This column by Arizona 91果冻传媒 of Commerce & Industry President and CEO Danny Seiden originally appeared in the on May 27, 2026.

According to the latest  from the American Legislative Exchange Council, Arizona ranks second in the nation for economic growth over the past 10 years. During that time, we鈥檝e ranked in the top-5 for GDP growth, domestic migration, and employment growth, clear indicators of our strength as a destination for both business and talent.

Arizona has also ranked No. 1 on the Common Sense Institute鈥檚  every year since 2019. That growth has translated into real gains for Arizonans: more jobs, rising incomes, and the largest percentage-point decline in poverty in the country.

Despite this undeniable track record, a misguided proposal from some lawmakers threatens to wipe out a key piece of our economic toolbox at precisely the wrong time.

Specifically, they are calling for a sweep of the Arizona Competes Fund, a move that would effectively pull the rug out from under dozens of projects already underway, inflicting lasting damage on the state鈥檚 economic credibility.

A complete sweep would jeopardize 34 projects for which grants have already been committed, representing more than 21,000 potential new jobs and more than $12.6 billion in capital investment. That鈥檚 like wiping out an entire year鈥檚 worth of economic development progress.

Even more concerning, forcing the state to renege on commitments 鈥� after funds were appropriated by the Legislature 鈥� would trigger a serious crisis of confidence. If Arizona is willing to walk away from its obligations to employers and investors, why would anyone trust it to honor future commitments?

As budget negotiations continue, some have talked about eliminate the Quality Jobs Tax Credit, a program that has been key to making Arizona a magnet for corporate headquarters relocations.  reports that the Phoenix metro ranks in the top 4 for HQ relocations since 2018, projects that come with significant high-wage job gains 鈥� the type that fuel additional growth across the economic ladder.

The  is actively competing for an additional 51 HQ projects, representing more than 11,000 potential new jobs with average wages over $90,000 鈥� demonstrating both the opportunity ahead and what’s at stake if Arizona gets this wrong.

At a moment when the state is competing for once-in-a-generation economic opportunities, maintaining Arizona’s credibility and business reputation is absolutely essential.

To be clear: Arizona鈥檚 transparent, effective economic development programs should be viewed as a model for the nation. Unlike so many of our competitor states, Arizona does not engage in opaque, backroom deals.

Instead, our programs are accountable and performance-based, with criteria outlined in statute and companies only receiving funds after they鈥檝e filled their commitments. Arizona doesn鈥檛 place risky bets. 

These tools complement Arizona鈥檚 core advantages: a skilled workforce, modern infrastructure, and a pro-growth tax and regulatory environment.

They also deliver a strong return. Analysis from the ACA shows that companies participating in the Competes program have created more than 22,000 jobs with an average wage approaching $90,000. Those projects have generated over $1.2 billion in state and local tax revenue 鈥� meaning every $1 invested returns more than $22 to the public.

Eliminating this program would not produce meaningful budget savings. Instead, it would likely reduce future revenue by driving away jobs, wages and investment.

And if Arizona steps back, other states will step in. Competitors like Texas, Ohio and California would welcome the opportunity to capture projects that might otherwise have come here.

As Warren Buffett famously observed, it takes years to build a reputation and minutes to destroy it. Over the past decade, Arizona has earned a reputation as one of the most reliable places in the country to do business.

Lawmakers should come together to pass a responsible budget that protects and strengthens the policies driving Arizona鈥檚 growth. Arizona has spent a decade earning its reputation. Now is not the time to risk it.

Danny Seiden is the president and CEO of the Arizona 91果冻传媒 of Commerce & Industry.

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This听opinion听column听from Arizona听91果冻传媒 of Commerce & Industry President and CEO Danny Seiden听originally听appeared in the Yuma Sun.

There鈥檚 been plenty of coverage lately about Arizona preparing to defend its water rights on the Colorado River. And yes, we鈥檝e hired a law firm. Hard to blame us.

What鈥檚 gotten less attention is the other side of this story: what鈥檚 actually happening at the negotiating table. The answer isn鈥檛 complicated. Arizona and other Lower Basin states have put real solutions on the table. Colorado and its Upper Basin partners have not.

Arizona鈥檚 chief water negotiator, ADWR Director Tom Buschatzke, was blunt after collapsed. Despite months of discussions, the Lower Basin states received one consistent message from the Upper Basin: there will be no firm commitment to reduce water use, no matter how bad the hydrology gets or how low the reservoirs fall.

That鈥檚 not a negotiating position. That鈥檚 a refusal to engage.

And the stakes are real. Snowpack across the West is at record lows, with just 2.3 million acre-feet of water expected to reach Lake Powell through July 鈥� about a third of normal. The river is under serious strain, and time is not on our side.

Arizona has responded accordingly. This year alone, we鈥檝e already absorbed more than 500,000 acre-feet in cuts. We鈥檝e invested in conservation, recharge, and long-term infrastructure. These aren鈥檛 easy decisions. They come with real economic tradeoffs.

But that鈥檚 what shared responsibility looks like.

Other Lower Basin states stepped up too. Arizona offered to reduce its allocation by 27%. California offered 10%. Nevada nearly 17%. All of it was rejected by Upper Basin states, with Colorado chief among them. They have continued to insist that additional cuts fall primarily on the Lower Basin.

That鈥檚 not a partner. That鈥檚 a free rider.

And it reflects a broader pattern in how Colorado approaches governing.

Credibility at the negotiating table doesn鈥檛 exist in a vacuum. It鈥檚 built or eroded by whether a state is willing to make hard calls, take responsibility, and lead when it matters. On that front, Colorado鈥檚 track record deserves scrutiny.

Over the past decade, Colorado has enacted more than 10,000 new regulatory mandates. Job growth has slowed dramatically. More residents are leaving the state, and nearly half of its business leaders say they鈥檙e planning to invest elsewhere.

Meanwhile, Arizona has stayed focused on building a competitive, growing economy.

from Common Sense Institute Arizona and the Arizona 91果冻传媒 Foundation found that if Arizona had followed Colorado鈥檚 policy path, we鈥檇 have 113,000 fewer workers and an economy $18.6 billion smaller.

Arizona made different choices. Those choices are reflected in how we鈥檙e showing up at the Colorado River table today.

None of this is to say Colorado doesn鈥檛 have rights to the river. It does. But rights come with responsibilities, especially when the system is under this level of stress. And especially when you鈥檝e spent years sending the same message: the cuts are someone else鈥檚 problem.

The Colorado River supports 40 million people and an estimated $1.4 trillion in economic activity. A deal matters for Arizona, for the region, and for the country. But a deal that asks Lower Basin states to make deep, binding cuts while Upper Basin states make no firm commitments isn鈥檛 a solution. It鈥檚 an imbalance dressed up as compromise.

Governor Hobbs is right to push back. Arizona is right to keep every option on the table, including legal ones. And anyone who thinks we鈥檙e being unreasonable should read what Arizona鈥檚 negotiator said when the February deadline blew up: we cannot take on the task of saving this river system on our own.

Colorado has already done real damage to its own economy. We can鈥檛 let it drag ours down too. We won鈥檛 keep carrying their water.

Danny Seiden is the president and CEO of the Arizona 91果冻传媒 of Commerce & Industry.

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Last week, the Arizona 91果冻传媒 of Commerce & Industry office was a hub of policy exchange as we hosted a delegation of lawmakers and business leaders from Missouri. The 鈥淪how Me State鈥� representatives came west to see how our deliberate policy choices in areas like regulation, taxes, and emerging technologies have turned Arizona into a global leader in advanced manufacturing and semiconductors.

Arizona has much to teach other states about economic growth, and we are proud to showcase the work of our lawmakers and successive governors.

But during those conversations, one lesson ran in the other direction: Missouri is showing us a better way to help small businesses afford health care.

In Missouri, the state chamber of commerce , or MEWA. It鈥檚 model that allows small businesses to pool their risk and gain a level of buying power typically reserved for larger corporations. The result is greater rate stability, more plan choices, and lower costs. 

It鈥檚 not just Missouri that offers MEWAs. Nearly 30 other states have already implemented similar programs. Yet in Arizona, many small businesses and sole proprietors remain on the sidelines. , sponsored by Rep. David Livingston, is our opportunity to catch up.

HB 2693 expands the definition of entities that can operate these self-funded health plans to include statewide chambers of commerce and business leagues. By allowing small employers to join a larger pool, the bill helps stabilize premiums and expand access to quality coverage for the job creators who are the backbone of our economy.

Despite no group coming forward to oppose the bill publicly, some legislators have expressed criticisms, but they miss the mark.

First, HB 2693 is fully compliant with the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Opponents often confuse this state-level expansion with a 2018 federal rule that was struck down in court. This bill is different. It operates within the explicit authority granted to states under ERISA, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, to regulate MEWAs. 

This bill also doesn鈥檛 weaken coverage protections. Arizona law continues to require coverage for preexisting conditions, maternity care, mental health coverage, and prescription drugs. In practice, large group plans鈥攚hich MEWAs emulate鈥攐ften provide more comprehensive benefits than what many smaller employers can access today, including superior dental and vision coverage. 

This bill creates affordability through scale. By pooling together, small employers create a larger risk pool that puts natural downward pressure on costs and reduces volatility. By purchasing as a coalition, small businesses gain the leverage to negotiate for the high-quality, robust coverage usually only available to the state鈥檚 largest employers. This isn鈥檛 about cutting corners; it鈥檚 about using collective strength to make comprehensive care more attainable. 

The bill also recognizes the modern workforce by including sole proprietors and working owners. If an individual works at least 20 hours a week or earns enough to cover their premiums, they deserve access to the same stable, high-quality coverage as a corporate executive.

For years, Arizona has led by embracing innovation and market-based solutions. It鈥檚 time we apply that same mindset to health care. By passing HB 2693, we are giving Arizona鈥檚 small businesses another tool to grow, compete, and thrive.

Danny Seiden is the president and CEO of the Arizona 91果冻传媒 of Commerce & Industry.

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Arizona has spent years positioning itself as a state that punches above its weight 鈥� a place where innovation and talent translate directly into economic competitiveness. Few leaders have had a bigger hand in shaping that trajectory than Dr. Michael Crow.

When Crow arrived at Arizona State University in 2002, he didn鈥檛 just take over a university, he took on a challenge: how to build an institution that matched the needs and ambitions of a fast-growing state. Today, it鈥檚 hard to look at Arizona鈥檚 economic progress without seeing his fingerprints.

Crow鈥檚 idea of a 鈥淣ew American University鈥� wasn鈥檛 an academic slogan; it was a bet on Arizona鈥檚 future. While other states narrowed access or pulled back, he pushed ASU to expand 鈥� in scale, in research, and in reach 鈥� and to align itself with the industries and workforce demands defining the modern economy.

That strategy paid off at exactly the right time. As Arizona shifted toward advanced manufacturing, semiconductors, bioscience, defense, and other future-focused sectors, ASU became one of the country鈥檚 strongest pipelines of engineers, scientists, problem-solvers, and innovators. It also became a magnet for research partnerships and private investment that helped accelerate entire industries.

And unlike many universities, ASU didn鈥檛 grow at the expense of access. Access was the strategy. Crow insisted on opening doors wider, not smaller, giving Arizona something many states are now scrambling to recreate: a workforce that reflects the size and diversity of its population. In a state growing as quickly as ours, that has been a competitive advantage.

It鈥檚 also why ASU consistently ranks at the top nationally for innovation and social mobility, indicators of whether graduates can move directly into the jobs employers are creating right now.

Today, when national outlets talk about Arizona as a hub for semiconductors, advanced manufacturing, defense, and other next-generation industries, they鈥檙e describing a story ASU helped write. And when companies tell us why they invest here, ASU鈥檚 talent, research, and problem-solving capacity are almost always near the top of the list.

Crow also pushed both policymakers and the business community to think bigger: to compete nationally and globally, to treat education as a core economic asset, and to build a workforce ready for a new economy.

That mindset has shaped nearly every major economic win Arizona has landed over the past two decades. And as ASU continues to evolve, so does our state 鈥� with the connection between the two clearer than ever.

Arizona鈥檚 next decade will demand even more: more skilled workers, more research capacity, more industry-university partnerships, and more leaders willing to think as boldly as Crow did when he arrived on the scene.

This month, the Arizona 91果冻传媒 will honor Dr. Michael Crow with the 2025 , recognizing leaders whose vision has helped define our state鈥檚 success story. It鈥檚 a well-earned moment for someone who helped shape not just a university, but Arizona鈥檚 economic future.

We hope you鈥檒l join us in celebrating his contributions.

The Arizona 91果冻传媒 of Commerce & Industry Dinner is tonight, December 11, 2025 at the Arizona Biltmore. Event .

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This column by Arizona 91果冻传媒 of Commerce & Industry President and CEO Danny Seiden originally appeared in .

More than a decade ago, the small town of Edgerton, Kansas, faced a choice: maintain the status quo or plan for the future.

When another community turned down a proposal for a major infrastructure project, Edgerton saw the opportunity others didn鈥檛. Local leaders made a strategic decision to invest in growth through the BNSF Logistics Park and intermodal facility 鈥� a project dismissed by many as too ambitious for a rural town. That decision delivered modern infrastructure, attracted private investment, and created a long-term economic engine for the region.

The payoff was undeniable.

Jobs and housing construction surged. Infrastructure improved. The tax base expanded, allowing the city to deliver more services at lower cost to residents. What was once a quiet agricultural community became a thriving rail logistics and employment hub that now anchors economic activity across the region.

Now, Maricopa County stands at a similar crossroads.

Edgerton鈥檚 story is a clear example of what strong leadership and effective public-private partnership can accomplish. The project brought commercial investments the town once didn鈥檛 think possible, new housing development for the first time in 20 years, new infrastructure, and a broader, more stable tax base that lowered costs for residents.

Edgerton didn鈥檛 lose its character 鈥� it strengthened its community. Families found opportunity without leaving town. People moved back and saw reasons to build their lives locally. The region is more competitive, resilient and prosperous.

Arizona now has the same opportunity on an even larger scale.

The proposed BNSF Logistics Park in the Phoenix region offers a transformational opportunity to strengthen our state鈥檚 supply chain, attract future investment, and support growing industries from semiconductors and agriculture to energy and retail distribution.

This project is bigger than a railroad. It鈥檚 about fueling Arizona鈥檚 economy and planning for the future. It鈥檚 about positioning our state as the leading logistics center for the entire Southwest, strengthening U.S. supply chain security and onshoring domestic manufacturing.

And most important, it鈥檚 about opportunity for Arizona families 鈥� opportunity to work, to own a home, to build a career close to where you live and raise your children.

The world is reorganizing supply chains. America is reshoring manufacturing. Companies are seeking reliable, connected, and forward-thinking places to invest. Residents want affordable access to everyday goods quickly and efficiently.

Arizona doesn鈥檛 have to guess if this model will work; the story has already been written. A small town in Kansas proved that when communities lean into smart, responsible development, the benefits flow directly to residents.

Arizona has the talent, the geography, the infrastructure and the momentum. What we need now is the will 鈥� and the kind of leadership and foresight that propelled Edgerton鈥檚 economic transformation more than a decade ago.

Arizona鈥檚 path forward comes down to one simple choice: keep growing or fall behind.

We don鈥檛 have to take a leap of faith; we know what works. Edgerton proved what happens when communities invest in growth. Now it鈥檚 Arizona鈥檚 turn.

Danny Seiden is president and CEO of the Arizona 91果冻传媒 of Commerce & Industry.

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A recent headline in Politico asks, 鈥溾�� It鈥檚 a good question. The article charts the march of labor union Unite Here Local 11 through the city鈥檚 policymaking apparatus and the bruising fights the union has picked with the city鈥檚 job creators, especially those in the hospitality industry.

Meanwhile, some members of the city council express occasional concern about the damage that鈥檚 been done to the city鈥檚 reputation and whether it will be able to host a Super Bowl, World Cup, and Summer Olympic Games in successive years, but not enough, apparently, to do anything to broker a lasting truce between the union and the private businesses that are now looking for more welcoming environments.

Instead of disputes being settled at the negotiating table with the help of elected officials, the voting booth is increasingly where Big Labor and job creators square off.

We鈥檙e fortunate that in Arizona we don鈥檛 have city governments that are as openly hostile to job creation and a competitive business environment as L.A.

Not yet, anyway. We can鈥檛 get too comfortable.

That鈥檚 because Unite Here Local 11鈥檚 territory not only includes Southern California, but Arizona, too. The union is growing its presence here, organizing job-killing ballot measures, targeting specific businesses, throwing up roadblocks to development, and backing candidates for city council positions.

In Glendale, the union was the driving force behind Proposition 499 in 2024, a measure that would have burdened the city鈥檚 hospitality sector and taxpayers with costly new mandates. A year later, the union was back at it again, organizing Propositions 401 and 402, which attempted to block the development of a critical phase of what is slated to be the state鈥檚 largest resort, employing more than 2,000 Arizonans. In each case, the business community rallied to stop the union.

The pattern has been clear: if you鈥檙e a business that dares to succeed, you鈥檙e a target. Take Scottsdale, where Unite Here operatives helped circulate the petitions aimed at freezing the new Axon corporate headquarters development, an investment promising thousands of high-paying jobs. Stopping job creators in their tracks seems to be part of the union鈥檚 playbook. Like it did in Glendale, the business community came together to stand up for Scottsdale jobs. So did a bipartisan coalition of state lawmakers and Gov. Katie Hobbs.

The union isn鈥檛 content to restrict its influence to ballot measures and development fights. Unite Here is increasingly active in Arizona municipal politics, lining up behind city council candidates in , , and who share their agenda. Their candidates may speak in platitudes about fairness and equity, but what they really offer is a city government more hostile to employers, less friendly to entrepreneurs, and far more willing to use public policy as a cudgel against job creation.

We鈥檙e also seeing a similar playbook from other California-based unions. The Service Employees International Union a ballot initiative to cap the salaries of Arizona hospital executives, regardless of the size or complexity of the health system they lead, never mind that the proposal tramples any semblance of the right to contract.

Supporters may say the measure is about fairness, but it would just make it harder to recruit and retain the kind of medical leadership our state needs to ensure access to lifesaving care. It鈥檚 obvious that this isn鈥檛 about strengthening health care in Arizona; it鈥檚 about importing California鈥檚 labor fights to our ballot.

Arizona can鈥檛 afford to import Los Angeles-style dysfunction. We鈥檝e built a reputation as a state where job creators are welcomed, where investment is encouraged, and where opportunity is still available for those willing to work hard and take risks. That reputation is one of our greatest competitive advantages, but it won鈥檛 endure if we ignore the encroachment of those who would rather grind our economy to a halt in service of their narrow political agenda.

Arizona鈥檚 job creators are resilient, but they need policymakers at all levels of government to stand firm and defend our pro-jobs environment, and call out efforts, no matter how cleverly disguised, that would weaken it.

Danny Seiden is the president and CEO of the Arizona 91果冻传媒 of Commerce & Industry.

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This column by Arizona 91果冻传媒 of Commerce & Industry President and CEO Danny Seiden originally appeared in the .

More than 3,000 companies in Arizona have created over 40,000 jobs in the bioscience fields, which has led to a听. These are the types of good-paying jobs 鈥� many paying听听鈥� that attract the highly educated, productive workers that states clamor for. Arizona鈥檚 contribution to the bioscience sector has changed patients鈥� lives for the better and made our economy stronger.听

A new proposal from Washington, though, takes a page from Europe and could reverse the progress scientists and researchers here have achieved, leaving our medical treatments, therapies and the economy worse off.

Consider the example of one of Arizona鈥檚 shining stars, TGen, the Translational Genomics Research Institute. Created in 2002, TGen鈥檚 work in identifying rare diseases and advancing technologies for early cancer detection has laid the foundation for scientific discoveries that are directly affecting patients and creating positive health outcomes for all Americans. 听听

It鈥檚 an Arizona success story, made possible by heavy recruitment by state and federal government leaders, funding by the state, nonprofits, and private industry, and a pro-business, pro-innovation environment that fosters and encourages life-changing research. Over the past decade, dozens of smaller biotech startups in the state have made groundbreaking discoveries in oncology, diagnostics, respiratory health and regenerative medicines. 听

All that success is at risk, though, because of a policy proposal called 鈥淢ost Favored Nation (MFN),鈥� which would introduce foreign price controls for prescription drugs.

It鈥檚 true that many medicines in foreign countries cost less than they do here in the United States. But that鈥檚 because foreign governments impose strict price controls 鈥� think 1970s gasoline markets for pharmaceuticals, complete with shortages and reduced access.听

Because of price controls, European countries and Canada typically do not have access to many of the specialty drugs that treat diseases like cancer or arthritis until many years after they are introduced in the U.S. In fact, Canadians have access only to roughly 11% of cancer medications while the U.S. has access to about 90% of those medications. 听

The prescription drug ecosystem is a complicated one, to be sure, but imposing a policy like MFN would ultimately lead to less innovation, shortages in prescription medication supply, and much less investment in the science to create new cures and treatment options for patients. It鈥檚 a bad tradeoff.

Instead of imposing European-style policies like MFN here in the U.S., we should strongly encourage European countries to liberalize their markets so that the full spectrum of innovative medicines can be made more widely available and so that the research and development that is needed to bring groundbreaking medicines to the public does not fall squarely on the shoulders of the U.S. Through trade agreements, we can do for prescription drugs what we鈥檝e done for the defense sector.听

The Arizona congressional delegation 鈥� House and Senate 鈥� should stand up for our bioscience sector and oppose any policy like MFN and instead support efforts that aim to address costs while preserving investment in the biotech industry.听

Arizona has come so far this century and seen advancements that were once unthinkable. 听For our biotech industry to continue to grow in the future, we need our representatives in Washington to fight for it. 听

Danny Seiden is president and CEO of the Arizona 91果冻传媒 of Commerce & Industry.

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This column by Arizona 91果冻传媒 of Commerce & Industry President and CEO Danny Seiden originally .

Arizona has an important choice to make when it comes to growth: We can try to stop it, or we can plan wisely for it and ensure that it positions the state for a prosperous future.

BNSF Railway is choosing the smarter path: preparing thoughtfully for growth and helping position Arizona for a brighter tomorrow. Building on the legacy of its predecessor, the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe 鈥� whose tracks helped transform Arizona in the late 1800s 鈥� BNSF is looking ahead to help ensure the state鈥檚 continued economic strength.

BNSF is working to develop a state-of-the-art freight rail facility in northwest Maricopa County near Phoenix. When complete, Logistics Park Phoenix (LPP) will add critical rail capacity, supporting Arizona鈥檚 growth and prosperity by efficiently processing and delivering the goods families and businesses use every day.

The new $3.2 billion, 4,320-acre facility will feature a rail-served intermodal terminal, logistics center and logistics park. It will facilitate the transportation, storage and distribution of goods throughout the Phoenix metropolitan area and the broader Southwest region. Integrating with BNSF鈥檚 extensive 32,500-mile freight rail network, this facility will connect the region to the global marketplace and strengthen the supply chain, while maximizing use of rail, the most environmentally efficient way to move goods.

The benefits are significant: LPP is expected to create 76,000 direct and indirect jobs, generate nearly $4 billion in labor income, and contribute $258 million annually in tax revenue to support Maricopa County schools, community colleges, flood control management and other local initiatives.

This is undeniably good news. Unfortunately, not everyone sees it that way.

Somehow even economic development and job creation have become controversial.

But no economy has ever gotten stronger by rejecting growth.

If we slam the brakes on new capital and future-focused investment, we鈥檒l lose jobs. People will stop coming. Our population will shrink. Our economy will stagnate. Achieving the president鈥檚 goal of building a resilient domestic manufacturing supply chain will become more difficult.

The Arizona 91果冻传媒 of Commerce & Industry believes that strong and modern infrastructure is essential to a healthy economy. Equally critical is Arizona鈥檚 ability to attract and develop businesses in diverse industry sectors. We support policies that improve Arizona鈥檚 economic vitality, retain existing businesses, and spur new business growth and job creation.

The 91果冻传媒 strongly supports planning efforts that will enhance the efficiency and convenience with which goods and people are moved through the state. This includes supporting rail projects such as Logistics Park Phoenix.

Arizona鈥檚 success stems from its embrace of opportunity, innovation and responsible growth.

We can鈥檛 let critics divert attention from what鈥檚 working. Arizona鈥檚 progress isn鈥檛 a problem to solve 鈥� it鈥檚 a model of how pro-growth policies drive broad-based success. Shutting out new jobs and residents won鈥檛 protect what makes Arizona unique; it will weaken it.

Choosing stagnation over progress risks undoing the vibrant state we鈥檝e created and turning it into the kind of place people and investment flee. Let鈥檚 make the right choice and plan for Arizona鈥檚 future.

Danny Seiden is the president and CEO of the Arizona 91果冻传媒 of Commerce & Industry.

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Arizona has experienced a bonanza of population and job growth over the last five years, and it’s transforming our economy in exciting ways. 

Since 2020, roughly 100,000 people have moved to our great state every year, according to the Common Sense Institute. The momentum shows no signs of slowing. From major manufacturing to high-tech and corporate relocations, job growth has been off the charts. 

We all know about the mega-projects, like the massive Taiwanese Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) facility in north Phoenix鈥攐ne of the largest foreign investments in U.S. history. 

But it doesn’t stop there. Arizona-based companies are also expanding at lightning speed. 

Just look at Scottsdale’s own Axon, which continues to lead the world in public safety technology. And we’re not just attracting factories. We’re drawing boardrooms. 

Just last week, Dutch Bros Coffee, a nationally recognized brand, announced it’s moving its corporate headquarters from Oregon to Arizona. That’s a big win鈥攁nd just one example of many. 

Good news, right? 

Well, not according to everyone. 

In today’s hyperpartisan environment, even economic development has become political. Oddly enough, some voices on both the far left and the far right seem united in sounding the alarm over Arizona’s success. 

On the far left, critics wrongly claim that Arizona can’t鈥攁nd shouldn’t鈥攕upport this level of growth. They argue it strains infrastructure, housing, and water supply. But these concerns ignore the facts. Arizona has led the way in water conservation for decades and is innovating in areas like reuse and infrastructure investment. Growth doesn’t hinder our ability to plan for the future; it enables it. A stronger tax base means more revenue to improve roads, schools, and other critical infrastructure. 

Meanwhile, some on the far right fret about a different kind of threat: cultural change. They worry that people moving from states like California or Illinois will bring with them left-leaning politics. But here’s the thing鈥攖here’s no evidence of that happening. In fact, the opposite may be true. Since 2020, Arizona Republicans have outpaced Democrats in voter registration, gaining tens of thousands of new voters while Democrats have seen a net decline. Today, Republicans maintain a sizable registration advantage鈥攁 signal that many newcomers may actually lean center-right. 

Arizona remains a competitive, balanced state. When both parties run mainstream candidates, they can鈥攁nd do鈥攚in. 

Among the most extreme voices on both ends of the spectrum, you’ll hear arguments that sound a lot like “Build the Wall”鈥攏ot on our southern border, but along the Colorado River. Their solution to Arizona’s success? Stop people from coming. Stop businesses from expanding. Slow it all down. 

But no economy has ever gotten stronger by rejecting growth. Look at states like New York, Illinois, and California鈥攁ll of which have seen population declines in recent years. These are places where high taxes, burdensome regulations, and anti-business politics have driven people and employers away. That’s not a model for Arizona鈥攖hat’s a warning. 

Ironically, if we follow the advice of these economic isolationists and slam the brakes on growth, we’ll get the very outcome they claim to fear. We’ll lose jobs. People will stop coming. Our population will shrink. And we’ll start to resemble the places so many of our new neighbors are leaving behind. 

Arizona is thriving because we’ve chosen a different path. We’ve said yes to opportunity, yes to innovation, and yes to responsible growth. 

Bottom line: Don’t listen to the naysayers. Arizona’s momentum is not a threat; it’s a testament to what’s possible when a state embraces a pro-growth mindset. If we slam the door on new jobs and new residents, we won’t preserve Arizona鈥攚e’ll lose it. We’ll look less like the state we’ve built, and a lot more like the ones people are fleeing.

Danny Seiden is the president and CEO of the Arizona 91果冻传媒 of Commerce & Industry.

The post Growth isn’t the problem鈥攊t’s the answer appeared first on 91果冻传媒.

This opinion column by Arizona 91果冻传媒 of Commerce & Industry President and CEO Danny Seiden originally appeared in The Phoenix Business Journal. 

We鈥檝e seen a lot in the news lately about 鈥渄ata centers.鈥� But what exactly are they, and why should Arizonans care?

Think of a data center as a digital warehouse鈥攁 secure, high-powered facility where the information that drives our modern lives is stored and managed. From the apps on your smartphone to streaming services, rideshare platforms, cloud-based work tools, banking systems, and national defense network鈥攊t all runs on data, and that data needs a home.

That home is increasingly being built right here in Arizona.

Data centers are the backbone of the digital economy. They ensure we stay connected, productive, and competitive. As artificial intelligence grows at an exponential pace and more industries digitize their operations, the demand for secure, high-capacity data storage has never been greater. Without data centers, our way of life鈥攂oth economically and in terms of national security鈥攕imply doesn鈥檛 function.

Arizona is leading the way. Why here? Two reasons: first, our geography. Arizona experiences very few natural disasters, which means data centers here are less likely to be disrupted by hurricanes, earthquakes, or floods. Second, our energy grid is among the most affordable and reliable in the nation. That鈥檚 a huge draw for companies looking to build infrastructure that requires massive and continuous power.

Some skeptics have asked: Do we really need these? They argue that data centers consume space and energy and don鈥檛 create as many jobs as traditional industries. And some cities are even putting out 鈥渘ot welcome鈥� signs.

They could not be more wrongheaded.

While data centers may not employ thousands of people onsite, their impact ripples far beyond their walls. Each center supports a network of electricians, engineers, construction workers, IT professionals, security teams, and more. Cities that reject these projects or demonize them do so at their own peril 鈥� capital projects like this help bring needed tax dollars for schools, police, and fire. And importantly, data centers enable every other job in a digital economy鈥攆rom fintech startups and defense contractors to e-commerce platforms and healthcare providers.

Moreover, they strengthen our national security. In an age where cyber warfare is a real and growing threat, having domestic infrastructure that is secure is a national imperative. Arizona’s stable climate and location away from coastal vulnerabilities make it an ideal place to house the critical data that keeps our defense, intelligence, and communications systems running.

The presence of these centers also signals something else: Arizona is a player in the global technology race. Just as we鈥檝e led on semiconductors, biosciences, and advanced manufacturing, our investment in digital infrastructure shows that we are ready for the future 鈥� and helping to shape it.

This is not just about big tech. It鈥檚 about ensuring Arizona families have access to high-paying careers, our small businesses have the tools to compete, and our nation has the digital capacity to protect and project its values around the world.

The ripple effects of this investment鈥攊n jobs, innovation, and national security鈥攁re just beginning to be felt.

But one thing is clear: Arizona isn鈥檛 just participating in the digital revolution. We鈥檙e leading it.

Danny Seiden is president and CEO of the Arizona 91果冻传媒 of Commerce & Industry.

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