Current News

Support Scottsdale businesses this Small Business Saturday

Small Business Saturday is Nov. 29, a day dedicated to celebrating and supporting small, locally owned businesses.

When you shop and dine in Scottsdale, your dollars recirculate in the community, supporting jobs, services and reinvestment that fuel future growth.

Small businesses make up the majority of Scottsdale’s business community and are key drivers of innovation and employment. Scottsdale was recently ranked the No. 1 city in the nation for small-business friendliness, reflecting the strength and resilience of its local entrepreneurs.

This holiday season, make Scottsdale your destination for shopping small and supporting the businesses that keep our economy strong.

Fuel your innovation: Arizona’s FAST Grant Program now open

The Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) in partnership with the Small Business Administration is now accepting applications for the Arizona FAST Grant, a competitive funding opportunity designed to support technology-driven small businesses as they pursue federally funded research and innovation awards.

Eligible businesses may receive up to $3,000 each, with six awards granted in this round. Applications are open through Monday, Nov. 24; firms must be organized for profit, have no more than 500 employees, and match the federal SBIR/STTR eligibility criteria.

Scottsdale strengthens food security through new partnerships

Scottsdale is enhancing food assistance programs s through collaborations with nonprofit, health-care and regional food-agency partners. Recent improvements include additional weekly food-distribution sites and a refrigerated truck upgrade that allows the Scottsdale Food Bank to deliver more fresh items safely.

For businesses and residents who wish to contribute, Scottsdale Food Bank is currently seeking volunteers, especially those able to assist with grocery pickups using the new refrigerated truck. Additionally, the Food Bank is updating its Amazon Wish List to reflect current donation needs.

Arizona Commerce Authority opens call for events for inaugural Arizona Tech Week

The Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) is now accepting submissions for events to be part of the state’s first-ever Arizona Tech Week, set for April 6–12, 2026.

The decentralized, statewide tech conference will spotlight Arizona’s growing innovation economy, from AI and semiconductors to renewable energy and automated vehicles. 

Three featured events are being announced for Arizona Tech Week:

• On April 7, Plug and Play accelerateAZ will host an Innovation Expo;
• On April 7, Moonshot will host the Moonshot Tech Innovation With An Altitude event in Flagstaff;
• On April 9, Venture Madness will host its annual pitch competition.

Once the Arizona Tech Week event calendar is published in February 2026, attendees will be able to view and sort events based on topic of interest, date, and location. Attendees will have the opportunity to attend many events by visiting the ACA’s Arizona Tech Week website.