Why Tucson

Bell Independent Power Corp. Chooses Tucson’s UA Tech Park for New Solar Plant

Tucson Solar Industry Garners International Headlines

Fall Line Testing & Inspection, LLC Selects Tucson, Arizona for National Headquarters

Medical device firm DBT Laboratories Establishes Tucson Presence

Tucson Downtown Development Marks Major Progress

Now more than ever, interest in entrepreneurship is booming. Companies launching today will become future cornerstones of a more diversified economy, though the barriers to success can be immense. With that in mind, we are mobilizing resources to address the obstacles faced while getting these enterprises off the ground - access to capital, talent, technology, and marketing, among other challenges. The result of this effort will be the Entrepreneurial Economy Blueprint.

TREO's master Economic Blueprint is a long-range plan to diversify the region's economy and closely guide the community’s economic development vision for decades to come. The new expansion of this master plan, the Entrepreneurial Economy Blueprint, will be an action-specific strategy to create new jobs and community wealth through the startup, growth and expansion of knowledge-based enterprises.

Building on TREO’s process of deep community involvement in the Blueprint, the effort will be guided by a diverse, high-profile Entrepreneurial Economy Task Force to develop a series of strategies that will strengthen our economy through innovation and entrepreneurial growth. Many of the region's entrepreneurs have provided key input. The project will be completed by March 2010.

For more information on locating or expanding in the Tucson region, please contact:

Lee Smith
Sr. Vice President, Business Development
520.243.1909 or lee.smith@treoaz.org

Bell Independent Power Corp. (BIPC) has chosen Tucson's University of Arizona Tech Park as the site of a new state of the art 5-MW solar plant with a Thermal Storage System that will be the first of its kind in the world.

This proprietary Thermal Storage System will be capable of storing the sun’s heat for several hours, allowing the concentrating solar power plant to generate power at cloudy times or after the sun sets. It will also provide energy for full plant startup every morning, replacing the need for natural gas. The demonstration of Thermal Storage on this facility and its economic impact will lead to its use on large scale facilities.

“We are excited about demonstrating how our Thermal Storage System, with scale up cost efficiencies, can make solar power more reliable and cost competitive with fossil fuel energy,” said Joseph Bell, Jr., President of Bell Independent Power Corp. “The UA Tech Park is a good site for this facility because of their ability to accelerate permitting and will allow us access to the University of Arizona’s capabilities. We look forward to the community’s continued support through TREO.”

The projected cost of the facility is $32 million and it will use 45 acres of parabolic solar mirrors to capture the solar energy. The facility will be an anchor tenant of the UA Tech Park’s newly designated Solar Zone. The zone is dedicated to the creation of a competitive environment for companies in the sector to create and roll out next generation new energy products, attract key suppliers and attract/grow talent in order to promote industry success and advancement.

Click here for the complete press release and additional information about the UA Tech Park SolarZone.

Tucson's emerging solar industry gained international attention recently with the release of numerous articles highlighting the southern Arizona solar company presence:

Site Selection Magazine, November 2009:
Energy Injections: A region sets the stage for the entire solar supply chain.

Bloomberg TV, October 16, 2009:
Unisource Energy's Paul Bonavia Interviewed About Solar Energy

Deutsche Welle (Germany - Newspaper and Radio):
Solar Economy: Expansion Across the Pond (English Translation)
Original Article (in German)

Radio Broadcast 12-21-2009 (English Transcript)

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The economic impact of solar companies in the region is expanding rapidly. There are over 50 companies in the Tucson region that are involved in solar-related activities. These companies directly and indirectly support over 2,000 jobs, with a combined payroll of over $108 million.

These companies, along with research institutes such as AZRise at the University of Arizona, combine to create an annual economic impact of over $400 million on the Tucson MSA.

Fall Line Testing & Inspection, LLC, a construction testing and inspection firm, is locating its national headquarters in Tucson. The firm's newly-purchased Tucson facility will house a staff of 35 engineers and technicians, as well as a Roller-Compacted Concrete (RCC) design and testing lab for dam projects throughout the U.S. Fall Line is expected to complete its move into the facility by the end of the February.

The company chose Tucson for its proximity to a major transportation corridor, good climate and access to a strong labor pool, said Scott C. Nichols, President of Fall Line Testing & Inspection.

As the company grows, Nichols said he looks forward to tapping into the strong science and engineering programs at the University of Arizona and other Arizona schools to hire new employees and recruit interns.

“We believe Tucson is the perfect fit for our growing company,” said Nichols, a Tucson native who has lived in the Southeast the past 20 years. “Many of the dam projects in the future will be located in the western U.S., so it makes sense to locate our operations in the region. Tucson has much to offer and we’re pleased to be coming here.”

Fall Line is an affiliate of Paul C. Rizzo & Associates, Inc., a leading global engineering and consulting firm headquartered in Pittsburgh. Nichols notes that Rizzo & Associates is monitoring the Arizona business climate and may consider joining Fall Line in Tucson sometime in the future.

Click here for the complete press release and additional information about Fall Line Testing & Inspection.

DBT Laboratories, part of Nevada-based PerGenix LLC, had established a presence here in Tucson. The lab is an important component of the overall PerGenix operations and will start with several employees, projecting to expand operations and services in the future.

PerGenix is developing a proprietary point-of-patient diagnostic testing system, with vital signs monitoring, secure network communications and integrated clinical laboratory services for the home monitoring of chronic diseases, clinic-based wellness testing and biological threat analysis. 

Construction cranes dotted the skyline and building crews swarmed downtown Tucson as 2009 saw the completion of many projects, from major infrastructure upgrades to a significant expansion of eateries and activities.

Highlights include:

• The 4th Avenue underpass reconstruction was completed, enhancing the link between the 4th Avenue Arts & Entertainment District and downtown. This project also makes way for Tucson's Old Pueblo Trolley and modern streetcar rail lines to run downtown.
• The $200 million, 3.5 year widening of I-10 through Tucson was completed ahead of schedule. The project built seven new bridges and underpasses and expanded I-10 to eight lanes across nearly 5 miles of greater Tucson, including downtown.
• Numerous facade and street renovations, restoring historic properties to their architecturally-significant original state.
• Five new downtown restaurants, including Maynards in the restored historic downtown train depot.

The complete list of over 30 projects, festivals, restaurants and other improvements can be found here.