By Kyle Backer | AZRE
Pinal County borders Arizona’s top two most populous counties — Maricopa County and Pima County, respectively — but is growing rapidly, attracting both people and businesses. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Pinal County’s population has grown approximately 23.5% since 2010, approaching half a million residents.
AZRE sat down with James Smith, director of economic and workforce development for Pinal County, to discuss why this tract of Central Arizona is experiencing a boom in economic activity.
AZRE: You’ve been leading economic development efforts in Pinal County since late 2021, having worked in similar roles for Chandler and Fountain Hills. What have you learned about the economic development in the county since you started?
JAMES SMITH: People are realizing that Pinal County is a great place to do business thanks to a strong workforce and a strategic location between California, Texas, Phoenix, Tucson and Mexico. We’ve got communities that are eager to grow their economies and support these businesses, along with a supportive Board of Supervisors that is constantly looking for ways that we can be of assistance to make sure we’re competitive. There are so many people pulling in the same direction, and we’re seeing the fruits of that.
“Pinal is a great place to live, work and play. We have been a positive part of its growth over the last many decades.” -Jordan Rose, President and Founder of Rose Law Group.
