Regional Review: Southwest Region a Top-Ranked Global Destination for Business

Beth Mattson-Teig (Location USA / April 2013)

The Southwest region does a stellar job of producing something that every state in the country wants desperately — job growth. Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas have generated nearly 357,000 new jobs over the past 12 months. Texas is responsible for producing the lion's share of those new jobs. More

Powerful Trends: Public Power Utilities Meet the Reliability, Cost, And Service Needs Of Demanding Customers

Steve Stackhouse (Q1 / Winter 2013)

By offering great rates, reliable service, energy-efficiency measures, and attentive service, public power companies are creating a win-win situation for their customers as well as the communities they serve. More

Tax Rates, Exemptions, & Incentives: States Up their Game to Close Deals

Mark Crawford (November 2012)

Tax rates, incentives, and exemptions have always been important to corporate site selectors. These factors were rated fourth, fifth, and eighth, respectively, among the site selection criteria by the respondents to Area Development’s 26th Annual Corporate Survey (published Winter 2012), more than 80 percent of whom rated them as “very important” or “important.” More

Regional Review: Southwest States Deliver Job Growth

Beth Mattson-Teig (August 2012)

Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas have generated nearly 280,000 new jobs over the past 12 months. Texas is responsible for producing the lion's share of those new jobs. More

2012 Gold & Silver Shovel Awards: Recognizing Excellence in U.S. State Economic Development and Job Creation

Area Development Magazine Special Presentation (Summer 2012)

Texas, Tennessee, South Carolina, and Utah are being awarded Gold Shovels. These states' innovative economic development policies attracted new employers in 2011, as well as catalyzing investments in facility and operating expansions by existing local businesses, driving significant in-state job growth. More

Arizona Basic Business Taxes 2012

Area Development Online News Desk (2012)

Arizona's economic development, finance and tax organizations provide a range of incentive programs to initiate new business and commercial investment. Specific programs include no corporate franchise tax, no business inventory tax, no income tax on dividends from out-of-state subsidiaries, and no worldwide unitary tax. More

Arizona Direct Financial Incentives 2012

Area Development Online Research Desk (2012)

Arizona's economic development, finance and tax organizations provide a range of incentive programs to initiate new business and commercial investment. Specific programs include the Renewable Energy Tax Incentive Program and the Arizona Job Training Program. More

Solar Panel Manufacturers Retrofitting Empty Warehouses

John K. Borchardt (2012 Directory)

Solar panel manufacturers are taking advantage of empty warehouse buildings leftover from the recession to reduce the cost of opening additional production facilities. More

ARIZONA at a glance

POPULATION:6,482,505

LABOR FORCE: 3,006,900

RIGHT TO WORK: Yes

TRADITIONAL INDUSTRIES:High-tech manufacturing (semiconductor and aerospace), software and information industries

EXPANDING INDUSTRIES: Renewable energy, high-technology manufacturing, bioindustry, environmental technology, optics, plastics and advanced composites

COLLEGE GRADUATES: (Age 25 and over) 26.6%

BASIC BUSINESS TAXES:
Corporate Income Tax: 6.968 percent

State Level Sales Tax: 6.6 percent (different city and county taxes may apply)

Personal Income Tax: 2.59-4.54 percent

Arizona has no corporate franchise tax, no business inventory tax, and no worldwide unitary tax; virtually all professional and personal services are exempt from transaction privilege (sales) tax; Arizona allows a subtraction from income for dividends from controlled subsidiaries, allows an NOL to be carried forward for five subsequent taxable years, and has aggressive accelerated depreciation schedules for personal property.

BUSINESS INCENTIVES:
Renewable Energy Tax Incentive Program

Solar Energy Tax Incentive Program

Arizona Innovation Accelerator Program

Arizona Job Training Program

Arizona Innovation Challenge

Arizona Fast Grant

SBIR/STTR Proposal Training

Solar Liquid Fuel Tax Credit

Quality Jobs

Qualified Facilities Program

Renewable Energy Production Tax Credit

Foreign-trade zones