Member news: August 2024
U of A joins STARS College Network to boost support for prospective students from rural areas
The University of Arizona is one of the newest members of the STARS College Network, which gets its name for serving small-town and rural students. The network brings together universities and colleges across the country to share resources to help high school students visit member campuses, prepare them for college, and support them during their programs. Read more >>
Raytheon in Tucson wins $2 billion missile contract as RTX raises full-year guidance
Tucson-based missiles and defense products manufacturer Raytheon has won a nearly $2 billion contract that will supply the Japanese military as well as U.S. forces.
The contract with the U.S. Missile Defense Agency for $1,944,082,765 call for the manufacture and assembly of Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) Block IIA All-Up Rounds, with work to be performed in Tucson and Alabama and completed by February 2031. Read more >>
Intel Launches Its First US Apprenticeship for Manufacturing Facility Technicians
Intel is launching its first U.S. registered apprenticeship program for manufacturing facility technicians in Arizona in collaboration with the Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA), the Phoenix Business and Workforce Development Board, the SEMI Foundation, Maricopa Community Colleges District (MCCD) and Fresh Start Women’s Foundation. The company plans to train facility technician apprentices over the next five years. Selected apprentices will be full-time Intel employees on day one and will earn a certificate and college credit upon successful completion of the one-year program. Read more >>
Arizona Venture Development Corp. names new CEO
Arizona Venture Development Corp. has named James Goulka its new chief executive officer, effective July 29, the Phoenix-based venture capital firm announced.
Goulka took the helm of AVC on Monday. Prior to joining the venture capital firm, Goulka served as chairman and managing director of Arizona Tech Investors. He retired from that role in December 2022. Read more >>
U of A innovation powerhouses merge to boost Arizona impact
Tech Launch Arizona and Arizona FORGE combine forces to further integrate student engagement into the university’s innovation ecosystem.
Tech Launch Arizona, the commercialization arm of the University of Arizona, has incorporated resources and programming previously managed by Arizona FORGE and will focus on building opportunities for enterprising student entrepreneurs while further strengthening Arizona’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. FORGE was the university unit dedicated to providing students with hands-on entrepreneurship experience and opportunities to develop an entrepreneurial mindset. Read more >>
Arizona Commerce Authority launches new startup resource programs
The Arizona Commerce Authority is revamping the Arizona Innovation Challenge and launching several new programs to boost resources for startups.
The ACA on Thursday said it will rebrand the Venture Ready Accelerator as Venture Scale, which will connect up to 10 Arizona Innovation Challenge awardees with serial entrepreneurs, high-level executives and subject matter experts, according to an agency announcement. Read more >>
$185 Million ASU Multi-Level Research and Education Building Hits Milestone
The $185 million Interdisciplinary Science and Technology Building 12 (ISTB12) project at Arizona State University’s (ASU) Polytechnic campus in Mesa, Ariz., recently reached the topping out construction milestone, marking the placement of the structure’s final beam.
Once completed, this new multi-level research and education building will be an innovation landmark for Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering’s new School of Manufacturing Systems and Networks at ASU’s Polytechnic campus. Read more >>
Lucid Group shares upbeat Q2 sales numbers
Lucid Group Inc. saw its shares get a hefty bump in early trading Tuesday after the electric vehicle maker released its second quarter financials, bringing in sales revenue that easily exceeded Wall Street expectations, as well as announcing that it has more funding on the way. Read more >>
OneAZ Credit Union to back fintechs as limited partner in VC fund
OneAZ Credit Union is now among a growing collective of credit unions investing in fintechs and emerging banking technologies. OneAZ recently announced it became a limited partner in Curql Fund II, which is operated by the Curql Collective, a group of credit unions and industry partners. Iowa-based venture capital firm Next Level Ventures manages the collective’s investments in portfolio companies. Read more >>
Connect to Work AZ Initiative Receives $25,000 Grant to Build Skilled Workforce
The Greater Phoenix Chamber Foundation’s workforce initiative Connect to Work AZ was recently awarded $25,000 from Bank of America. This generous support allows the initiative to grow the work of aligning the needs of Arizona’s leading industries with the needs of underemployed and unemployed individuals to obtain quality jobs with benefits and opportunities for career growth. Read more >>
Grand Canyon Education to invest millions to grow hybrid educational programs, expand national reach
Phoenix-based Grand Canyon Education Inc. (Nasdaq: LOPE) is investing $240 million to build out its hybrid model to teach an additional 50,000 students nationwide.
The goal, according to Brian Mueller, GCE’s chairman and CEO, is to open 80 facilities across the country that will provide a hybrid education model, where students will take courses online and work in the facility labs for hands-on experience. Read more >>
136 Arizona companies, including 6 Arizona Technology Council members, make Inc. 5000 list for 2024
Here are the 136 Arizona companies that made the Inc. 5000 list for 2024 with their ranking, industry and city. Arizona Technology Council member companies are highlighted in orange and hyperlinked. Read more >>
DMD Systems Recovery Named a 2024 Top Workplace in Arizona
DMD Systems Recovery, LLC. (DMD) a Reuse First™ IT asset disposition (ITAD) services provider, has been awarded a Top Workplaces 2024 honor by The Arizona Top Workplaces. This recognition is based solely on employee feedback gathered through a third-party survey administered by employee engagement technology partner Energage, LLC. The confidential survey uniquely measures the employee experience and its component themes, including employees feeling Respected & Supported, Enabled to Grow, and Empowered to Execute, to name a few. Read more >>
4 ASU programs earn national recognition for expanding access to STEM degrees
Four programs at Arizona State University have been awarded the 2024 Inspiring Programs in STEM Award by Insight Into Diversity magazine.
The award honors colleges and universities that encourage and assist students from underrepresented groups to enter the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Read more >>
GPEC helps dozens of businesses set up shop in Arizona in past year
The Greater Phoenix Economic Council helped 49 major companies expand in the Phoenix market during its latest fiscal year, which runs from July 2023 through June 2024. That figure includes expansions from Republic Services, ASM, DSV and SolarTech, among others. The economic development wins represented about $3 billion in capital investment and 7,431 jobs created, with an average salary of $73,000. Read more >>
SRP Unveils 2023 First-Ever Supplier Diversity Economic Impact Report
Salt River Project (SRP) has released its first-ever Supplier Diversity Economic Impact Report, highlighting substantial economic impacts in Arizona including $243.3 million in spending with diverse suppliers that bolstered local economies and supported thousands of jobs. Read more >>
Boeing, Honeywell partner with EVIT to launch Arizona STEM academy
Boeing and Honeywell Aerospace Technologies are partnering with the East Valley Institute of Technology to create a new STEM academy for high school students and adults in Mesa, the trade school announced. The STEM Academy at EVIT will provide students with training, experience and certifications to prepare them for STEM-related jobs. Read more >>
The PMO Squad Ranked Top Project Management Firm
Every year the Inc 5000 List is released of the fastest growing private companies in America. This August the 2024 List was unveiled and The PMO Squad is listed as the #1 Project Management Consulting firm in Arizona, the Southwest US Region, and all of the United States! This ranking is yet another acknowledgement for the hard work and customer focus brought forward by the Squad. Read more >>
Nikola Names New Chief Commercial Officer
Nikola Corporation, a global leader in zero-emissions transportation and energy supply and infrastructure solutions, via the HYLA brand, announced the appointment of accomplished transportation executive Thomas “Tom” Schmitt as Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) of Nikola Corporation. As CCO, Schmitt will align Nikola’s commercial efforts to scale the company’s business. Read more >>