PHOENIX, AZ (March 17, 2026) — As states across the country compete aggressively for talent, investment, and jobs, the Arizona Chamber Foundation and Arizona Commerce Authority today unveiled ArizonaW1NS a comprehensive competitiveness playbook designed to help Arizona sustain economic growth, strengthen its advantages, and expand opportunity statewide over the next decade. 

“Arizona’s success over the last decade didn’t happen by accident,” said Danny Seiden, President and CEO of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry. “It was driven by smart, focused policy decisions and strong collaboration across government, business, and philanthropy. ArizonaW1NS is about taking a clear-eyed look at where Arizona stands today and making sure we’re strengthening the fundamentals needed to compete for jobs, investment, and opportunity in the decade ahead.” 

Developed in partnership with the Arizona Commerce Authority, and informed by input from hundreds of leaders across business, government, academia, and workforce development, ArizonaW1NS evaluates the state’s competitive position and strengths and outlines a bold set of recommendations to advance business development, provide more high-wage jobs, and grow opportunity for Arizonans, statewide. 

The playbook identifies more than 50 actionable strategies across critical areas—business climate, workforce, education, energy, water, infrastructure, innovation, and entrepreneurship.

Five priorities emerged as most essential: 

• Enhance Competitiveness: Sharpen Arizona’s competitive edge through enhanced economic development tools and ease zoning processes statewide to expand business and infrastructure.
• Accelerate Talent Development: Strengthen and grow education, training and career pathways that prepare Arizonans for high-wage, in-demand jobs.
• Strengthen Critical Infrastructure: Make Arizona a top state for energy and water availability and affordability.
• Spur Innovation: Catalyze innovation and entrepreneurship through research and development and speed tech transfer.
• Preserve Quality of Life: Drive down costs that threaten Arizona’s economic momentum and capitalize on federal policy reforms to keep Arizona in the lead.

ArizonaW1NS is chaired by David Rousseau, President of Salt River Project, and co-chaired by Sandra Watson, President and CEO of the Arizona Commerce Authority, and Eileen Klein, former Arizona State Treasurer. The initiative is supported through funding from the Arizona Legislature and Governor Katie Hobbs, along with additional contributions from Amazon, the Arizona Board of Regents, Arizona Public Service, and Salt River Project. 

“Other states are not standing still — they are actively working to replicate Arizona’s recent success,” said David Rousseau, chair of ArizonaW1NS. “This forward-looking initiative helps identify where Arizona should focus its time, attention, and investment to protect its competitive advantages and ensure long-term economic strength.” 

The report emphasizes the critical role of policymakers at all levels in shaping Arizona’s business climate through sound policy and long-term investments, particularly in workforce and infrastructure. 

“Competitiveness today is about readiness,” said co-chair Sandra Watson, who leads the Arizona Commerce Authority, the state’s leading economic development organization. “ArizonaW1NS focuses on aligning workforce development, infrastructure capacity, and innovation in a way that reflects how real investment decisions are made. It helps ensure Arizona is prepared not just to attract employers and talent, but to support them for the long term.” 

Private and public sector leaders alike welcomed the focus on state competitiveness. 

“ArizonaW1NS is a clear reminder that policy matters. It happens when policymakers, businesses, and educators work together to keep Arizona competitive, attract high-wage jobs and expand opportunity for every Arizonan,” said State Representative Matt Gress (R-LD4). Gress championed the ArizonaW1NS effort to sharpen the state’s focus on competitiveness after leading statewide planning and budgeting for the State of Arizona.

“A predictable, pro-business environment is what allows companies like ours to commit capital, create jobs, and build projects that benefit Arizona families for generations,” said Simer Mayo, CEO and Founder of Mayo Global. “Under the leadership of Arizona's Governor and Legislature, combined with the vision of the Arizona Commerce Authority and Arizona Chamber, Arizona has built one of the strongest economic development platforms in the country, and we look forward to building on that momentum.”

“Every year, Arizona’s three research universities produce tens of thousands of highly skilled graduates and generate billions in research activity that fuels high wage industries, drives innovation, and accelerates statewide growth,” said Arizona Board of Regents Chair Doug Goodyear. “As the demand for talent and new ideas continues to surge, ArizonaW1NS makes clear just how critical our public universities are in positioning the state to compete and win.”

ArizonaW1NS will continue to work with business leaders to periodically review Arizona’s progress on key metrics, refresh the priorities as milestones are achieved and bolster the development of plans to strengthen competitiveness in local communities around the state.

“ArizonaW1NS shows what’s working, what needs attention, and where smart, disciplined action will help secure Arizona’s future,” said co-chair Hon. Eileen Klein, who spearheaded the project on behalf of the Arizona Chamber Foundation. 

 “Arizona’s momentum is real. Our responsibility now is to protect it, strengthen it and prepare for what comes next. With ArizonaW1NS, Arizona now has the playbook to keep our state in the lead, for the next decade and beyond,” said Klein.

The full report and recommendations are available at azw1ns.com.

Media Contact

Alyssa Tufts, Arizona Commerce Authority, [email protected]

The Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry is committed to advancing Arizona’s competitive position in the global economy by advocating free-market policies that stimulate economic growth and prosperity for all Arizonans.

The Arizona Chamber Foundation is a non-profit, objective educational and research foundation. We are committed to a non-partisan, research-driven approach that analyzes the issues impacting Arizona’s economy. We work in partnership with the Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry to accelerate the priorities of the business community.

The Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) is the state's leading economic development organization with a streamlined mission to grow and strengthen Arizona's economy. The ACA uses a three-pronged approach to advance the overall economy: attract, expand, create - attract out-of-state companies to establish operations in Arizona; work with existing companies to expand their business in Arizona and beyond; and help entrepreneurs create new Arizona businesses in targeted industries.