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Tucson named a “rising biotechnology star of Arizona”
Business
Facilities magazine. (March 2008)
Fast Company magazine named Tucson among the top 10 in the United States for job growth and high-tech industry concentration. Noted
“Fast Companies” are Raytheon Missile Systems, UniSource Energy,
and Universal Avionics.
(July 2007)
Tucson ranked #27 for job growth and #49 for business and careers in Forbes’ list of best places among the nation’s 200 largest cities. (March 2008)
Fortune Small Business magazine named Oro Valley #44 on its list of
the “100 Best Places to Live and Launch.” (March 2008)
Tucson was named one of the top 5 best places to live in the Men’s Journal based on career opportunities, access to nature and the quality of urban life. Tucson was recognized for its bike paths, Mexican food and natural amenities. (June 2008)
Newsweek magazine ranked BASIS Charter School as the top public
school in the United States (May 2008). U.S. News & World Report
included University High School as well as BASIS in its list of America’s
top public high schools. (November 2007)
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Why Tucson?
Located in the rapidly growing state of Arizona, the Tucson metropolitan area has a population exceeding one million people, and includes an available workforce of more than 462,000. Much of Tucson’s highly skilled workforce is a product of targeted education programs at The University of Arizona (one of the nation’s top 20 public research institutions), and Pima Community College (the eighth largest community college in the country).
While Tucson has long been notorious for its ample sunshine and mild climate, the region is also becoming well known for its abundant human capital, state of the art research and technology development, ample supply chain opportunities and competitive operation costs.
Beginning with the launch of this newsletter, Tucson Regional Economic Opportunities, Inc. (TREO) plans to produce a quarterly newsletter targeted specifically to site selectors. The newsletter is designed to provide you with the latest news and announcements from the Tucson region, as well as highlight various businesses and/or community assets.
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
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NEW TUCSON FACILITIES:
Rockefeller Breaks Ground for Class A, LEED Certified Building
In early January, 2009 the Rockefeller Group Development Corporation (RGDC) announced the groundbreaking of the first of three distribution buildings on a 21.5-acre pad-ready, approved industrial site in the Tucson Airport Commerce Center. The first building, a 113,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art speculative distribution building, will be completed and ready for occupancy in June 2009.
The Class A, 100% concrete building will be LEED-certified, have more than ample parking and truck court areas, 30’ clear height and ESFR sprinklers. The building can be subdivided to accommodate up to four tenants needing space between 28,000 and 33,000 sq. ft. and also includes a 3,300 sq. ft. speculative office in one of the lease spaces.
“We are thrilled that The Rockefeller Group has picked Tucson as their city of choice for this Class A industrial development,” said Joe Snell, TREO President & CEO. “This is one of only two spec buildings nationwide currently under construction by Rockefeller, which makes this even more exciting for Tucson. This 113,000 square foot facility has the potential to be a multi-tenant building, meaning that it will likely be the perfect fit for attracting businesses in our targeted industries.”
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TUCSON SOLAR EXPANSION:
Solar Industry Leader, SOLON Corp., Manufactures PV Modules in Tucson
In the Fall of 2008 Solon Corp. opened its expanded Tucson manufacturing plant, which has up to 100 megawatts of photovoltaic panels annual production capacity and will employ more than 200 people by the end of 2009.
Solon is the U.S. subsidiary of Germany-based Solon SE and one of Europe’s largest manufacturers of solar energy systems for commercial and government facilities.
“We are tremendously pleased to be in this historic city, long known for its efforts to make solar power commercially feasible,” said Olaf Koester, President and CEO of Solon America. “We plan to advance the use of solar power through our innovative technologies as a secure, reliable, clean and affordable energy choice,” he said.
Solon first arrived in Arizona in 2007 and opened a smaller, temporary factory in Tucson that spring. Solon has owned part of Tucson-based Global Solar Energy Inc. since 2006. That company also makes solar cells, but uses a different process to create lightweight flexible products said to be portable enough to be used by campers and the military.
The Solon Group also has subsidiaries in Germany, Austria, Italy, Spain, and Switzerland. |
TUCSON TRANSPORTATION & LOGISTICS NEWS:
Port of Tucson at the Century Park Research Center is a Shining Example of Tucson’s Transportation & Logistics Industry
Just over a decade ago, Alan Levin purchased the 264-acre Century Park Research Center with the goal of creating a Southern Arizona center for warehousing, distribution, and manufacturing, all based around the “intermodal” rail system and trucking lanes neighboring the research center near south Kolb and Wilmot roads.
In just over 10 years of operation Levin considers one of Century Park’s biggest successes to be entering into a 15-year contract with Union Pacific Railroad to provide intermodal services using the rail bordering the research center. He considers this contract to be one of several opportunities contributing to the success of his operations.
Century Park houses several warehousing, distribution, and manufacturing facilities, but also has a large amount of undeveloped land. Also located within Century Park is the Port of Tucson, a transportation and logistics center available to assist businesses in Tucson and the Southwest with access to rail and intermodal container transportation options.
Levin says the Port of Tucson is a “great logistics asset for the region,” and a vital element in contributing to the growth of the Southern Arizona region. Levin plans to continue developing opportunities within Century Park, with a particular focus on contracting larger companies interested in using rail for transportation of their products.
For more information on Century Park Research Century or Port of Tucson, visit www.century-park.com or www.portoftucson.net online.
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TUCSON BIOSCIENCE EXPANSION:
Ventana Medical Systems in Oro Valley Now One of the HQ’s of Roche Global Business Unit
In October 2008, the CEO of global pharmaceutical company Roche travelled to Tucson to meet with local business leaders to discuss the acquisition of Ventana Medical Systems, located in a growing community northwest of Tucson called Oro Valley.
CEO Severin Schwan laid out big plans for the company, saying that Ventana plays a key role in pharmaceutical giant Roche's vision of personalized health care.
Switzerland-based Roche bought Ventana Medical Systems Inc. in early 2008. The acquisition was completed in February and, since then, Ventana has purchased 17.1 acres for $8.9 million to expand its campus. Ventana is now the headquarters of one of Roche's global business units that focuses on diagnostics.
The global drug maker chose Ventana because it's a leader in tissue diagnostics. Ventana's technology can examine cell structure to determine if certain drug treatments will be effective for patients suffering from cancer or infectious diseases.
In 2009: Roche will invest $100 million in the Oro Valley company in 2009, which is more than twice what Ventana spent in 2007. Former Chief Operating Officer Hany Massarany has taken over as President and CEO after Christopher Gleeson retired in December.
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If you have feedback on the newsletter or would like to provide an idea for a future article, please contact erin.coulter@treoaz.org or (520) 243-1935.
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