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Opportunity

The Time is Now

We have the opportunity to be forward-thinking and leverage the momentum of our market.

Economic Cycles

Industry Life Cycles

Without continued innovation, industries eventually become susceptible to competition, disruption, and globalization. Many mature industries are eventually supplanted by new industries and new technology, while many others gradually shift to lower cost markets overseas.

Regional Life Cycles

Without intentional planning, regions can become locked into a similar life cycle. By building on local strengths and assets to allow innovative industries to succeed, regional economies become resilient.

Intentional Growth Strategy to Circumvent Decline

Regions can avoid complacency and decline through intentional strategies to invest in emerging industries and build an innovation economy.

To create a reputable brand and equitable development, we need to focus on the key pillars of an innovation economy.

 

Pillars of an Innovation Economy

Infrastructure

Resilient infrastructure – power, water, transportation, broadband – will ensure people and businesses have the solid foundation they need to thrive in the innovation-driven economy.

Education and Workforce Development

Innovation thrives in regions with equitable access to education and job training. Flexible, alternative education pathways focused on closing skills gaps produce talent and workforce of the future.

Smart and Agile Land Use

Innovative economies adopt non-traditional and agile land use strategies that maximize the economic potential of the region. Municipalities lead developing land use, reuse and zoning strategies that create quantifiable impact on factors like natural resource consumption, employment density and housing affordability.

Capital-Friendly Environment

Entrepreneurs, startups and small businesses are engines of innovation-driven growth. Forward looking regions cultivate a robust ecosystem that streamlines access to information and resources for entrepreneurs and incentivizes innovation.

Why now?

Innovative industries of the future gain competitive advantage by anchoring in places where localized assets – talent, a capital friendly environment, infrastructure and smart land use – enable them to develop next generation of products and dominate new markets.  Arizona faces headwinds against the dynamics of agglomeration that concentrate innovative industries in few select regions capable of addressing big challenges.

Current Catalyzing Events

Major Semiconductor Investment

TSMC and Intel are investing billions of dollars in semiconductor manufacturing facilities in Greater Phoenix, forever changing Greater Phoenix's economic landscape. Many other producers and their suppliers are considering expansion to the region.

Rapid Industry Acceleration

Base industries including healthcare, corporate services and aerospace are rapidly evolving thanks to AI, blockchain, IoT and other emerging technologies.

Pandemic-Driven Workforce Shifts

The COVID-19 pandemic triggered dramatic labor shifts as firms rapidly invested in cloud services and automation to support remote work and mitigate productivity losses.

Unprecedented Funding for Small Businesses & Entrepreneurs

The growth of Greater Phoenix's entrepreneurial ecosystem is accelerating as entrepreneurs and startups secure funding at unprecedented levels for the region.

Statewide Elections in 2022

Arizona’s new executive and legislative leadership will shape the economy over the next decade. This new political chapter provides an opportunity to champion new ideas and renewed commitment to Arizona’s continued competitiveness and resilience.

Arizona leaders have the opportunity to set a bold vision for its future, focusing on key pillars of an innovation economy and creating prosperity for all.