Supporting Our Economy

Small businesses drive Arizona’s economy. The Arizona Commerce Authority is celebrating entrepreneurs during National Small Business Week 2026, which runs through May 9.

Arizona is home to more than 706,000 small businesses. They employ 1.2 million people and make up 99.5% of all businesses, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration.

The ACA supports business creation and growth. It offers programs and tools to help companies launch, scale, and succeed. These include the Small Business Checklist, Small Business Academy, Arizona Manufacturing Extension Partnership, State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI), Arizona Business One Stop, and the SBIR and STTR programs.

In 2025, the ACA joined business leaders to launch the Arizona Small Business Growth Coalition. This statewide alliance unites trusted providers to support entrepreneurs. The ACA leads the effort, driving alignment, collaboration, and coordinated action to strengthen small businesses across Arizona.

Alyssa Tufts via Arizona Commerce Authority:

PHOENIX, AZ (May 5, 2026) – Small businesses play a foundational role in supporting Arizona’s economy. This week, the Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) is proud to celebrate Arizona’s small businesses and entrepreneurs as part of National Small Business Week 2026, taking place through May 9.

Arizona is home to more than 706,000 small businesses that employ 1.2 million people, representing 99.5% of Arizona businesses according to the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Supporting business creation and entrepreneurship is part of the ACA’s core mission. The ACA offers a comprehensive suite of programs and resources to help small businesses launch, scale and thrive, including the Small Business Checklist, the Small Business Academy, Arizona Manufacturing Extension Partnership, the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI), Arizona Business One Stop, Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs and more.

“Small businesses are vital to Arizona’s economic strength, providing quality jobs and contributing to thriving communities statewide,” said Sandra Watson, President and CEO of the Arizona Commerce Authority. “We’re proud to work with partners across the state to ensure business owners have the tools and resources they need to achieve long-term success.”

In 2025, the ACA and Arizona business leaders launched the Arizona Small Business Growth Coalition, a statewide alliance of trusted small business providers committed to advancing Arizona’s economic vitality through entrepreneurship. Convened by the Arizona Commerce Authority, fosters alignment, collaboration, and collective actions to support small businesses across Arizona.

In addition to small businesses programs, the ACA partners with local organizations to expand opportunities for entrepreneurs such as SCALE (Strategic Coaching for Advancing Local Entrepreneurs), a statewide initiative developed by the Arizona Small Business Association in partnership with the ACA to help Arizona’s small businesses start strong, grow sustainably, and access new opportunities.

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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.