Phoenix Business and Workforce Development Team Honored with Golden Prospector Awardhttps://www.investinphoenix.com/news/72Phoenix Business and Workforce Development Team Honored with Golden Prospector Award<div class="ExternalClass52DA75EF50444834BD0348A8FF1A5CF3"><p>​PHOENIX, Ariz. -​ The <a href="/workforce/bwdc" target="_blank">City of Phoenix Community and Economic Development Department’s ​Business and Workforce Development</a> team was honored with an Arizona Association for Economic Development (AAED) Golden Prospector Award for its Rapid Response effort last year when Nikola Corporation closed its manufacturing facilities in Phoenix and Coolidge. <br></p><p>Working in partnership with Pinal County, the team's rapid response coordination involved assisting more than 740 job seekers across four events, with 93 candidates trained, 44 employers connected with pre-screened candidates, and hundreds of job matches made within weeks of the layoffs.<br></p><p>The Phoenix Business and Workforce Development team was one of 11 organizations honored with a Golden Prospector Award during AAED's annual Fall Forum that was held in October in Prescott. The team was also recognized during a Pinal County Board of Supervisors meeting on January 7.<br></p><p><a href="https://aaed.com/aaed-presents-2025-golden-prospector-awards/" target="_blank">Read more about the 2025 AAED Golden Prospector awardees</a><br></p><p>Established more than 20 years ago, the Golden Prospector Award recognizes excellence in economic development. <br></p><p><strong>About the Arizona Association for Economic Development</strong><br>AAED, founded in 1974, has a mission to serve as Arizona's unified voice for responsible economic development through professional education, public policy, and collaboration. For more information, visit <a href="https://aaed.com/" target="_blank">aaed.com</a>.<br></p><p><strong>Media Contact:</strong><br>Athena Sanchez, Senior Public Information Officer<br>Phoenix Community and Economic Development Department<br>602-621-0507 (call/text)​<br><a href="mailto:Athena.Sanchez@phoenix.gov">Athena.Sanchez@phoenix.gov</a><br></p></div>The Phoenix Business and Workforce Development team being recognized by the Pinal County Board of Supervisors for receiving a AAED Golden Prospector Awardhttps://www.investinphoenix.com/Lists/News/Attachments/72/Business Workforce Development - AAED Golden Prospector Award 2025 (cropped for Newsroom).jpg1/13/2026 6:30:25 PM

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