Arizona Achieves Record Economic Development Year
Adero Canyon in Fountain Hills

ACA logo. Photo provided by Metro Phoenix Alliance.

2026 in Review

Arizona recorded another year of historic economic growth in 2026. According to the Arizona Commerce Authority, Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) marked the most successful year for economic development in the state’s history. Companies committed to creating 26,225 new jobs and investing more than $109 billion across Arizona, setting single-year records in both categories. These jobs offer an average annual wage of $81,368, well above the state’s median wage. Expansion projects took place in many communities across our state, including the Metro Phoenix communities of Buckeye, Chandler, Glendale, Goodyear, Litchfield Park, Mesa, Peoria, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Surprise, Tempe, and Tolleson.

PHOENIX, AZ (July 22, 2026) –Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) marked the most successful year for economic development in Arizona’s history.

During the 12‑month period ending June 30, 2026, the Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) and local economic development partners worked with companies that committed to creating 26,225 projected new Arizona jobs and investing more than $109 billion into communities statewide — both single‑year records.

The projected new jobs carry an average wage of $81,368, higher than the state median wage.

“Across the state, we’re delivering the family‑sustaining jobs and economic growth that are moving Arizona forward,” said Governor Katie Hobbs. “From Phoenix to Southern Arizona, to our rural communities and beyond, we are strengthening the state’s workforce, investing in our people, and advancing an economy that creates opportunity for every Arizonan.”

This new fiscal year also marks the 15‑year anniversary of the Arizona Commerce Authority — the state’s leading economic development agency. Created in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis, Governor Jan Brewer and the Arizona Legislature established the ACA to diversify and strengthen Arizona’s economy by targeting high‑value industries for strategic business attraction, expansion, and creation.

Since its inception in 2011, the ACA and partners have secured more than 1,428 competitive projects, representing over 338,000 projected new jobs and more than $304 billion in capital investment statewide.

“Arizona is delivering unprecedented economic opportunity statewide,” said Sandra Watson, President and CEO of the Arizona Commerce Authority. “We are incredibly grateful to Governor Hobbs and all our economic development partners for their support. With Arizona’s thriving industry clusters, unmatched business climate, talented workforce, top-tier education, and robust innovation ecosystem, our state continues to attract global leaders—expanding economic opportunity and reinforcing Arizona’s position as premier destination for business.”

In FY26, expansion projects took place in 23 communities across the state, including Buckeye, Chandler, Cochise County, Eloy, Gila Bend, Glendale, Goodyear, La Paz County, Litchfield Park, Marana, Maricopa, Mesa, Peoria, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Surprise, Tempe, Tolleson, Tucson, Waddell, Yavapai County, and Yuma.

Expansion projects in Fiscal Year 2026 included: 

Sponsor Members

About Arizona Commerce Authority

The Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) is the state’s leading economic development organization with a streamlined mission to grow and strengthen Arizona’s economy. The ACA uses a three-pronged approach to advance the overall economy: attract, expand, create – attract out-of-state companies to establish operations in Arizona; work with existing companies to expand their business in Arizona and beyond; and help entrepreneurs create new Arizona businesses in targeted industries.

Share This Story...

Sponsor Members

Receive Metro Phoenix Business News in your email...
✔ Weekly Updates     ✔ Local Insights      ✔ No SPAM

Tag Cloud

Metro Phoenix Alliance Member Directory Map

Tempe-based Dutch Bros Coffee plans to acquire 51 former Salad and Go locations after the fast-casual chain filed for bankruptcy, with the ongoing cyclosporiasis outbreak contributing to its collapse. Court documents filed Tuesday in federal bankruptcy court identify a Dutch Bros-affiliated LLC as the buyer of dozens of Salad and Go restaurants in Arizona and Nevada, along with leases for additional former locations in Texas and Oklahoma. #saladandgo #dutchbros #dutchbroscoffee #tempeaz #drivethru
Salad and Go filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Monday and announced it will permanently close all of its locations, serving its final meals Wednesday. The Gilbert-founded drive-thru restaurant chain submitted voluntary bankruptcy petitions in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas in Houston.

The company said declining consumer demand, rapid expansion challenges, and rising operating costs made its business unsustainable. Salad and Go also said the Cyclospora foodborne illness outbreak in July hurt sales, even though health officials did not link the chain to the contamination. #saladandgo #gilbertaz #cyclospora #bankruptcy #chapter11
@wallethub has released its 2026 Best & Worst Places to Rent report, ranking more than 180 U.S. cities to help renters identify the nation’s top housing markets. The study places @scottsdaleazgov (No. 1), @gilbertyourtown (2), and @cityofchandler (3) at the top of the rankings, with @peoriaazcam (6), @cityofmesa (16), @glendaleaz (17), @cityofphoenixaz (19), and @tempegov (25) also earning spots among the nation’s 25 best cities for renters. #wallethub #houserental #eastvalleyaz #scottsdaleaz #metrophx
Celebrating 250 Years of Freedom! Happy Independence Day and Cheers to a great, safe weekend. #250 #4thofjuly #usa🇺🇸 #250yearsoffreedom #metrophx
The Costco Business Center in Chandler has been under construction since Q3 2025 and will potentially be ready to open next month. #costco #costcobusinesscenter #metrophx #metrophoenix #chandleraz
Since 2015, there have been 142 expansions of European companies into Maricopa and Pinal counties, according to a new report from GPEC. These projects, consisting of 111 individual companies, have resulted in over $8.1 billion in investments and created about 15,000 jobs. #maricopacounty #pinalcounty #gpec #europeaninvestment #jobopportunity #metrophx #metrophoenix #silicondesert
A new Costco Business Center broke ground in late 2025 and has steadily moved through most phases of construction. The site at Alma School and Pecos (north of Loop 202) includes a 140,000 square foot building and 15-pump gas station. The opening date is expected to be late next month. #costcobusiness #chandleraz #wholesale #costco #metrophoenix #metrophx #businessmindset
Phoenix-based DarkPulse Inc. announced a new exclusive patent license agreement. The deal is with the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division, part of the U.S. Department of the Navy. The agreement gives DarkPulse exclusive rights to key LADAR and sensing technologies. The agreement supports DarkPulse Inc.’s strategy to adopt and commercialize government-developed innovations. The company will embed these technologies into its engineering, installation, and security management solutions.
#ladar #silicondesert #phoenixaz #darkpulse #metrophoenix #metrophx
Tempe-based Dutch Bros Coffee plans to acquire 51 former Salad and Go locations after the fast-casual chain filed for bankruptcy, with the ongoing cyclosporiasis outbreak contributing to its collapse. Court documents filed Tuesday in federal bankruptcy court identify a Dutch Bros-affiliated LLC as the buyer of dozens of Salad and Go restaurants in Arizona and Nevada, along with leases for additional former locations in Texas and Oklahoma. #saladandgo #dutchbros #dutchbroscoffee #tempeaz #drivethru
Salad and Go filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Monday and announced it will permanently close all of its locations, serving its final meals Wednesday. The Gilbert-founded drive-thru restaurant chain submitted voluntary bankruptcy petitions in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas in Houston.

The company said declining consumer demand, rapid expansion challenges, and rising operating costs made its business unsustainable. Salad and Go also said the Cyclospora foodborne illness outbreak in July hurt sales, even though health officials did not link the chain to the contamination. #saladandgo #gilbertaz #cyclospora #bankruptcy #chapter11
@wallethub has released its 2026 Best & Worst Places to Rent report, ranking more than 180 U.S. cities to help renters identify the nation’s top housing markets. The study places @scottsdaleazgov (No. 1), @gilbertyourtown (2), and @cityofchandler (3) at the top of the rankings, with @peoriaazcam (6), @cityofmesa (16), @glendaleaz (17), @cityofphoenixaz (19), and @tempegov (25) also earning spots among the nation’s 25 best cities for renters. #wallethub #houserental #eastvalleyaz #scottsdaleaz #metrophx
Celebrating 250 Years of Freedom! Happy Independence Day and Cheers to a great, safe weekend. #250 #4thofjuly #usa🇺🇸 #250yearsoffreedom #metrophx
The Costco Business Center in Chandler has been under construction since Q3 2025 and will potentially be ready to open next month. #costco #costcobusinesscenter #metrophx #metrophoenix #chandleraz
Since 2015, there have been 142 expansions of European companies into Maricopa and Pinal counties, according to a new report from GPEC. These projects, consisting of 111 individual companies, have resulted in over $8.1 billion in investments and created about 15,000 jobs. #maricopacounty #pinalcounty #gpec #europeaninvestment #jobopportunity #metrophx #metrophoenix #silicondesert
Metro Phoenix Alliance Member Directory Map