Member news: June 2024
Over $8.3M in Rebates for Clean School Buses across Arizona Announced
In a significant move, the Biden-Harris Administration announced the recipients of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) 2023 Clean School Bus Program rebate competition, a key initiative under President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. The rebates, totaling $8,345,000 for Arizona, will enable selectees to purchase 30 clean school buses in 10 school districts across the state. This program is a crucial step in Arizona’s journey towards improving children’s health and tackling harmful air pollution, replacing older, diesel-fueled school buses linked to student and community health issues. Read more >>
Australian lithium company opens research center in Tempe
A new research facility backed by the Arizona Commerce Authority has opened in Tempe that is expected to advance lithium processing technology and support two lithium mining developments in North America — including one in Arizona.
University of Arizona online hub aims to spur collaboration between entrepreneurs, inventors
A new online hub launched by the University of Arizona aims to help tech entrepreneurs learn about new inventions and research coming out of the school that can provide opportunities to launch or join startups.
Called StartupHub, the site highlights what are considered the most promising opportunities, allowing visitors to check them out by industry — such as diagnostics, digital health or medical devices — or by position, such as CEO, co-founder or chief science officer. Read more >>
SRP employees help bring electricity to Navajo Nation
Salt River Project crews recently participated in the Light Up Navajo initiative to bring electricity to homes on the Navajo Nation.
SRP line crews spent two weeks working on the effort in an area where homes are often spread out, requiring several miles of poles and electrical lines to provide power to a single house, according to a Salt River Project release. Read more >>
Intel gives investor big stake in Ireland fab with $11B infusion
As Intel Corp. nears completion of its new manufacturing facility in Ireland, it has received help in the form of a major financing investment.
Intel (Nasdaq: INTC) announced on Tuesday that Apollo Global Management will provide $11 billion and get a 49% stake in the chipmaker’s Fab 34 in Ireland. Read more >>
How Phoenix looks to grab its share of new emerging industries
The Phoenix market is already an emerging region for manufacturing, biosciences and semiconductors.
But in the future Arizona could become the center of newer technologies in sectors such as defense and aerospace — particularly for advanced air mobility, or air taxis, and electric vehicle takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. Read more >>
Microsoft acquires nearly 300 acres for data center growth in El Mirage
Tech giant Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT) has acquired a major site in the West Valley to support its data center expansion in metro Phoenix. Microsoft paid $258 million in all cash on May 31 for approximately 283 acres in El Mirage along Northern Parkway and Dysart Road. Nevada-based Dermody Properties was the seller. Read more >>
Waymo expands autonomous ride-hailing service to Talking Stick Resort, Desert Ridge
Waymo is expanding its autonomous ride-hailing service by 90 square miles in the Phoenix metro area, boosting connections to popular entertainment destinations and tribal land.
The company, a subsidiary of Google owner Alphabet Inc. (Nasdaq: GOOGL), on Wednesday launched its Waymo One service expansion, which stretches further north in the Valley to include Desert Ridge, Scottsdale Quarter and TPC Scottsdale. Read more >>
Some Arizona companies gain, others drop on latest Fortune 500 list
Arizona registered 10 companies on the latest Fortune 500 list of the nation’s largest public companies. Several other companies were close to cracking the prestigious annual ranking, based on revenue.
Leading the way for the Grand Canyon State was No. 157 Avnet Inc., which also happens to be the largest public company in the state, according to Business Journal research. According to Fortune, Avnet’s revenue of $26.53 billion (as of June 30, 2023) grew by 9.20%, and the company rose six spots on the list since last year. Read more >>
Flinn Foundation Names New Leaders as Longtime Executive Retires
Brad Halvorsen joined the Flinn Foundation in 1989 as its first communications employee. After 35 years of service to the foundation and Arizona, including nearly a decade as executive vice president, Halvorsen retires June 14.
Halvorsen’s departure prompts two other executive leadership changes. Vice President, Communications Matt Ellsworth has been promoted to chief administrative officer, and Stacy Sullivan, who has worked for the Arizona Republic and Gannett’s USA Today Network for more than 25 years, has been named vice president, communications. Read more >>
Phoenix ranks high for sustainable development in national cities report
Phoenix is among the top 10% of U.S. cities for sustainability and is one of the top five cities for sustainable development, according to a new report.
The 2024 Most Sustainable Cities report from LawnStarter ranked Phoenix No. 46 overall out of the 500 largest cities nationwide in an analysis that looked at 39 total metrics in five categories that included policies, development, pollution, transportation and food production. Read more >>
Arizona advances in renewable energy with federal investments
Arizona is on the frontline for up-and-coming solutions to address climate change thanks to federal investments for renewable energy.
That’s what Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) said today at a press conference alongside Arizona State Senator Priya Sundareshan (LD-18) and other local solar industry leaders outside of the local solar manufacturing facility, Solar Gain Inc. in Tucson. Read more >>
GPEC, StartupAZ partner to bring opportunities and connections to new businesses in the Valley
A new partnership between two Arizona organizations that support startups is bringing more opportunities than ever to new businesses in the Valley.
The Greater Phoenix Economic Council and StartupAZ Collective announced a partnership on June 12, highlighting collaborative efforts to help bring more opportunities to startups in the Valley. The partnership is geared to bring innovative tech-focused businesses resources and connections in a more efficient manner. Read more >>
JLL report finds Phoenix’s tech industry poised to add thousands of jobs in coming years
The Phoenix metro is set for a big spike in technology jobs in the coming years.
A report from brokerage firm JLL found that Phoenix, which already boasts a healthy advanced manufacturing and back-office ecosystem, will be a big beneficiary of the federal CHIPS Act funding that projects to spur greater investment throughout the country. By 2028, JLL projects Phoenix to add more than 7,000 tech jobs to its workforce of more than 64,000. A tech worker on average earns $140,676 annually. Read more >>
Raytheon ramps up work on cutting-edge SPY-6 radars with $677M Navy deal
RTX’s Raytheon business has exercised its third option to continue its work on a massive U.S. Navy contract to build AN/SPY-6(V) radars.
The latest contract, awarded earlier this month, is worth $677 million and builds on a $651 million deal announced in April 2022 by the defense contractor’s Tucson-based missiles and defense operation. With all options exercised, the total value of the contract could reach $3.2 billion. Read more >>
Arizona to invest $8.5 million for water conservation project
Sens. Kyrsten Sinema and Mark Kelly announced Friday that $8.5 million will be invested in Arizona to continue a feasibility study related to water conservation.
The study identifies alternatives to address water storage lost due to sediment accumulation and manage future sediment accumulation in Horseshoe and Bartlett reservoirs. Read more >>
Trade in Motion Guest Blog: Addressing Workforce Challenges in the United States and Canada
The modern workforce landscape in the United States and Canada is facing significant challenges in attracting and retaining the right talent. These challenges are exacerbated by rapid technological advancements, evolving market demands, and demographic shifts impacting industries across North America. Addressing these issues is critical for maintaining a competitive edge, and one key aspect is achieving a low turnover rate. High turnover rates disrupt business operations, increase recruitment and training costs, and erode organizational knowledge. Read more >>
How KORE Power is developing its strategy to deliver Arizona manufacturing jobs
Earlier this month, Julie Su, the Biden Administration’s Acting Secretary of Labor, visited Western Maricopa Education Center (West-MEC) to host a panel discussion on building pathways to careers in advanced manufacturing. It’s not surprising that she’d come to the Valley, where billions in investments have been announced for things like chip factories, EVs and lithium-ion battery cells. Read more >>
Throwing shade: How to get 2 free trees from SRP this summer
It’s no secret that Arizona gets during the summer. And as temperatures continue to rise each year, so do electric bills.
That’s why the Salt River Project is giving out free trees.
Now in its 13th year, SRP’s Shade Tree program is a free workshop offered twice a year to the power and water company’s roughly 2 million residential customers. Participants who attend one virtual shade tree workshop receive two free saplings to plant in their yards that will eventually provide shade for their homes. Read more >>