| Mention the
word “Arizona” and it’s only natural that notions of the Grand Canyon,
luxury resorts and championship golf courses spring to mind. For many
others, however, Arizona means all that and much more – a hotbed of economic
opportunity and high-tech innovation.
In fact, business is so good, for the last two years
Entrepreneur magazine named Arizona number one in the US for starting and
growing business ventures. Chief Executive Magazine's poll ranked
Arizona as America’s fourth most desirable state for corporations.
Arizona has become the ideal base for companies who need
to reach out to the world. That’s one of the reasons today’s largest
business-to-business distributors of electronic components moved to Phoenix.
“In Arizona, we enjoy a dynamic business climate and a wonderful quality of
life that not many other cities can match, making it easier to attract and
retain a talented workforce,” said Roy Vallee, Avnet CEO.
More than 100 foreign-owned companies have operations in
Arizona: ST Microelectronics (France); Kyocera (Japan); Embraer (Brazil);
Quadra Mining (Canada); Nestle Pet Care (Switzerland); SCA Tissue (Sweden);
and Dial Corp. (Germany). “An increasing number of global firms recognize
Arizona as a good fit – both culturally and in terms of economic scale.
Moreover, Arizona is a central gateway for companies to access robust U.S.
markets and also tap into opportunities in Mexico and South America,” said
Jan Lesher, Arizona Department of Commerce Director.
Regional economic efforts strengthen Arizona’s communities
and produce assets that make the communities and regions more competitive
and attractive to business. A partnership designed to speed this momentum is
the Arizona Global Network (AGN), a public-private economic development
consortium that collaborates on international business attraction.
Southern Arizona
The steadily-expanding Greater Tucson region has surpassed
the 1 million mark in population. The influx of people positively impacts
the economy and translates directly into increased labor availability.
Today, over 35,000 people are employed in the high-tech industries of
Southern Arizona encompassing aerospace and defense, analytical instruments,
medical devices, biopharmaceuticals, manufacturing, electronics and optics.
The region’s largest employers include Raytheon Missile
Systems, IBM, Honeywell, Texas Instruments, Ventana Medical Systems and
Misys Healthcare Systems.
The University of Arizona (UA), a top-20 U.S. Public
Research University, is a major engine pioneering the area’s growth.
Research conducted by UA scientists spawns new enterprises, develops
breakthrough technologies and pushes science to new levels. The UA ranks in
the top-10 of NASA grant recipients, and No. 1 in space science research.
The UA Science and Technology Park, which is home to nearly 30 high-tech
companies, offers an environment designed to foster technology development
from the laboratory to the marketplace. |
Tucson’s clear
blue skies - supporting year-round product testing - and dry climate have
attracted aerospace-related attention since the early 1900s. In fact, Tucson
is ranked in the top-five metro areas nationwide for its concentration of
companies and employees in aerospace and defense.
Located 70 miles southeast of Tucson, Sierra Vista houses
the US Army Intelligence Center & School and the Army Signal Command at Fort
Huachuca.
Located within a half-day truck haul to over 30 million
consumers, the Greater Yuma region has encountered a variety of industry
from distribution to light manufacturing companies interested in serving the
Southwestern US markets. It has experienced explosive growth in the last
decade in aerospace and defense testing due in large part to Marine Corps
Air Station Yuma, the busiest naval station in the Marine Corps, and Yuma
Proving Ground, which has the land terrain to support the testing of
equipment for the global war on terrorism.
Two emerging clusters are renewable energies and ag
biotechnology. Development and testing of renewable energies includes a $3
billion biorefinery, various ethanol plants, fuel farms, biodiesel research
and solar farm developments. Ag biotechnology, in cooperation with the UA
Agriculture Extension and Arizona Western College, has transformed
traditional farming into a high-tech process. The “farming” process now
includes bio-seed fertilization, advanced harvesting methods, automated
processing and packaging and comprehensive distribution networks. Over 90%
of the nation’s production of winter loose leaf and head lettuce comes from
the Yuma Valley.
Northern Arizona
The Northern Arizona Region has been preparing for
economic investment and growth through the development of new resources and
assets. The Flagstaff Airpark has recently added 40,000sf of flex space and
is available to accommodate growth. The park is next to the airport and is
home to internationally renowned Machine Solutions Inc. and TGEN Center for
Pathogen Diagnostics & Research. New projects under development include a
200,000sf Science and Technology Park, which will be adjacent to the
existing USGS campus as well as a new 10,000sf technology incubator
facility. These facilities will provide state of the art R&D space and will
complement USGS primary research such as remote sensing, water and
geological mapping. An 815-acre private industrial site has been approved
for development at an under-utilized military installation with rich
infrastructure, including multiple rail spurs, located on I-40 and the main
East-West BNSF rail line.
The region has a significant base in the medical device
industry with over 1,600 jobs and has experienced high growth fueled by the
expansion of WL Gore’s plant and operations.
Northern Arizona University has recently constructed new
facilities that will provide 150,000sf of lab space and will be seeking a
Platinum LEEDS certification. Primary research areas include infectious
diseases, bioengineering, renewable energy and forest health remediation.
Just south of Flagstaff in Prescott Valley, Lockheed
Martin recently announced their expansion adding more than 100 jobs to the
region. |
Central
Arizona
As one of the fastest-growing regions in the nation,
Greater Phoenix is home to 3.7 million people with the population reaching
5.9 million by 2030. This tremendous growth drives the creation of quality
jobs and additional investment, attracting companies in key industries
including aerospace/defense, next-generation electronics, sustainable
industries, life sciences and information and communication technology (ICT).
Nearly 300 aerospace companies are located in Greater
Phoenix, and major employers include Honeywell, Boeing and General Dynamics.
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is the eighth busiest in the world,
while Williams Gateway Airport is developing as an international aerospace
center with aircraft manufacturing, maintenance, modification, testing and
pilot training.
The region’s next-generation electronics and ICT
industries also flourish with a large presence of microelectronics and
software firms, including Intel, Agilent Technologies and Google, as well as
a pipeline of emerging technologies stemming from Arizona State University (ASU).
The thriving metropolis within the Sonoran Desert allows
for cutting-edge research addressing tomorrow’s energy, solar and water
issues. The region is home to a Photovoltaic Testing Laboratory—one of just
three in the world and the only facility in the U.S. testing the reliability
of solar models.
Greater Phoenix has emerged as a hub for the life sciences
industry. Unprecedented collaboration and world-class talent provide the
region with a distinct competitive advantage. Connections with the Biodesign
Institute at ASU, Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), Mayo
Clinic and other innovators make Greater Phoenix a leader in advanced
biomedical solutions.
Better for Business
For 10 consecutive years Arizona has reduced taxes or
passed legislation favorable to business. In 2005, significant property tax
reductions were introduced along with a new law, which allows multi-state
businesses doing business in Arizona to “super-weight” their sales to reduce
income tax liability to the state.
Arizona also offers a unique Foreign Trade Zone Program,
which provides qualifying companies with the lowest effective property tax
rates available in the US. Other programs including Arizona Job Training,
Enterprise Zone and other business assistance add significant value to a
qualifying company’s bottom line.
By any measure, Arizona’s economic opportunities are wide
and varied. For business expansion assistance, incentives information and
more, contact AGN at
info@arizonaglobalnetwork.com,
800.528.8421 or
www.arizonaglobalnetwork.com
. |
|
www.ArizonaGlobalNetwork.com
|
Arizona - Superior Growth - Skilled Workforce - Modern Infrastructure -
Collaboration - Profound Innovations
You're invited to experience the Arizona advantage. Focused on the
needs of today's most innovative companies, the state of Arizona is an ideal
base to reach out to North America and beyond. A progressive business
climate, advanced transportation network, major universities, and highly
qualified, diverse workforce, make Arizona the premier location for growing
your business. We offer site selection assistance for business
location and expansion, market intelligence, comprehensive economic
research, incentive information and much more.
Call
today to discover how your business can grow in Arizona: 800-528-8421 or
email:
info@arizonaglobalnetwork.com
|
Arizona Global Network
optional links to
other websites (state, labor market info, tax info, counties, cities in the
metro area, etc.) can be made available for convenience, along with links to
any other relevant fDi features, such as those about Arizona in general,
which can include sector reports or CEO interviews, governor or mayor
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