Report on the Launch of the Arizona Small Business Growth Coalition (SBGC)

Executive Summary

On July 23, 2025, the Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) and state business leaders announced the formation of the Arizona Small Business Growth Coalition (SBGC). This statewide alliance is designed to enhance Arizona’s economic vitality by supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The coalition’s objectives are directly aligned with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), primarily focusing on fostering economic growth, promoting innovation, reducing inequalities, and building strong partnerships.

Coalition Overview and Strategic Mandate

Formation and Purpose

Convened by the Arizona Commerce Authority, the SBGC is a collaborative partnership of trusted small business service providers. The primary mandate of the coalition is to create a unified framework for supporting Arizona’s entrepreneurs through aligned actions and resource sharing. This initiative represents a significant public-private partnership aimed at strengthening the state’s economic foundation.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The SBGC’s mission and goals demonstrate a strong commitment to the following SDGs:

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: By aiming to create jobs, secure funding for small businesses, and support new ventures, the coalition directly contributes to Target 8.3, which promotes entrepreneurship, creativity, and the growth of SMEs.
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: The focus on providing access to financial services and supporting innovators aligns with Target 9.3, which seeks to increase the access of small-scale enterprises to financial services and integrate them into value chains.
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities: The coalition’s commitment to supporting businesses across the entire state, including rural and underserved areas, addresses Target 10.2 by promoting economic inclusion.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The formation of the SBGC itself is an embodiment of Target 17.17, which encourages effective public, public-private, and civil society partnerships to achieve sustainable development objectives.

Strategic Goals and Key Performance Indicators

Two-Year Objectives

The coalition has established clear, measurable targets for the next two years to advance its mission:

1. Secure $50 million in small business financing, including grants, loans, and investments.
2. Facilitate funding for 500 distinct small businesses.
3. Provide 5,000 instances of direct assistance to Arizona small businesses.

Long-Term Vision

The SBGC’s long-term strategy supports broader state objectives for sustainable economic development:

• Provide 1,000 unique small business assists annually over the next three years.
• Support the creation of 10,000 new homegrown businesses by the year 2030.

Stakeholder Contributions and Supporting Mechanisms

Founding Member Commitments

The founding members of the coalition have reinforced their commitment to a collaborative approach that leverages their respective strengths to build a more resilient and inclusive economy (SDG 8, SDG 17). Key stakeholders include:

• Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA): Leads the coalition and provides foundational support through programs like the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) and the Arizona Loan Guarantee Program, which enhance access to capital (SDG 9).
• Local First Arizona: Emphasizes the role of small businesses as community stakeholders essential for building a thriving local economy.
• Arizona Small Business Association: Focuses on collaborative efforts to ensure all entrepreneurs have access to necessary resources and knowledge.
• Better Business Bureau (BBB): Contributes by advancing marketplace trust and ethical business practices, which are foundational for a stable economic environment.
• Prestamos CDFI: Aligns its efforts to provide financial products and services to help entrepreneurs grow their businesses.
• SCORE Arizona & Utah: Provides mentorship and tools to empower entrepreneurs, particularly in rural and developing regions, fostering inclusive growth (SDG 10).
• Arizona Small Business Development Centers (SBDC): Connects small businesses with resources and support to stimulate innovation and economic growth.

SDGs Addressed in the Article

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

Identified SDG Targets

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

• Target 8.3: Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation, and encourage the formalization and growth of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises, including through access to financial services.
  
  Explanation: The article is centered on the launch of the Arizona Small Business Growth Coalition (SBGC), an initiative explicitly designed to “advance Arizona’s entrepreneurial vitality and support local small businesses.” The coalition’s goals of securing funding, providing business assistance, and supporting new startups directly align with promoting entrepreneurship and the growth of small enterprises through access to financial services and other support mechanisms. The article notes that small businesses are “pillars in local communities statewide, creating good-paying jobs and stimulating economic growth.”

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

• Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships.
  
  Explanation: The SBGC is a clear example of a multi-stakeholder partnership. The article states it is a “statewide alliance of trusted small business providers” that was “Convened by the Arizona Commerce Authority,” a state agency. The founding members include a mix of public, private, and civil society organizations such as the Arizona Small Business Association, Local First Arizona, and the Better Business Bureau. This collaboration is explicitly formed to “foster alignment, collaboration, and collective actions to support small businesses across Arizona,” which embodies the spirit of Target 17.17.

Implied or Mentioned Indicators

Indicators for SDG 8 (Target 8.3)

The article provides several specific, measurable metrics that can serve as indicators to track progress towards supporting small businesses:

• Total value of financial support mobilized: The coalition has a strategic goal of “Securing $50 million in small business grants, loans, and investments” within two years.
• Number of enterprises receiving financial support: A specific target is “Helping 500 small businesses receive funding.”
• Number of support services delivered to enterprises: The coalition aims for “providing 5,000 Arizona small business assists” in two years and “1,000 unique small business assists per year over the next three years.”
• Number of new businesses created: A long-term goal is “supporting the start of 10,000 homegrown businesses by 2030.”

Indicators for SDG 17 (Target 17.17)

The article implies indicators related to the formation and function of the partnership:

• Existence of a multi-stakeholder partnership: The primary indicator is the formal launch of the “Arizona Small Business Growth Coalition (SBGC),” which is described as a “statewide alliance” and “coalition.”
• Number and diversity of partners: The article identifies a range of founding members, including a state agency (Arizona Commerce Authority) and various business and community organizations (Local First Arizona, Arizona Small Business Association, Better Business Bureau, Prestamos CDFI, SCORE, etc.), demonstrating a public-private-civil society partnership structure.

Summary Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: azcommerce.com