The Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA), founded in Phoenix, Arizona in 2011, is the state’s primary economic development organization that aims to grow and strengthen Arizona’s economy through recruitment, growth, and creation. The ACA is overseen by a public-private sector board comprised of Arizona leaders in business and policy. The board is overseen by Arizona Governor Doug Ducey, and co-chaired by Brian Mueller, President and CEO of Grand Canyon University. They are joined by a group of prestigious private-sector business leaders, elected officials, and university presidents.
The organization works with around 1,000 companies a year on various projects ranging in industries including aerospace and defense, technology and innovation, manufacturing, bioscience and healthcare, and business and financial services.
They assist businesses through programs involving talent and training, rural economic development, international trade, and location and site assistance.
Chris Kontz, Director of IT and CIO of the Arizona Commerce Authority, has been with the organization since 2002 when it was the Arizona Department of Commerce, before becoming the Arizona Commerce Authority in 2011.
Nextiva is a local company, the feature set is similar to other companies, and Nextiva’s pricing was better for us. I like the way the administration side of things works, and Nextiva’s customer support.
“We have three approaches we use to advance the economy,” Kontz said.
“We recruit out-of-state companies to expand operations in Arizona, work with existing companies to grow their business in Arizona and beyond, and partner with entrepreneurs and companies of all sizes to create new jobs and businesses in certain industries we focus on.”
In 2017, they engaged with more than 1,000 companies in the target areas of attraction, expansion, creation, and financial programs.
The Arizona Commerce Authority had a contract with a local telecommunications company that used a third-party VoIP provider for phone service.