From transportation and water infrastructure to advanced manufacturing facilities, Sundt Construction has helped build Arizona’s economy since 1929. Headquartered in Tempe, the 100% employee-owned company is investing in new facilities, workforce training and technologies to support the state’s next chapter of growth. In this ˿����Ƶ Business News Spotlight, Sundt’s Alex Charland discusses the company’s new Apache Junction manufacturing facility, its commitment to careers in the skilled trades and how employee ownership shapes its approach to building Arizona’s future.

Tell us about Sundt Construction and its footprint in Arizona. 

Alex Charland, president, advanced facilities: Sundt is headquartered in Tempe and has been active in Arizona since 1929. We have built the infrastructure and facilities that help communities and economies grow, from transportation and water treatment systems to mining, advanced manufacturing, data centers and other complex industrial work, just to name a few. 

We are also 100% employee-owned by more than 5,500 employee-owners. That matters because the people planning the work, managing projects and building in the field have a direct stake in Sundt’s long-term success. Our craft professionals, engineers, and support teams are building their own futures alongside the projects they deliver. 

Safety is foundational to that commitment. Sundt is the only company to have earned the Grand Safety Award three times by the Associated General Contractors of America. We see workforce development, employee ownership and safety as connected: We want our people to have the training, opportunity and ownership stake to build a long career and to return home safely every day. 

Sundt recently broke ground on a 65,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Apache Junction. What should Arizonans and the business community know about this project? What role does off-site manufacturing play in supporting Arizona’s construction growth? 

Our new Apache Junction facility is a meaningful investment in Arizona’s industrial future and in the people who will build it. The 65,000-square-foot facility will include manufacturing and fabrication space, engineering and design offices, and a regional employee training center. It is expected to create approximately 100 new jobs in its first phase, with room to expand as demand grows. 

The facility will allow us to manufacture modular components (especially mechanical, electrical, and process, or MEP, systems) for a wide variety of industrial, manufacturing, and infrastructure projects. Off-site manufacturing and fabrication give teams a more controlled environment to produce components with consistency and precision before they arrive at the jobsite. 

That has several benefits. It can reduce traffic and material movement in and out of jobsites, improve schedule reliability, and create safer, more predictable working conditions for our employee-owners. It also creates quality career opportunities closer to home for people in the Apache Junction community. 

Arizona’s economy is growing because companies are investing in advanced manufacturing and industrial production here. Our job is to help provide the facilities and infrastructure that make that growth possible. This facility strengthens our ability to do that while creating jobs, developing skills, and keeping more of that economic activity in Arizona. 

What does being 100% employee-owned mean for Sundt and its employees? 

Employee ownership means that, after meeting a one-year tenure and minimum-hours-worked threshold, every eligible employee can participate in Sundt’s ESOP. It is not reserved for executives, office roles, or a select group of employees. Craft professionals, skilled-trades workers and administrative team members all can become owners. 

That creates a different kind of workplace. Our people are invested in doing work safely, solving problems early, protecting quality and building strong relationships because they are not just working for the company. 

Employee ownership can also reshape retirement outcomes. We have seen people who spent their careers in the skilled trades or in administrative support roles build real retirement security that you don’t see in other structures. That is one reason we believe construction can offer an exceptional career: It is an opportunity to learn a valuable trade, earn a strong living, support a family, and share in the long-term success of the company. 

As an employee-owned business, we can make decisions with a longer view. We are focused on the health of our people, the success of our clients and the communities where we work, not short-term returns for outside investors. 

Sundt has emphasized semiconductor manufacturing expertise and created a dedicated Advanced Facilities Group. What differentiates your team in advanced manufacturing? 

Advanced manufacturing facilities demand a different level of planning, coordination, and execution. These are highly technical environments where precision, process reliability, schedule and safety all matter at once. 

Our teams, including our Advanced Facilities Group, bring together people with deep experience delivering complex industrial systems. We also have robust self-perform MEP capabilities, which gives us more direct control over critical work and helps our teams coordinate complex systems from preconstruction through installation and startup. 

Beyond the manufacturing facilities themselves, one area where our teams have developed significant capability is industrial water and wastewater treatment with a focus on water reuse and recycling. Those systems are essential to the next generation of sustainable semiconductor and advanced manufacturing facilities, and they require a high degree of technical understanding and disciplined project delivery. 

What differentiates Sundt is not simply that we build large facilities. It is that we understand the integrated systems inside them and can bring the right people, processes, and self-perform capability to execute demanding work with fewer handoffs and less uncertainty. Our teams know how to work collaboratively with clients and trade partners to identify issues early, manage risk, and keep projects moving. 

Which innovation tools are having the biggest impact at Sundt, and why is Arizona a strong place for companies to embrace innovation? 

We have embraced AI because construction has many real-world challenges it can help solve when it is supported by clean, reliable data and guided by experienced people. Technology is most useful when it helps our teams make better decisions, improve safety, increase productivity, or see potential problems sooner. 

We are also investing in automation in practical ways. Sundt is partnering with Bedrock Robotics on automated excavators. We have deployed a robotic survey device to regularly walk a major jobsite, and we have piloted semi-autonomous heavy-equipment systems on solar fields. These tools can help improve consistency, capture better jobsite information and allow skilled people to focus their time where their judgment matters most. 

Arizona is a strong place to embrace innovation because it has shown a willingness to welcome and test new technologies. Phoenix was among the cities willing to pilot Waymo alongside San Francisco, and Bedrock Robotics shares roots with that same ecosystem. That openness matters. 

There is a positive feedback loop at work in Arizona. The state’s willingness to support advanced technology companies has helped attract major investment. In turn, those projects have helped cultivate builders, trade partners, and skilled workers capable of delivering some of the country’s most demanding industrial systems. That makes Arizona even more attractive to the next generation of advanced manufacturing and technology companies. There is a reason Semicon is moving permanently to Arizona. 

Why is Arizona a great place to do business, and how does Arizona fit into Sundt’s growth strategy? 

Arizona is home, and it will remain central to our growth strategy. We build across the country, with a focus on fast-growing markets that value collaborative project delivery, but headquarters are here. 

We are active in Arizona across our full range of work, from heavy civil infrastructure to industrial, institutional and commercial projects. We built our training facility and Center for Craft Excellence in Phoenix, we’re underway on our dedicated off-site manufacturing facility in Apache Junction, and we are preparing to expand our headquarters into a full campus in Tempe. 

Those investments reflect confidence in Arizona’s future. The state has a growing economy, an increasingly diverse industrial base and a business community that understands the importance of infrastructure, workforce development, and long-term partnership. Sundt intends to keep investing alongside our fellow Arizonans. 

Recent news has highlighted Sundt’s Apache Junction manufacturing investment, safety recognition, outreach to Pima JTED and ACE Mentor, and acquisition of IPS. What do these milestones say about where Sundt is headed in Arizona? 

Together, these milestones show a future-focused, long-term strategy. We are investing in the capacity, people and partnerships Arizona needs to continue growing. 

Our Apache Junction facility will expand our off-site manufacturing and fabrication capabilities. Our safety recognition reflects a commitment to the wellbeing of the people doing the work. Partnerships with organizations such as Pima JTED and ACE Mentor help introduce young people to construction careers and create pathways into the skilled trades. And our acquisition of IPS strengthens the self-perform electrical and instrumentation capabilities we can bring to increasingly complex work. 

We are also the largest provider of U.S. Department of Labor-registered construction apprenticeships in Arizona, with seven programs offered in English and Spanish through our training campus near downtown Phoenix and community-college partners. Participation has quadrupled over the past two years, and we anticipate that growth to continue. 

That’s the future we are working toward: an Arizona where people can build rewarding careers, businesses can grow with confidence, and the infrastructure and facilities being built today support a thriving state for generations to come. 

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EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin visited Arizona Tuesday to announce proposed approval of Maricopa County Rule 204, an emissions-reduction program intended to help businesses invest and expand while improving air quality.

The announcement followed a roundtable with business leaders and elected officials. Rule 204 would allow qualifying voluntary emissions reductions from nonroad engines and equipment to generate credits that new or expanding major facilities could use to satisfy federal Clean Air Act offset requirements.

Speaking at the announcement, Zeldin praised the county and business community for finding practical ways to support growth while working toward compliance with federal ozone standards.

“They aren’t increasing emissions and they aren’t breaking federal requirements,” he said. “They are finding new innovative ways to work within their circumstances.”

The Arizona ˿����Ƶ of Commerce & Industry welcomed the proposal as an important step toward addressing a longstanding shortage of emissions credits that can constrain economic development.

“This is an important win for cleaner air, economic growth and the kind of practical problem-solving Arizona does best,” ˿����Ƶ President and CEO Danny Seiden said.

Rule 204 would create a financial incentive for owners of equipment such as construction machinery and railroad locomotives to upgrade to cleaner technology. Qualifying reductions could then generate credits for facilities seeking to build or expand.

“For more than a decade, Arizona’s business community has worked to expand the tools available to reduce emissions while giving companies a workable path to invest, expand and create jobs,” Seiden said. “Rule 204 does exactly that: when businesses voluntarily replace older equipment with cleaner technology and achieve real, measurable emissions reductions, those reductions can help make continued economic growth possible.”

Parts of Maricopa County are designated as being in moderate nonattainment of federal ozone standards. Major facilities seeking to build or expand in the affected area must obtain permits and offset increases in emissions.

Under the proposed program, equipment owners that permanently reduce nitrogen oxide or volatile organic compound emissions could trade qualifying reductions as credits to those facilities. EPA said the approach could support industries including high-tech manufacturing and power generation, and that it does not expect the rule to increase emissions in the area.

Maricopa County Board of Supervisors Chair Kate Brophy McGee greeted the announcement with enthusiasm.

“I have been in public service for over 25 years and my dream has come true,” she said, drawing laughter from the audience.

Brophy McGee praised regulators for listening and using incentives, saying Rule 204 could help preserve the county’s quality of life while supporting its economic expansion.

“This plan demonstrates how a healthy environment and growing economy can work together,” she said. “By incentivizing rather than punishing job creators, implementing Maricopa County’s Rule 204 will improve the quality of the air we breathe while enabling key industries to continue investing in our community.”

Supervisor Thomas Galvin called the announcement “a victory for our environment, the economy, and common-sense regulation reform.”

Arizona Commerce Authority President and CEO Sandra Watson said the proposal would strengthen Arizona’s competitiveness and support responsible growth. She credited Gov. Katie Hobbs, Maricopa County and other partners, and recognized Seiden and the ˿����Ƶ for their leadership in advancing the measure.

Seiden also thanked county officials, the governor and federal and state lawmakers from both parties for helping bring the proposal to this point.

“Protecting air quality and maintaining a strong economy do not have to be competing goals, and once again Arizona is showing the rest of the country how smart policy can advance both,” he said.

EPA’s announcement represents proposed approval. The agency said it will hold a 30-day public comment period before taking final action.

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A federal appeals court has left in place a ruling allowing the land exchange tied to the Resolution Copper project to move forward, rejecting a request to reconsider the case. 

The Sept. 29 decision means the Ninth Circuit will not rehear the case after a three-judge panel earlier this year declined to block the exchange. 

The case is part of the long-running legal fight over the proposed Resolution Copper mine in eastern Arizona. 

The project would develop one of the largest untapped copper deposits in the country. the mine could eventually supply up to 25% of U.S. copper demand and support about 3,700 direct and indirect jobs at full production. The company estimates the project could generate up to $61 billion in economic value for Arizona over its operating life.  

Resolution Copper has been in development for more than two decades, with the project moving through federal environmental review, permitting and litigation over the land exchange. The proposed underground mine near Superior is a joint venture between Rio Tinto and BHP. 

Congress authorized the land exchange needed for the project, which involves federal land in the Tonto National Forest. Opponents have challenged the exchange on environmental and religious-freedom grounds, including concerns over Oak Flat, a site sacred to the Western Apache. 

After a three-judge panel declined to block the exchange, opponents asked the Ninth Circuit to reconsider the case. The request failed to win enough support from the court’s active judges. 

Several judges disagreed with that decision. In dissents accompanying the order, they argued that the court should reconsider how federal religious-freedom law applies to the land exchange and its effects on religious practices at Oak Flat.  

Supporters of the project, meanwhile, have argued that its lengthy review and litigation history underscores the need for legal certainty and a clear path forward. 

The Arizona ˿����Ƶ of Commerce & Industry participated in the underlying appeal as an amicus curiae, or friend of the court. 

“This is a significant decision for Resolution Copper and for the broader principle that major projects cannot remain tied up in litigation indefinitely,” said Mike Bailey, general counsel for the Arizona ˿����Ƶ of Commerce & Industry. “This project has been through years of federal review, permitting and court challenges. The Ninth Circuit has now declined another request to revisit the case, and that kind of legal certainty matters when companies are making multibillion-dollar investment decisions that support thousands of jobs and strengthen domestic supply chains.” 

The Sept. 29 order does not necessarily end the litigation, but it closes the door on rehearing the case before the Ninth Circuit. The earlier ruling allowing the land exchange to proceed remains in effect.  

Photo courtesy of Resolution Copper.

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The Arizona Court of Appeals, Division Two has upheld the rejection of two referendum petitions challenging zoning approvals for a proposed Marana data center project, ruling that the petitions failed to meet Arizona’s strict legal requirements for referenda. 

affirms an earlier Pima County Superior Court ruling and leaves the Marana Town Council’s January zoning approvals in place. 

The dispute centered on referendum petitions that were circulated with incomplete copies of the zoning ordinances. 

Arizona law requires referendum petitions challenging zoning decisions to include the full and correct text of the ordinance, along with a legal description of the affected property. Courts have long required strict compliance and construction with those requirements.  

In this case, although still publicly available, the Marana town clerk initially provided referendum organizers with copies of the ordinances that were missing required exhibits containing additional legal descriptions of the properties. Those versions were then used to collect signatures. The town later corrected the omission, but the clerk ultimately rejected the petitions because the documents circulated to voters were incomplete.  

Referendum supporters argued that they had relied on the official documents provided by the town. The Court of Appeals acknowledged the town’s mistake but reiterated that under Arizona law, responsibility for complying with referendum requirements ultimately rests with the proponents circulating the petitions. 

“Regardless of whose mistake leads to a lack of strict compliance with the referendum petition statutes, a referendum petition may not move forward if its proponent fails to strictly comply with the statutory and constitutional provisions,” the court wrote. 

The court also found that the missing exhibits were expressly part of the ordinances themselves and included information about the property rights affected by the zoning changes, including water rights.  

The Arizona ˿����Ƶ of Commerce & Industry participated in the case as an amicus curiae, or friend of the court.  

“This is an important decision for the consistent application of Arizona’s referendum laws,” said Vanessa Pomeroy, chief counsel of the Arizona ˿����Ƶ Legal Center. “The court made clear that strict compliance means strict compliance for referendum petition proponents. Clear, predictable statutory and constitutional requirements are important for voters, communities and businesses alike.” 

The court separately addressed an attempt by the referendum committee to withdraw the petitions after they had been filed. It held that the power to withdraw a petition signature belongs to the individual voter who signed it, not to the committee that collected the signatures.  

For developers and local governments, the ruling adds clarity around the referendum process at a point when land-use challenges can create uncertainty for major development and investment decisions. 

The three-judge panel unanimously affirmed the Superior Court’s judgment in favor of the Town of Marana.  

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As calls for a moratorium on data center development gain traction in Arizona, the Arizona ˿����Ƶ of Commerce & Industry is offering supporters a chance to take that position to its logical conclusion.

The ˿����Ƶ’s new Arizona Offline Pledge asks those calling for a blanket moratorium to also commit to giving up the many everyday technologies and services made possible by data center infrastructure.

“If you’re willing to call for a moratorium on data centers, it stands to reason you’d be willing to give up all the modern conveniences they make possible,” said Arizona ˿����Ƶ Executive Vice President Courtney Coolidge. “So we decided to put together a pledge for anyone who wants to put that position into practice.”

The pledge asks moratorium supporters to commit to going without things like social media, artificial intelligence, streaming services, online banking and digital payments, cloud storage, GPS navigation, video conferencing, telehealth, and other cloud-based services.

Though tongue-in-cheek, the pledge highlights a broader point: data centers support far more than AI. They provide the digital infrastructure behind banking, cybersecurity, health care, logistics, advanced manufacturing, public safety communications, and many of the online services Arizonans use every day.

The ˿����Ƶ argues that Arizona should have serious conversations about where data centers are located, how they’re developed and what responsible growth looks like, but that a blanket moratorium would ignore both the role this infrastructure already plays in daily life and its growing importance to Arizona’s economy.

“Concerns from communities shouldn’t be dismissed, and we aren’t suggesting a data center belongs on every corner,” Coolidge said. “But Arizona has never responded to difficult growth challenges by simply stopping. We solve problems.”

Arizona is already showing what that can look like, from water-efficient technologies to policies designed to ensure large energy users pay the infrastructure costs associated with their growth.

“Arizona has spent decades building a reputation as a state that tackles difficult problems and welcomes innovation,” Coolidge said. “Leadership means addressing legitimate concerns, protecting Arizona families and building responsibly without losing sight of the infrastructure our residents and economy increasingly depend on.”

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The Maricopa County Stadium District has appointed senior business executive Mark Winkleman as Executive Director.

Winkleman will serve as the Stadium District’s CEO and administrative lead – overseeing the organization’s finances and operations, and representing the group with public officials, community stakeholders and the Arizona Diamondbacks. He reports to a 9-member Stadium District Board of Directors that was created as part of legislation signed into law last year by Gov. Katie Hobbs. Chief of among the Stadium District’s responsibilities: managing $500 million worth of tax-funded renovations at Chase Field, home of the Arizona Diamondbacks in downtown Phoenix.

Winkleman called his appointment “an honor,” adding: “My goal is to further the District’s mission by protecting and enhancing this important public asset, providing disciplined and transparent stewardship of public resources, and working collaboratively with the Arizona Diamondbacks. I believe we can successfully modernize Chase Field while maintaining strong accountability to taxpayers and ensuring that the stadium continues to provide long-term value to our community and the State of Arizona.”

Danny Seiden, president & CEO of the Arizona ˿����Ƶ of Commerce & Industry, welcomed Winkleman to the leadership role, and said the Stadium District has a vital mission to ensure Chase Field remains an essential community asset and landmark.

“Arizona loves the Diamondbacks, and the business community has worked hard to ensure they continue to have a great home right here in downtown Phoenix,” Seiden said. “I can’t wait to see the results as the Diamondbacks and Maricopa County Stadium District modernize Chase Field for the millions of people who visit this beautiful facility every year.’

Winkleman brings to the position more than four decades of executive, public-sector, real estate, legal and governance experience. He’s the founder and President of MGS Realty Partners, Inc., through which he has advised boards, investors and family offices on real estate strategy, governance, acquisitions, financing, redevelopment and asset management. Earlier, Winkleman served as Arizona State Land Commissioner, a role in which he led the Arizona State Land Department and managed State Trust land totaling 9.3 million acres.

“More than 500 people applied for this position, and Mark’s experience in leading both private and public organizations set him apart from the other candidates” said Board Chairman John Graham. “The Board is pleased to have such an experienced and qualified individual to be our chief executive.”

Winkleman, who earned his business degree from the University of Kansas and law degree from the University of Virginia, has held numerous Arizona civic and nonprofit leadership positions. He is former chairman of ULI Arizona, the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy and Valley Partnership, and served on boards of directors for the City of Phoenix Industrial Development Authority and Arizona State Parks.

Photo courtesy: “” by ,

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A delegation of Missouri state lawmakers and business leaders visited Arizona last week for a policy exchange focused on economic development, emerging technologies, and regulatory strategy, hosted by the Arizona ˿����Ƶ of Commerce & Industry and the Goldwater Institute.

The visit drew a cross-section of Arizona’s legislative leadership, including House Speaker Steve Montenegro, Majority Leader Michael Carbone, and several members focused on Arizona’s technology and economic development agenda. Representatives from the Arizona Commerce Authority also participated.

Discussions centered on the policy decisions and public-private partnerships that have helped Arizona build a competitive footprint in advanced manufacturing, semiconductors, aerospace, autonomous systems, and emerging technologies.

“Arizona’s growth didn’t happen by accident,” said Courtney Coolidge, executive vice president of the Arizona ˿����Ƶ. “It reflects deliberate policy choices that prioritize certainty, competitiveness, and a regulatory environment where businesses can invest, innovate, and scale. We were glad to share what’s working with leaders from Missouri.”

The exchange comes as the Arizona ˿����Ƶ has been pressing a broader push on digital economy policy, including its recently launched , which aims to strengthen the state’s position in artificial intelligence and emerging technology sectors.

Arizona’s legislative leaders framed the state’s approach as deliberate and long-term. “Arizona has made a conscious decision to lead on innovation rather than wait for other states to set the pace,” said Speaker Montenegro. “That kind of alignment and forward-looking policy environment allows industries to grow and scale here.”

Majority Leader Carbone pointed to the fundamentals underpinning that growth. “Arizona’s success in attracting major investment is tied directly to our focus on advanced manufacturing, infrastructure, and supply chain strength,” he said. “Those fundamentals are critical to sustaining long-term economic momentum.”

Regulatory predictability came up consistently as a deciding factor for businesses. “Companies are looking for certainty,” said Rep. Weninger. “Arizona’s predictable regulatory environment and competitive tax structure give businesses the confidence to invest and expand.”

Sen. T.J. Shope emphasized that the state has worked to distribute economic development beyond major metro areas. “We’ve been intentional about making sure economic development isn’t concentrated in one region,” he said. “Infrastructure, water, and land use policies all play a role in supporting growth across Arizona, including in rural communities.”

“Arizona continues to attract new and emerging industries by staying focused on innovation and targeted economic development,” said Sen. Carroll. “That approach is helping position the state for the next phase of economic expansion.”

Rep. Wilmeth echoed that, pointing to Arizona’s light-touch approach to emerging technology regulation as a competitive differentiator. “We’ve taken a thoughtful approach to emerging technologies by avoiding premature regulation,” he said. “That flexibility allows innovation to develop while still ensuring appropriate oversight.”

The discussion also explored how elements of Arizona’s policy framework could be adapted in other states and how cross-state collaboration might strengthen the broader U.S. economy.

Victor Riches, president and CEO of the Goldwater Institute, framed the stakes broadly. “As emerging technologies continue to reshape industries, policy certainty and deregulation matter more than ever,” he said. “Arizona needs to ensure an environment where innovation can move forward.” The Missouri delegation included state Sens. Travis Fitzwater, Maggie Nurrenbern, Karla May, Barbara Anne Washington, and Jamie Burger, along with a policy adviser to Gov. Kehoe and representatives from the .

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The state House Commerce Committee on Tuesday advanced HB 4026, legislation sponsored by Rep. Michael Carbone (R-Buckeye) that modernizes and strengthens a public infrastructure tool that has helped make Arizona a national leader in advanced manufacturing investment.

The bill, supported by the Arizona ˿����Ƶ of Commerce & Industry, the Arizona Manufacturers Council, and a broad coalition of business and community leaders, ensures that Arizona communities have the infrastructure capacity necessary to compete for high-wage manufacturing projects.

Modernizing a proven program

Arizona’s Public Infrastructure Program was established in 2012 and has since helped secure billions of dollars in private capital investment, positioning the state as the nation’s leader in semiconductor manufacturing investment.

The program allows cities, towns, and counties to recapture a portion of construction-related state sales tax revenues generated directly by a qualifying manufacturing project and reinvest those dollars into public infrastructure improvements — including roads, water, wastewater, and reclamation systems — that support both the facility and the broader community.

During committee testimony, advocates pointed out that the program does not create new taxes and instead reinvests tax revenue generated by the project itself into infrastructure that makes the investment possible.

Addressing a critical cap

Under current law, total distributions under the program statewide are subject to a $200 million lifetime cap. But as supporters pointed out in the hearing, the arbitrary cap is rapidly being reached, putting current and future public infrastructure projects at risk of being underfunded and limiting Arizona’s ability to compete for the next generation of mega-projects.

“This program has worked in helping cities build the infrastructure they need to support these massive projects,” Arizona ˿����Ƶ Executive Vice President Courtney Coolidge said. “We don’t win these projects every day, but when we do, they’re a huge benefit to the entire state, supporting jobs, tax revenue, and small business.”

The legislation replaces the lifetime cap with a $75 million annual cap, providing predictable, statewide access to the program. The bill also clarifies that payments are limited to the lesser of the state transaction privilege tax revenues generated from construction of the facility or 80% of the public infrastructure cost.

Queen Creek Mayor Julia Wheatley told committee members the program was essential to her town’s ability to attract a huge LG Energy investment on a former state land trust plot.

“In order to build on that barren state trust land, the town needed to build supporting public infrastructure,” she said. “Building the infrastructure from scratch was a very costly endeavor for the town and we needed to utilize the public infrastructure program to help us recapture some of the $84 million in public investment from revenues generated as a result of LG’s own state construction sales tax dollars.”

Strengthening accountability and transparency

HB 4026 enhances oversight by requiring a detailed analysis of the anticipated direct and indirect revenues the state will receive as a result of constructing the manufacturing facility, which must be provided to the Arizona Commerce Authority.

The bill also requires development and intergovernmental agreements entered into under the program to be posted publicly on the Department of Revenue’s website, further reinforcing transparency.

Supporting high-wage jobs, long-term growth

Greater Phoenix Economic Council Vice President Tim Bourcet said that as Arizona competes nationally and globally to attract advanced manufacturing projects, particularly in semiconductors and other high-tech sectors, infrastructure readiness is often the deciding factor.

“The public infrastructure reimbursement program has been vital to the advanced manufacturing industry,” he said, pointing out that the program has played in role in investments by companies like TSMC and Amkor, in addition to the LG project in Queen Creek. “Modernization is now a necessity to continue to be the number one destination for advanced manufacturing in the United States.”

By modernizing the distribution cap while maintaining strong accountability measures, HB 4026 ensures that Arizona has the policy tools to remain competitive in the race to onshore advanced manufacturing.

The bill now advances to the Rules Committee and to reviews by each party’s caucus and then to a vote of the full House. Assuming passage, the bill will repeat the process in the state Senate in the coming weeks.

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Arizona is welcoming back a powerhouse in commercial real estate and public policy leadership.

Cheryl Lombard, a well-known figure in both state and national policy circles, has been named the new CEO of NAIOP Arizona, the state’s leading organization for commercial real estate development and advocacy. According to NAIOP’s announcement last Thursday, Lombard will officially take the helm on September 1, 2025.

The move marks a homecoming for Lombard, who previously served as president and CEO of Valley Partnership. During her tenure, she became a key voice in shaping Arizona’s water, transportation, and land use policy—building coalitions, influencing legislation, and navigating high-stakes regulatory debates. Her return is seen as a major win for the Grand Canyon State’s commercial real estate industry and the broader business community.

“I’m thrilled to return to Arizona and lead NAIOP at such a pivotal time for our state,” Lombard said. “As Arizona experiences dynamic growth and change, it’s critical that our industry not only has a seat at the table—but leads the conversation—on key issues like energy, water, and permitting. NAIOP Arizona has built a strong reputation for advocacy and impact, and I look forward to expanding that influence, strengthening our presence across all levels of government, and advancing policies that drive Arizona’s economic success.”

Lombard most recently served as senior program director for power, infrastructure, and minerals at ClearPath, a Washington, D.C.-based energy think tank. There, she led major policy work around clean energy, transmission, and permitting reform—placing her at the forefront of national conversations about growth, innovation, and climate strategy.

Her leadership now returns to Arizona, as NAIOP prepares to expand its influence and sharpen its mission amid rapid commercial growth across the state.

NAIOP Arizona represents more than 1,100 members across office, industrial, multifamily, retail, and mixed-use development. The organization has played a critical role in shaping legislation and advancing priorities from construction defect reform to EPA compliance and infrastructure investment.

“On behalf of the board of directors, staff, membership, and our sponsors, we could not be more thrilled to welcome Cheryl to lead NAIOPAZ,” said Phil Breidenbach, board chair and senior executive vice president at Colliers. “Cheryl’s experience, energy, and passion for key issues impacting commercial real estate align strongly with NAIOPAZ’s mission and the goals of our members. Her leadership is what NAIOP needs to advance our chapter, our sponsors’ agendas, and our industry as a whole.”

As CEO, Lombard will lead the chapter’s long-range strategic plan, expand sponsorship engagement, and serve as NAIOP Arizona’s primary liaison with business leaders, policymakers, and economic development groups.

She succeeds Suzanne Kinney, who helped elevate the organization’s visibility and reach over the past several years.

“Suzanne Kinney has been a tremendous leader for Arizona’s business community and a valued voice on the ˿����Ƶ’s board of directors. Her steady hand and strategic vision helped elevate NAIOP Arizona during a period of major growth and policy challenges,” said Danny Seiden, president and CEO of the Arizona ˿����Ƶ of Commerce & Industry. “We’re thrilled to welcome Cheryl Lombard back to Arizona. Her deep expertise and policy acumen make her the ideal person to carry NAIOP’s momentum forward and help drive Arizona’s continued economic success.”

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This column by Arizona ˿����Ƶ 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 — whose tracks helped transform Arizona in the late 1800s — BNSF is looking ahead to help ensure the state’s 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’s 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’s 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’ll lose jobs. People will stop coming. Our population will shrink. Our economy will stagnate. Achieving the president’s goal of building a resilient domestic manufacturing supply chain will become more difficult.

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

The ˿����Ƶ 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’s success stems from its embrace of opportunity, innovation and responsible growth.

We can’t let critics divert attention from what’s working. Arizona’s progress isn’t a problem to solve — it’s a model of how pro-growth policies drive broad-based success. Shutting out new jobs and residents won’t protect what makes Arizona unique; it will weaken it.

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

Danny Seiden is the president and CEO of the Arizona ˿����Ƶ of Commerce & Industry.

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