CEO Guide to Site Selection

Arizona

GRAND OPPORTUNITIES

Surveys consistently rank the Grand Canyon State as a top destination for new business investments. Arizona made one of the biggest leaps in the Chief Executive Best & Worst States for Business rankings, moving from #10 in 2021 to #4 in 2022. CEOs praise the state for its favorable business climate, quality of life and strong talent pool. Top growing industries here include semiconductors, electric vehicles, batteries and medical technology. Starting in 2023, the state also implement- ed a 2.5% flat tax, the lowest flat tax in the nation. The move will result in a 13% income tax reduction for the average taxpayer, saving more than $350 per year.

“I’m pleased to announce my full administration transition team made up of public service, business, labor and advocacy leaders from both sides of the aisle. I look forward to working with these outstanding local leaders as we build an administration that works for all Arizonans.”
Katie Hobbs
Governor

TAXES

0 %

top corporate income tax

# 0

on the Tax Foundation’s State Business Tax Climate Index ranking

EDUCATION

0 %

of adults 25 years of age and older graduated high school

0 %

of adults age 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or higher

UNEMPLOYMENT RATE

0 %

RIGHT TO WORK STATE

Yes

QUALITY OF LIFE

# 0

POPULATION GROWTH

0 %

increase between 2010 and 2020

KEY INCENTIVES

Sales Tax Exemptions for Manufacturing: Exemptions are available for machinery or equipment used directly in manufacturing, machinery and equipment or transmission lines used directly in producing or transmitting electrical power.

The Qualified Facility Tax Credit: Offers a refundable tax credit that promotes the location and expansion

of headquarters facilities or manufacturing facilities, including manufacturing-related R&D.

The Quality Jobs Tax Credit: Offers up to $9,000 of Arizona income or premium tax credits spread over a three-year period for each net new qualifying job ($3,000 per year).

EDCs

Arizona Commerce Authority
azcommerce.com

Greater Phoenix Chamber
phoenixchamber.com/economic-development

Sun Corridor Inc.
suncorridorinc.com

Arizona Regional Economic Development Foundation
aredf.org

HIGHLIGHTED PROGRAM OR INITIATIVE

Every year, Arizona holds the Arizona Innovation Challenge, one of the largest business plan competitions in the country. The goal is to advance innovation and technology commercialization opportunities in the state by helping early-stage ventures to scale. Companies that get through the three stages get to move into the Venture Ready Accelerator, where they can receive up to $150,000 in non-dilutive funding.

BIG DEALS

  • Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) announced in December plans to open a second semiconductor chip plant in the state, bringing its total investment there to $40 billion.
  • Nestlé USA announced in March 2022 a $675 million investment and 350 new jobs at a beverage facility in Glendale.
  • LG Energy Solution, a battery producer, announced in April 2022 it will build a $1.4 billion manufacturing facility and create 2,800 jobs in Queen Creek.
  • Satellite communications company Viasat announced in May 2022 it will expand to Tempe and create 1,500 jobs.
  • Enviro-Log Company announced in July 2022 a new facility and 50 jobs in Glendale.
  • Corning Incorporated announced in August 2022 a cable manufacturing facility and 250 new jobs in Gilbert.
  • Nucor announced in August 2022 a $100 million expansion and 140 new jobs in Kingman.
  • Taiwan-based Chang Chun broke ground in October 2022 on a $300 million manufacturing facility that will create more than 200 jobs.
  • Vantage Data Centers announced in October 2022 a $1.5 billion expansion at its Goodyear campus.

BIG COMPANIES

8 Fortune 500 companies headquartered in the state, including:

  • Freeport-McMoRan Avnet
  • Carvana Republic Services
  • Insight Enterprises
  • Taylor Morrison Home
  • Onsemi Semiconductor

No 13: Arizona

No. 13

Arizona

Taxation and Regulations
Workforce Quality
Living Environment

Based on CEO Survey by ChiefExecutive.net

Key Metrics
Taxation and Regulations

  • State Corporate Income Tax Rate: 6.97%
  • Highest Personal Income Tax Rate: 4.54%

Workforce Quality

  • % with High School diploma or more: 83.8
  • % with Bachelor’s degree or more: 25.1
  • % with Advanced degree or more: 9.2
  • Patents per 100K: 29.96
  • % of Employed Represented by Unions: 8.1

Quality of Life

  • Hopsitals per 10K: 0.103
  • Elementary/Secondary Schools per 1000 people: 0.342
  • Violent Crimes per 100K: 468.71
Key Companies
  • Freeport-McMoran
  • Avnet
  • Republic Services
Other Highlights
  • Arizona fell to #11 in 2010 to #13 — the state took #8 in 2009
  • Arizona ranks 42nd in state debt per capita with $1882

Sources:
TaxFoundation.org
Statemaster.com
Bureau of Labor Statistics
U.S. Census Bureau
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
The National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education


Roundtable

Strategic Planning Workshop

1:00 - 5:00 pm

Over 70% of Executives Surveyed Agree: Many Strategic Planning Efforts Lack Systematic Approach Tips for Enhancing Your Strategic Planning Process

Executives expressed frustration with their current strategic planning process. Issues include:

  1. Lack of systematic approach (70%)
  2. Laundry lists without prioritization (68%)
  3. Decisions based on personalities rather than facts and information (65%)

 

Steve Rutan and Denise Harrison have put together an afternoon workshop that will provide the tools you need to address these concerns.  They have worked with hundreds of executives to develop a systematic approach that will enable your team to make better decisions during strategic planning.  Steve and Denise will walk you through exercises for prioritizing your lists and steps that will reset and reinvigorate your process.  This will be a hands-on workshop that will enable you to think about your business as you use the tools that are being presented.  If you are ready for a Strategic Planning tune-up, select this workshop in your registration form.  The additional fee of $695 will be added to your total.

To sign up, select this option in your registration form. Additional fee of $695 will be added to your total.

New York, NY: ​​​Chief Executive's Corporate Citizenship Awards 2017

Women in Leadership Seminar and Peer Discussion

2:00 - 5:00 pm

Female leaders face the same issues all leaders do, but they often face additional challenges too. In this peer session, we will facilitate a discussion of best practices and how to overcome common barriers to help women leaders be more effective within and outside their organizations. 

Limited space available.

To sign up, select this option in your registration form. Additional fee of $495 will be added to your total.

Golf Outing

10:30 - 5:00 pm
General’s Retreat at Hermitage Golf Course
Sponsored by UBS

General’s Retreat, built in 1986 with architect Gary Roger Baird, has been voted the “Best Golf Course in Nashville” and is a “must play” when visiting the Nashville, Tennessee area. With the beautiful setting along the Cumberland River, golfers of all capabilities will thoroughly enjoy the golf, scenery and hospitality.

The golf outing fee includes transportation to and from the hotel, greens/cart fees, use of practice facilities, and boxed lunch. The bus will leave the hotel at 10:30 am for a noon shotgun start and return to the hotel after the cocktail reception following the completion of the round.

To sign up, select this option in your registration form. Additional fee of $295 will be added to your total.