Here’s how Pinal County positioned itself as a power player

Located between the Phoenix and Tucson metros, Pinal County is the third-most populous in the state with its boundaries stretching nearly 5,400 square miles. As its neighbors to the north and south have seen economic expansion, so too has Pinal County, providing a place for businesses to locate where land and operational costs are lower. 

Water supply secured

In March, Pinal County District 3 Supervisor Stephen Miller joined Gov. Katie Hobbs and other regional leaders to celebrate the county’s first Alternative Designation of Assured Water Supply (ADAWS) in Pinal County. The designation marks the culmination of a decade of work by Pinal County leaders to secure a water supply, conserve groundwater and support responsible growth.

The designation will extend long-term water supply protections across Arizona Water Company’s service area and make it possible to support the development of more than 80,000 new homes in one of Arizona’s fastest-growing regions. 

“This marks a historic moment for Pinal County and the culmination of ten years of hard work,” said Supervisor Stephen Miller. “The ADAWS program is the result of extensive collaboration among stakeholders and a shared understanding that complex water challenges require creative solutions. This 100-year designation gives our communities the certainty they need to move forward, supporting new housing, strengthening our economy, and ensuring reliable water resources for generations to come.” 

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Pinal County District 1

Vitiello is the newly elected Pinal County Supervisor for District 1, encompassing the City of Maricopa, surrounding areas and parts of Coolidge, San Tan, Queen Creek, Stanfield, Gila River and Ak-Chin reservations and areas in between. 

On April 2, Vitiello, along with representatives from Sunland Asphalt and the Hidden Valley community, cut the ribbon on the Ralston Road Bridge at the Vekol Wash. The Vekol Wash can get flooded quickly during monsoon storms, becoming a rapidly flowing river and a dangerous hazard. The Ralston Bridge project, completed ahead of schedule, allows for safe crossing during storm conditions. 

“The crew was amazing,” Vitiello says in a press release. “Sunland was amazing, Development Services, everybody that was involved. There was a team of people that put this together to make sure it was done quickly, efficiently, and under budget.”

Construction on the project began in July of 2025 and it was scheduled to last a full year. This project required a quarter-mile closure of Ralston which is a main thoroughfare of Hidden Valley in the western part of the county. Due to newer construction techniques, such as using prefabricated, modular parts for the culverts, construction was able to finish three months ahead of schedule. 

“This district has been underserved,” said Vitiello in a press release. “And I want to make sure that if there’s a project in the area, we are going to work hard to get it done quickly and affordably. The taxpayer’s dollar is very important to me.” 

Mike Ingram Heritage Park 

• Owner: City of Maricopa 
• General contractor: Willmeng Construction 
• Architects: Dibble Engineering and Terracon Consultants  
• Details: Located within the Heritage District, upgrades to the park include an expanded performance stage, amphitheater-stye seating, new landscaping and a railroad-themed playground.  

Pinal County District 2

January 2025 marks the start of Goodman’s third term as Pinal County Supervisor for District 2. His district has a smaller geographical footprint in comparison to others across the county, but is the most densely populated, with close to 100,000 residents. Over the past year, District 2 has experienced unprecedented growth and historic milestones that will shape the future of the region for generations.

LG Energy Solution’s advanced battery manufacturing facility is preparing to begin operations, representing one of the largest private investments in Arizona history. The project is expected to create thousands of  jobs and further strengthen Arizona’s position as a national leader in advanced manufacturing, energy storage technology, and semiconductor-related supply chains. The facility is anticipated to begin operations later this year, bringing new employment opportunities and economic activity to District 2 and the broader region.

Pinal County District 3

An Arizona native and resident of Pinal County for more than 50 years, Supervisor Stephen Miller took office in January 2013 as Supervisor of District 3, representing the Casa Grande region. Miller was nominated by his peers on the board to be the first chairman of the now five-member Pinal County Board of Supervisors.  

In December, KPPC Advanced Chemicals began construction on its $120 million project in Casa Grande, which will manufacture the ultra-high-purity chemicals used throughout semiconductor fabrication, wafer cleaning, etching and advanced packaging.  

“This investment strengthens Arizona’s rapidly expanding, world-class semiconductor ecosystem by bringing the essential manufacturing of ultrapure chemicals to the heart of where they are needed,” Gov. Katie Hobbs says in a press release.

“Best of all, it will create approximately 200 high-quality, full-time jobs for Arizonans, and collaborate with our community colleges to prepare our workforce for advanced roles. Projects like this one are key to building a resilient, localized materials network right here in Arizona.” 

The facility is slated to start production at the end of 2027 and will supply TSMC, Intel, Micron and other chipmakers across the U.S. The company expects the Casa Grande site to grow into a full semiconductor chemical campus, with total investment projected to reach approximately $500 million by 2035.

Central Arizona College breaks ground on $102 million performing arts building

• Owner: Central Arizona College
• General contractor: CHASSE Building Team
• Architect: Architekton
• Details: On March 31, Central Arizona College began construction on its 91,000-square-foot Cultural and Performing Arts Center at its Signal Peak Campus in Coolidge following the 2023 collapse of the Pence Center auditorium roof. The facility’s south half will be anchored by a 1,000-seat theater, and the venue will include a 95-foot-tall fly tower.

Pinal County District 4

McClure is in his sixth year on the Pinal County Board of Supervisors and serves as the chairman of the board. He has been active on county committees for more than 15 years, is knowledgeable of government operations and has proven his ability to build consensus among differing viewpoints and represent people of all political parties. 

Florence Copper produces first copper cathodes 

Florence Copper successfully harvested its first commercial copper cathode, marking the first new copper supply from a U.S. greenfield facility since 2008. It’s also the first site to utilize ISCR, a low-cost method of producing copper metal with less environmental impacts than conventional mining. Once fully operational, the project is expected to produce 85 million pounds of LME Grade A copper annually. 

“All of the copper metal produced at Florence will remain in the U.S. to help address America’s growing reliance on copper imports at a time of burgeoning global demand,” Stuart McDonald, president and CEO of Taseko, says in a press release.  

Resolution Copper completes federal land exchange 

A March 13 ruling from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit finalized a federal land exchange between the U.S. Forest Service and Resolution Copper — a decision the company says unlocks one of the world’s most significant untapped copper deposits. Once operational, Resolution Copper would create thousands of high-paying jobs add an estimated $1 billion a year to Arizona’s economy. 

Legislation to facilitate the land exchange passed with bipartisan support in December 2014. The land exchange involves the transfer of more than 5,400 acres of environmentally and culturally sensitive land containing special status species and Native American cultural sites for inclusion in National Forests and National Conservation Areas to the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management, and in return Resolution Copper has received over 2,400 acres of land adjacent to the historic Magma Copper Mine. 

“Resolution Copper has been an excellent community partner over the past decade,” Superior Mayor Mila Besich says in a press release. “Through the land exchange, Arizonans will receive thousands of acres that will become part of two National Conservation Areas, providing long-term conservation, habitat and cultural heritage protection, and recreational opportunities.”

Apache Junction’s largest industrial facility breaks ground 

After purchasing a 36-acre parcel in Apache Junction last year, Sundt Construction broke ground on its 65,000-square-foot manufacturing facility. Sundt will use the new facility to fabricate structural and mechanical systems and is expected to create approximately 100 new job opportunities for the city in this first phase. 

Another 10,000 square feet of office space will be built to support Sundt’s engineering and design teams, along with a training facility for employees located throughout the region. Sundt plans to expand into other specialties in the future, reserving the remaining acreage of their property for expansion. Construction is anticipated to be completed in the first quarter of 2027.