What's Happening News & Events

Arizona Commerce Authority Accepting Applications For 2025 Arizona Innovation Challenge

PHOENIX, AZ (July 29, 2025) – The Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) today announced it is accepting applications for the Fall 2025 Arizona Innovation Challenge (AIC), one of the nation’s largest business plan competitions. This year, the Arizona Innovation Challenge will feature a Fall 2025 cohort and Spring 2026 cohort, with investments for the most promising companies taking place in partnership with investors and venture capitalists in Arizona. In addition, the ACA announced the Fall 2025 cohort will be focused on Software as a Service (SaaS) startups. The application window will run from Tuesday, July 29 to Monday, August 11. The AIC consists of three judging rounds where companies receive constructive feedback on their applications generated from the rigorous online evaluation and scoring process.

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Arizona Business Leaders Form Arizona Small Business Growth Coalition

PHOENIX, AZ (July 23, 2025) – Today, the Arizona Commerce Authority and Arizona business leaders announced the launch of the Arizona Small Business Growth Coalition (SBGC), a statewide alliance of trusted small business providers committed to advancing Arizona’s economic vitality through entrepreneurship. Convened by the Arizona Commerce Authority, the coalition will foster alignment, collaboration, and collective actions to support small businesses across Arizona. At a charter signing ceremony held at the Arizona Commerce Authority, founding members of the SBGC reinforced their commitment to advancing Arizona’s entrepreneurial vitality and supporting Arizona small business growth.

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eX² Technology and Local Partners Announce Broadband Connectivity Milestone

PHOENIX, AZ (July 22, 2025) – Today, local internet and government partners announced a milestone to expand broadband access and connectivity in Arizona. eX² Technology, a Vivacity company and a single source solution for those seeking to build, scale or future proof their communications infrastructure, in partnership with the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) and the Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA), successfully executed the first dark fiber Indefeasible Right of Use agreement along ADOT’s I-17 right of way. As part of the Arizona Statewide Middle-Mile Program, the significant dark fiber Indefeasible Right of Use transaction marks a meaningful step forward in leveraging public infrastructure to deliver long-term, high-capacity connectivity across the State of Arizona. 

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