ARIZONA: With Streamlined

ARIZONA: With Streamlined Regulation and Access to Major World Markets, Arizona is Thriving

Arizona is strategically located in the southwest region of the U.S., immediately accessible to three of the world’s largest economies: California (#8), Texas (#12), and Mexico (15). In fact, Arizona is the only state in the nation within a day’s drive to all the major world markets. ...................................................................................

Arizona offers one of the lowest costs of doing business in the U.S., primarily because of low taxes and small state government. While the national average of per-capita income going to taxes is 9.9 percent, here the number is on 8.4 percent. In addition, Arizona’s taxes on property, gas, and personal income remain low compared to the rest of the country.

Arizona has made a concerted effort to create a businessfriendly, minimalist regulatory environment. Fundamental changes were made in the administration of Arizona’s transaction privilege tax system. These changes streamline tax collection and eliminate the need for multiple (state and local) tax licenses, tax returns and tax audits. This is a Right-to Work state. Unions cannot require workers to pay dues as a condition of their employment. The financial impact of labor peace and business stability is

significant-and increasing.

For more information on the opportunities in Arizona, please contact the Arizona Commerce Authority at 602-845-1200 or visit www.azcommerce.com .

ARIZONA:PINAL COUNTY, A LONG GAME APPROACH TO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT ...................................................................................

Pinal County is experiencing significant growth in many traditional business sectors, but it is seeing noteworthy growth in high-tech sectors. The visionary Pinal County Board of Supervisors recently approved an Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) with the University of Arizona to assist the county with developing and implementing a multi-year plan called the Arizona Innovation and Technology Corridor (AITC) to develop the I-10 and I-8 Corridors, from Maricopa County to the University of Arizona Science and Technology Park.

The AITC is expected to bring thousands of high-tech, high-wage jobs to Pinal County. The AITC, which could take as many as 25-30 years to be fully developed and bring billions of dollars in new high-tech companies along with their support industries, already has a foundation on which to build. In addition to many high-tech companies that already exist in Pinal County such as Hexcel, Abbot Nutrition, Frito Lay, Cargill, Bayer, Nissan and Volkswagen Test Tracks and Resolution Copper, the Corridor includes new high tech companies locating in the Corridor including Lucid Motors, Vector Launch, Nikola Motors, NACERO, Attesa, Case New Holland R&D, Florence Copper, Green Gas Partners and several other high tech companies that will be announced in the next few months.

To prepare the workforce that will be needed to support the AITC, Achieve Pinal is taking a proactive approach to building a talent pipeline. An initiative of Pinal Alliance for Economic Growth, Achieve Pinal is built on a foundational goal of creating a competitive workforce in Pinal County by ensuring 60 percent of the current workforce have a post-secondary credential by 2030.

Key strategies include: • Improving the K-12 Pipeline - Increase college readiness and high school graduation rates • Increasing access - Raise awareness about options beyond high school and make them more affordable • Aligning workforce needs - Engage businesses, governments and educators to identify and close the skills gap

The Achieve Pinal was recently given a huge boost when it was approved to launch the AARP Foundation’s Experience Corps, an evidence-based literacy program that improves the reading skills of students in grades K–3 and enriches the lives of volunteer tutors, nearly all of whom are over the age of 50. Achieve Pinal was inspired to become an AARP Foundation Experience Corps affiliate because third grade is a critical turning point at which children need to transition from learning to read to reading to learn. The program will launch on November 2 as a two-year pilot in Casa Grande with plans for a county-wide launch by year three.

The Experience Corps model has been implemented in 22 cities nationwide, with Casa Grande as the first rural community to host the program. Multiple university studies have found that 62% of the students in the program improve their reading by half a grade level or more. By helping young students become better readers, Experience Corps seeks to ensure a lasting legacy of strong futures, supported schools and empowered volunteers. X