion of Metro Phoenix Infrastructure
EdgeCore Digital Infrastructure, a wholesale data center developer, owner and operator, announced the acquisition of an additional 43.87 acres of land in Mesa, Arizona and expanded data center capacity designed to deliver 450 MW+ to its hyperscale customers. This new parcel of land more than doubles the buildable acreage EdgeCore controls in Mesa. “Today’s expansion … [More]
STARLUX Airlines Announce Phoenix’s First Nonstop Flight to Asia
STARLUX Airlines intends to begin new nonstop flights between Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and Taipei’s Taoyuan Airport. The service, pending final government approvals, would begin early next year, with three to four flights a week. This is the first nonstop air service to Asia for Phoenix and Arizona. Mayor Kate Gallego shared the news in her annual State of … [More]
Solar and Storage Co. Conversion Announces U.S. Headquarters in Mesa
Apex Power Conversion, a solar and storage company, announced the ribbon cutting of its United States headquarters and manufacturing facility in Mesa, Arizona in conjunction with the American Clean Power Association’s CLEANPOWER 2025 Expo at Phoenix Convention Center. This 206,000 square-foot facility, currently used for customer engagement and product training, will be … [More]
Energy Co. Announces Manufacturing Expansion in Goodyear
GTI Energy, a division of Buffalo based GTI Fabrication, a leading contract manufacturer of mission critical equipment, announced plans of a $33 million initial investment, with plans to invest another $20 million to open a 530,000-square-foot manufacturing facility at Lakin Park in Goodyear, Arizona. The strategic expansion is driven by increasing demand in the renewable … [More]
Arizona Retailers: New Law Targets Transnational Criminal Networks Exploiting Consumers
Governor Katie Hobbs has signed SB 1351 into law, a critical piece of legislation aimed at addressing the concern of gift card fraud in Arizona. Once considered isolated incidents, gift card fraud has evolved into a coordinated operation run by transnational criminal organizations. These networks exploit consumers, retailers, and gift card processors, using stolen redemption … [More]
Small Business Optimism Declines in April, Survey Reveals
Fewer owners planning to increase business investments
The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index declined by 1.6 points in April to 95.8, the second consecutive month below the 51-year average of 98. The Uncertainty Index decreased four points from March to 92 but remained far above the historical average of 68. Seasonally adjusted, 34% of business owners reported job openings they could not fill in April, down six points from March. … [More]
Small Businesses Stay Confident amid U.S. Economic Uncertainty
Nearly half of U.S. small and microbusiness owners expect the national economy to weaken in the coming months. Despite the outlook, most still believe their own businesses will grow, according to new survey data released today by GoDaddy. In the latest findings from the GoDaddy Small Business Research Lab, formerly known as Venture Forward, 49% of 2,100 U.S. microbusiness … [More]
Phoenix Industrial Absorption Remained Strong in Q1
Historic Deliveries of New Space Drive Vacancy to 11.2%
According to Colliers in Arizona, the Greater Phoenix industrial market posted 4.1 million square feet of net absorption during the first three months of 2025, continuing a record of strong leasing in the booming city and placing the metropolitan area as the third top market nationally in first quarter. Despite impressive net absorption, the city posted an increase of vacancy … [More]
Autonomous Vehicle Manufacturing Factory in Mesa Plans for Growth, Jobs
The U.S. is leading the world in the development and deployment of autonomous driving technology. Waymo One provides more than 250,000 paid trips each week across Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Austin, and the company is preparing to bring their fully autonomous ride-hailing to Atlanta, Miami, and Washington, D.C. in 2026. The company says that scaling Waymo One … [More]
Turmoil Weighs on Tech Jobs Market, Arizona Biggest Month Over Month Increase
Tech hiring intent remains stable at 203,000 new job listings
Tech hiring activity in April felt the weight of ongoing economic uncertainties and mixed market signals, CompTIA, the leading global provider of vendor-neutral information technology (IT) training and certification products, reported today. Tech sector companies reduced staffing by a net 7,000 positions in April, analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics … [More]
