The 2026 Greater Raleigh Chamber Intercity visit highlighted how closely Phoenix and the Research Triangle align as fast-growing, innovation-driven regions shaping their states’ futures.

Both rank among the nation’s fastest-growing communities and are anchored by advanced economies—semiconductors in Phoenix and life sciences, advanced manufacturing, and technology in the Triangle. In both places, a strong university and community college ecosystem (ASU in Phoenix; NC State, UNC-Chapel Hill, Duke, and Wake Tech here) fuels research, innovation, and workforce development.

Across sessions and conversations with business and civic leaders, three themes stood out.

1. Regions First

Phoenix and the Triangle succeed when they operate as true regions—economically and culturally—rather than as isolated jurisdictions. Talent, growth, and business attraction are regional by nature.

2. Long-Term Success Depends on Preserving Regionalism

Phoenix leaders shared how firms and workers routinely span multiple Valley communities—similar to how Triangle companies and labor markets cross county and municipal lines. Efficient cross-boundary mobility expands housing and job options, supporting affordability and economic mobility.

3. Shared Critical Needs for Sustainable Growth

The visit also reinforced the shared requirements for sustainable growth:

• A strong, deep, and diverse talent pipeline
• Higher education that advances research, innovation, and workforce development
• Quality of life plus affordability to retain the “stickiness factors” that keep talent
• Faster investment in infrastructure—roads, transit, water/wastewater, and power

Implications for the Research Triangle

Implication: to stay competitive and economically diverse, the Triangle should focus on four priorities:

• Strengthen education and workforce partnerships so institutions can deliver programs, credentials, and training aligned to industry demand.
• Advance policy and regulation that protects quality of life, improves affordability, and strengthens regional competitiveness.
• Reinforce regional collaboration through sustained partnerships and convenings, recognizing our strengths are regional.
• Accelerate infrastructure delivery—roads, transit, water/wastewater, and power—at the speed of business.