Arizona added enough residents in the 12 months ending July 1 to rank its growth the fifth highest in the nation.

I must admit, I was very excited when I read the headline that Maricopa County is the fastest-growing county in the nation. It’s not because more is always better; it’s because people from across the country are learning what I’ve known since I was a little boy wandering around my family’s car dealership in Mesa. Maricopa County is a uniquely special place to raise a family, run a business and live a quality life.

Maricopa County added more people last year than any other county in the nation, but it was neighboring Pinal County that posted the fastest growth rate in the state, a beneficiary of overflow from its neighbor to the north.

Gov. Doug Ducey and myriad pro-business lawmakers are our strong partners in increasing growth, strengthening competitiveness and continuing the success of Arizona’s business community.

The state’s jobless rate ticked up one-tenth of a point last month, to 7.0 percent, amid lackluster overall growth of jobs in the private sector and sharp but seasonally expected declines in employment in public education.

All eyes on Arizona as formal energy hearings begin

At the heart of Arizona’s battle over solar net metering systems is whether utilities can balance solar energy with the cost of maintaining the grid that delivers electricity to all users.

Arizona is poised to end fiscal 2013 in a better position than anticipated.

Almost half of female business owners surveyed in Arizona expect their companies to grow over the next five years, according to a report released March 8.

The state posted another robust growth in revenue last month, another sign that the economy is getting healthier. Year-to-date, revenues are 6.7 percent higher, according to a report from the Joint Legislative Budget Committee.

Economists and budget analysts are cautiously optimistic about state revenues during the next few years, forecasting a modest growth of 2.9 percent this year and 4.9 percent next year. They also confirmed that the state has raised enough money to wipe out last year’s