Why Tucson

Sargent Aerospace & Defense Announces Major Expansion, Doubling Size of Southern Arizona Facility

Arizona Canning Company Announces Expansion, Brand Acquisition

American Red Cross to consolidate blood donor call center, bring 300 new jobs to Tucson

Tucson "The Solar City" Featured in Business Facilities Magazine April 2010 Cover Story

ADVANCE Magazine Notes Growth of Southern Arizona Bioscience Industry

Tucson’s clear blue skies and dry climate have been attracting aerospace-related attention since the early 1900s. Year-round testing of equipment and aircraft provide a clear value to the region's 200+ aerospace and defense companies..

Nationwide, Tucson ranks as one of the Top 5 metro markets for its concentration of employment in aerospace and defense. Major employers such as Raytheon Missile Systems, Lockheed Martin, Bombardier Aerospace, Northrop Grumman, Honeywell Aerospace, and the expanding Sargent Aerospace & Defense (see story below) continue to thrive in the Tucson area, generating $5 to $6 billion annually.

One of the primary reasons for the success of these companies is the quality workforce available in Southern Arizona. From aerospace engineers graduating from the University of Arizona, to FAA-certified airframe technicians trained at the nationally-renowned Aviation Technology Center at Pima Community College, Tucson has the educational resources to supply all levels of aerospace workers to companies in the region. Throughout Southern Arizona, there are currently between 20,000 and 30,000 people employed in the aerospace industry.

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

Sargent Aerospace & Defense, a leading supplier of precision engineered components and aftermarket services, and an operating company within Dover Corporation’s (NYSE: DOV) Industrial Products Segment, announced that it has chosen the Tucson region to expand and upgrade its operations in support of current and projected business growth.

The company, part of the greater Tucson region since 1990 and currently employing approximately 250 people, will build a projected 70,000 square-foot facility adjacent to its existing 60,000 square-foot facility . With the new campus, Sargent will implement an engineering design and qualification lab center of excellence, while incorporating operational improvements and environmentally responsible building elements.

The increased capacity is required to support the growth of key programs such as the VIRGINIA class submarine, the new Boeing 787 and Airbus A350 commercial aircraft, and Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

Sargent anticipates this growth, coupled with new development activity, will add new jobs in the areas of specialty aerospace design, manufacturing, test engineering, program management, and highly-skilled manufacturing such as computed numerically controlled (CNC) machine programmers, operators, and test technicians.

"Our decision to expand in the greater Tucson region, specifically Marana, was driven by a need to retain a strategic location with a culturally diverse employment base. Being close to California and Mexico allows us access to both key aerospace suppliers and our existing manufacturing plants via a well-established transportation network. Southern Arizona provides long-term value while maximizing productivity and supporting our growth plans," said Scott Still, president, Sargent Aerospace & Defense.

"This was a very competitive site selection process and is now another feather in the hat for the Tucson region. We are a Top 5 Metro area nationwide for aerospace & defense, and Sargent has chosen the best place to grow and prosper for many years to come," said Joe Snell, president & CEO, TREO.

Tucson-based food manufacturer Arizona Canning Company has purchased the Luck’s brand from ConAgra Foods to complement its line of canned foods produced in Southern Arizona.

Arizona Canning Company, which selected Tucson for its U.S. operations in 2006, will sell, source raw material, produce, warehouse and fulfill customer orders of the Luck’s brand directly from Tucson across the U.S. The brand acquisition will add 40 jobs in the Tucson region, bringing the projected plant workforce to 134. The additional jobs will be in production, maintenance, logistics, quality assurance and engineering.

In addition, Arizona Canning Company has added 92,000 square feet of dry warehouse space in preparation for the growth, bringing the total square footage to 532,000. The addition of the Luck’s brand of products results in the Arizona Canning Company plant running 24 hours a day/5 days per week, or at near capacity. The purchase of Luck’s will also allow a major expansion of the La Costeña-owned U.S. headquarters into Mid South/Southeast markets and the ability to maximize the brand’s potential by adding it to the La Costeña product portfolio. Arizona Canning Company currently manufactures canned foods including refried beans, whole beans and enchilada sauces, under licensed brands such as La Costeña and SunVista.

Click here to read more about Arizona Canning Company.

The American Red Cross has plans to consolidate its blood donor call center operations to three locations across the country, including a facility which will bring approximately 300 new jobs to the Tucson, Arizona area.

The Tucson facility is expected to open this summer. Red Cross telerecruitment efforts are currently conducted in blood centers across the organization, and the organization plans to relocate these operations to the three new locations. Telerecruiters contact donors to schedule appointments to give blood and provide reminder calls to individuals scheduled to donate.

In selecting Tucson, the Red Cross identified a number of criteria including the availability of skilled labor, the availability and cost of facilities, and any economic incentives offered by the city.

Tucson is prominently featured in the April 2010 issue of Business Facilities magazine, including many photos of the companies and facilities involved in the solar industry across the city.

From the cover images of the city beneath a canopy of solar panels, to the editors introduction, to the feature article, Business Facilities -- a leading publication for site selectors who aid in business relocation and expansion nationwide -- shows how Tucson is establishing itself as a location of choice for the solar industry.

Get the complete article below:

Click here to download the complete article (pdf)

ADVANCE is a monthly publication that reaches decision makers employed in hospital-based and reference laboratories, as well as physician office laboratories.

Click here for the article.