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Education Advocacy Remains Top Priority for TREO
When meeting with site selectors and business development clients about interest in locating or expanding in Tucson, one of the most frequently asked questions is whether Tucson has the workforce available to fill potential jobs. And more importantly, whether the workforce has the training and skills necessary for more technical positions. In order to attract high-quality, high-paying companies to the region, we must ensure that our workforce can meet the needs of these employers.
While Tucson's workforce is robust and generally educated, we must recognize the significance of educating employees even before they enter the workforce - the quality of the region's K-12 education is fundamentally an economic development issue.
Must Match Attitudes with Action
All of us want to improve the quality and funding for education in Arizona, but our actions must reflect this desire for change. This Spring TREO launched "Tucson: Job One," our comprehensive plan for creating high-wage jobs during uncertain economic conditions. One key piece of this plan is to achieve a strong and unified voice for the region by supporting and advocating for education advancements in Southern Arizona.
TREO is working to unite our business leaders and organizations into one strong voice to our state legislature. Over the coming months we will continue to work with our investors and other community partners to keep up the public pressure to advance both revenue-enhancing and spending reduction discussions in order reach our goal of achieving educational excellence in the region.
As Southern Arizona business leaders, we urge you to contact elected officials statewide asking for their support of funding for education. Your participation in advocating for education is crucial to regional economic development efforts.
For more information about "Tucson: Job One," visit www.treoaz.org/Tucson-Job-One.aspx.
Interest in Tucson for Business Expansion Remains High
Tucson’s prime location near major U.S. Western markets and the availability of the community’s diversified workforce continue to trigger business expansion interest in our region. Request for information assistance currently averages two inquires per week. Solar power generation and solar component manufacturing inquiries dominate this activity.
Industry sectors associated with manufacturing operations include: Solar, Aerospace and Defense, Bioscience and Logistics. Companies in these industries are regularly evaluating the benefits of Tucson’s competitive business environment.
Technical support operation inquiries are on the rise primarily due to expanded awareness of access opportunities to University of Arizona research and development staff, facilities, students and graduates.
Active TREO clients continue to display guarded optimism regarding the national economic turn-around and indicate that as finance and availability to funding issues soften, consideration for growth and expansion to the Tucson region will proceed aggressively.
Business Development Activity Since July 2008
Number of Active Projects by Industry
Manufacturing
Other
Call Center
Professional Services
Transportation
Total |
23
18
11
3
2
57 |
Potential Jobs by Industry
Call Center
Manufacturing
Other
Professional Services
Transportation
Total |
1992
1014
1010
313
20
4349 |
- Hosted 19 Clients (Attraction)
- Assisted 13 local clients (Expansion)
- 69 Requests for Information (Attraction)
- Responded to 370 inquiries about business assistance programs
Leadership Exchange to Albuquerque Set for Sept. 30-Oct. 2
TREO's Leadership Exchange Trip to Albuquerque has been confirmed for Wed. Sept. 30 through Fri. Oct. 2. The Albuquerque Leadership Exchange Trip is co-sponsored by the Southern Arizona Leadership Council (SALC) and Greater Tucson Leadership (GTL).
As a reminder, these trips are conducted by economic development groups nationwide to unite their region's most influential civic and business leaders with those of other regions, providing an opportunity for dialogue and the exploration of innovations and solutions to present-day issues facing both regions. TREO instituted these annual Leadership Exchange trips with the Austin, TX delegation in 2006, then traveled to Portland, OR in 2007.
In order for the Tucson region to compete in a challenging economy, we must benchmark ourselves against other cities in order to be innovative and forward-thinking. In a time where the economic future is uncertain it is critical to plan for the future now. Please join us in Albuquerque where we will learn about:
- Downtown development and asset planning
- Regional planning
- Challenges of growth and transportation
- Developing a strong multicultural community
- Education challenges and reform
- Albuquerque industry successes
As a Tucson business and opinion leader, we truly hope that you can join us to develop the esprit de corps vital to our region as we face planning for an unpredictable economic future. The cost (including all conference materials, airfare, ground transportation, accommodations, and meals) is $1,800; rooms will be booked at The Hyatt Regency in Albuquerque. An official invitation letter and registration form will go out in June.
Tucson Ranks as Top Worldwide "Fast City"
The May 2009 issue of Fast Company magazine named Tucson as a top 12 Fast City worldwide for its Healthy City Initiative and crime reduction efforts.
The Healthy City Initiative is based on former surgeon general Richard Carmona's five pillars of a healthy community: the physical, the emotional, safety, violence prevention, and substance-abuse prevention.
Evidence of success of the initiative? Crime is down 20% since 2006, and Tucson has seen a 45% reduction in crystal-meth availability since 2006.
Other 2009 Fast Cities include: Cleveland, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Taipei, New Orleans, Malmö, Chicago, Houston, Denver, Vancouver, and New York.
Read more about the 2009 Fast Cities at www.fastcompany.com/cities/2009.
Major Industries in Southern Arizona Grab Headlines
U.S. Navy Awards Raytheon $259.9 Million Contract
Raytheon has been awarded a $259.9 million U.S. Navy contract to overhaul and upgrade 57 Phalanx Close-In Weapon Systems and to provide ancillary equipment, spares, as well as additional technical support. Sixteen percent of the work will be performed in Tucson. The rest will be divided between other Raytheon Co. sites in eight states. Click here to read more in a May 16 Arizona Daily Star article.
University of Arizona Receives $15 Million for Solar Research
The Department of Energy has awarded the University of Arizona $15 million to create an Energy Frontier Research Center for Hybrid Solar Electric Materials. The goal is to produce techniques that will create the next generation of thin-film solar panels that will be durable, inexpensive and efficient. Click here to read more in a May 6 Arizona Daily Star article.
New Partnership to Expand Solar Power Testing Lab
A venture between Tucson Electric Power, the University of Arizona and Arizona State University will expand a solar power testing lab that uses current technology to explore efficiency and reliability in the Arizona sun. The project has received $500,000 from Science Foundation Arizona. Click here to read more in an April 27 Inside Tucson Business article.
Bio industry worth $12.5B to Arizona
Arizona's Flinn Foundation released a new report in April revealing that Arizona's bioscience industry contributed $12.5 billion and more than 87,000 jobs to the state's economy. The industry has grown 58% since the last report compiled in 2002. Click here to read more in an April 13 Inside Tucson Business article.
Future bio workforce networks with industry reps
In April more than 150 University of Arizona (UA) students met with bioscience industry leaders at a networking event hosted by UA's BIO5 Institute, a nationally recognized collaborative bioresearch institute. Click here to read more in an April 15 Arizona Daily Star article.
Arizona Canning Co./La Costeña Expands Operations
Arizona Canning Co./La Costeña is expanding its current Tucson operations by constructing an additional 95,000 sq. feet of new warehouse space. The facility expansion is required to accommodate increased production storage that will result from the addition of a scheduled second production/processing line in the plant. The expansion will result in additional employment opportunities. Click here to read about Arizona Canning's decision to locate in Tucson.
Save the Date
Save the Date for TREO's Annual Luncheon, tentatively scheduled for Thursday, October 29. More details to come.
TREO Investor News
Compass Bank now BBVA Compass
Compass Bank was acquired a year and half ago by BBVA, the fifth largest bank in the world by market capitalization. BBVA primarily operates outside the United States, and the acquisition of Compass is considered its entrance into the US market.
BBVA Compass officially rolled out the name change this spring.
“We wanted to utilize the strength of the BBVA name, one of the most recognizable names around the world in the banking industry, while still keeping Compass a part of it,” said Mark Mistler, President for Southern Arizona.
So far community response to the change has been positive, said Mistler. The bank held a re-branding event and communicated the change to its customers.
“Bank customers see the strength that BBVA brings to Compass,” said Mistler.
Mistler said other than the name change, nothing else has changed at BBVA Compass. The same employees are still running the bank and taking care of customers.
For more information, visit www.bbvacompass.com.
Live, Breathe Clean Air
 Pima Association of Governments (PAG) is promoting Live Breathe Clean Air as part of a regional message to encourage residents and visitors to take steps to keep our air clean and to bring awareness toward maintaining healthy ozone levels.
In March 2008, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency tightened the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for ozone to be more protective of public health.
Currently, Tucson experiences good air quality and meets ozone standards. However, several days of high ozone this summer could put Pima County into noncompliance, also known as nonattainment.
Nonattainment status often results in several costly consequences for businesses and residents. The region would be required to analyze emissions and identify and enforce measures to reduce pollutant levels. Residents may be required to change the fuel they use, industries may face additional regulations and this may negatively influence tourism and economic development.
Our region prides itself on its commitment to the environment and having clean air to breathe. This summer, we encourage area employers and residents to learn about ways you can help keep our air clean.
For more information on air quality, please visit www.pagnet.org. In order to support the “Live, Breathe Clean Air” campaign, contributions are welcome. Please contact Sheila Storm at (520) 792-1093 if you are interested in supporting the effort to keep our air clean and healthy.
Click here to download the Clean Air Fact Sheet, with tips on ways you can help reduce ozone levels.
Return on Investment
Since beginning operations in 2005, TREO's efforts have resulted in:
- Over $1 billion economic impact with 32 successful projects and over 7,000 jobs
- For every $1 invested in TREO, $76 is returned to the community in new wealth
New and Renewed Investors
TREO would like to thank all our new and renewed investors for their commitment to supporting economic development in the Tucson region.
New Investors
Renewed Investors
120 North Stone Ave., Suite 200
Tucson, Arizona 85701
520.243.1900 * 1.866.600.0331 * Fax 520.243.1910
www.treoaz.org
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