Office of Economic Opportunity - OEO

Office of Economic Opportunity - OEO Arizona state agency with a mission to strengthen Arizona’s workforce and economy.

🚜 The Arizona Finance Authority (AFA) today announced they are now accepting loan applications for their new Brownfields...
08/03/2026

🚜 The Arizona Finance Authority (AFA) today announced they are now accepting loan applications for their new Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund Program (BF-RLF), designated for projects focused on cleanup activities for environmentally contaminated sites. Funding for the program has been provided through a $1 million grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

A brownfield site is a property where redevelopment or reuse is complicated by the presence—or potential presence—of hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants. The remediation and cleaning of brownfield sites and preparing them for safe redevelopment is instrumental in protecting public health from potential hazardous material exposure as well as protecting the environment surrounding the site.

To learn more about the BF-RLF program, determine project eligibility, and access the application to apply for receiving funding from the BF-RLF, please visit https://afa.az.gov/brownfields.

06/08/2026

Tomorrow is the day! The 2026 Arizona Workforce Summit opens its doors at the Mesa Convention Center and the energy is building. 🎉

Over the next two days, workforce leaders, industry partners, educators and policymakers come together to tackle Arizona's most pressing workforce challenges head on. From artificial intelligence and industry transformation to place-based solutions and education-to-employment pathways, every session is designed to deliver real insight and real strategies for helping more Arizonans train for and connect to quality jobs.

OEO will preview two new reports coming this summer including a new report on AI's impact on Arizona's workforce, research that will help shape how Arizona responds to a rapidly changing economy.

Watch the video below from OEO Director Mary Foote's recent appearance on Your Life Arizona sharing information on what attendees can expect at the Arizona Workforce Summit this week. And follow the hashtag for real-time updates from the presentation hall!

PLEASE NOTE: This event is sold out, so if you have a change of plans and can no longer attend, please contact [email protected] so we can offer your spot to someone on our waitlist. Thank you.

Arizona's April employment report is highlighted by positive private sector growth, rebounding wages, and strong year-ov...
05/21/2026

Arizona's April employment report is highlighted by positive private sector growth, rebounding wages, and strong year-over-year performance in several industries.

Highlights include:

Private Sector Growth: The private sector recorded a month-over-month gain of 13,100 jobs in April, led by gains in Professional & Business Services (5,400 jobs) and Health Care and Social Assistance (4,600 jobs). Additional top gaining industries were Government, Leisure & Hospitality, Information, and Trade, Transportation & Utilities.

Year-over-year Arizona NSA nonfarm employment increased by 7,700 jobs or 0.2% in April.

Unemployment percentage held steady from the March report at 4.7%.

Read the full report here: https://oeo.az.gov/news/arizona-employment-report.

05/14/2026

In this new episode of Let's Talk Business Phoenix, Mary Foote, Director of Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity - OEO, shares her career path and a clear-eyed read on where Arizona’s economy stands heading into 2026.

She breaks down the indicators that best reflect real business conditions—jobs, labor force, participation, wages, openings, and new business formation—and what employers are reporting most often, from hiring constraints to cost pressures and uncertainty.

Listen now! 🎧
YouTube: https://youtu.be/OL5CL4Kad7I
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lets-talk-business-phoenix/id1645628809
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7qZVOx5qCoqONwRehHKRrg

The Office of Economic Opportunity would like to extend a warm welcome to the newest members of our Economic Analysis Te...
05/13/2026

The Office of Economic Opportunity would like to extend a warm welcome to the newest members of our Economic Analysis Team -- Caroline Stevens as our new Research Administrator and Mike McCartor as Economist III.

Caroline grew up in Tallahassee, Florida, where she attended Florida State University and built a strong foundation in economics, research, and data analysis. She earned her Master’s degree in Applied Economics in 2023, developing expertise in economic forecasting, policy analysis, and applied research. Caroline is excited to bring her research expertise and analytical skills to the Office of Economic Opportunity, where she looks forward to collaborating with colleagues across the organization and supporting impactful economic initiatives. Outside of work, Caroline enjoys playing sports with friends and baking.

Mike brings a wealth of experience to the agency, having spent the last five years working in analytics. He is a 2020 graduate of Arizona State University with a degree in Economics, and we look forward to the insights and expertise he will bring to our upcoming projects. Originally from just outside of Seattle, Washington, Mike stays busy keeping up with his two sons and giving back to the community by coaching both baseball and football. In his free time, you might find him working on cars or exploring the natural beauty of our state and national parks.

Please join us in welcoming Caroline and Mike to the OEO team!

It’s National Small Business Week—a perfect moment to recognize the impact of Arizona's micro and small businesses. OEO ...
05/08/2026

It’s National Small Business Week—a perfect moment to recognize the impact of Arizona's micro and small businesses.

OEO celebrates the contributions of these businesses, and is proud to support their growth through innovative initiatives like our Microbusiness Loan Program, which creates access to much needed capital designed to help these businesses grow and continue to foster economic growth and job creation.

From fueling local economies to creating meaningful jobs and fostering community pride, small businesses are essential to thriving neighborhoods and communities. Every purchase, partnership, and recommendation helps them continue to grow, facilitating economic development and job creation throughout the state.

Help recognize and support small businesses this week and beyond!

Registration is now open for the 2026 Arizona Workforce Summit: Connecting Today's Skills to Tomorrow's Opportunities! 🎉...
05/01/2026

Registration is now open for the 2026 Arizona Workforce Summit: Connecting Today's Skills to Tomorrow's Opportunities! 🎉

Hosted by the Governor's Workforce Arizona Council and the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity, this free two-day event takes place June 9-10 at the Mesa Convention Center.

This year's summit brings together workforce leaders, industry partners, educators and policymakers to tackle Arizona's most urgent workforce challenges head on.

The 2026 summit also features the inaugural Champions of the Workforce Recognition Luncheon, celebrating the individuals, organizations and programs making a real difference for Arizona workers.

Register now and we'll see you in June! 👇
https://oeo.az.gov/aws

The Office of Economic Opportunity is hiring! We're looking for new team members to join OEO and implement the Rural Hea...
04/23/2026

The Office of Economic Opportunity is hiring! We're looking for new team members to join OEO and implement the Rural Health Workforce Development and Training Program in partnership with AHCCCS, under the guidance of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS). The following roles are now open: Communications Manager, Grants Manager, Cloud Network Engineer, Program Administrator, Program Coordinator (2) and Grants Coordinator (2) positions to help transform health care opportunities for Arizonans residing in rural towns and communities. Please read the job descriptions and apply at https://tinyurl.com/OEOcareers. Thank you!

On Friday, April 17, the Office of Governor Hobbs announced the community partners selected to implement the Bright Futu...
04/20/2026

On Friday, April 17, the Office of Governor Hobbs announced the community partners selected to implement the Bright Futures AZ initiative, the Governor's Office initiative which provides tools and funding to expand access and increase affordability for child care services throughout the state. Four Arizona Microbusiness Loan Program lenders - CIC Tucson, Hustle PHX, Border Financial Resources, and Microcare Community Development Solutions - were named as Bright Futures AZ partners, launching programs designed to connect with Arizona's child care providers that help facilitate access to vital capital through outreach campaigns, financial education and "loan readiness" coaching.

Read the Governor's Office press release at https://azgovernor.gov/office-arizona-governor/news/2026/04/governor-katie-hobbs-announces-new-funding-and-tools-expand.

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