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President's Message
As we all continue to feel the effects of our current economic crisis both personally and professionally, I would like to take the opportunity to thank our investors for their commitment to economic development in the Tucson region. Your support will certainly help us weather the economic conditions and ensure that the region remains globally competitive as we continue to work hard to attract and retain high-skilled/high-wage employers.
TREO's efforts in the coming year will focus on the theme of "Rising to the Challenge" - the challenge of competing for jobs and talent in a changing economy.
Simply put, this means:
- Creating quality jobs for everyone that wants one
Creating jobs that pay at or above the national wage standard
Retaining and attracting those knowledge workers that will fuel our economy
Ensuring that we have the assets necessary to accomplish the goals of job creation and talent retention
There is no doubt that we are potentially facing an economic crisis not felt in decades. There is also little doubt that Arizona and, yes, our region will be impacted by this national recession.
But we must control our own destiny. As a community we must find ways to solve our biggest challenges and position ourselves to compete -- we can’t rely solely on the Federal government or the State, we must help ourselves.
The only way we can do this is by working together. By leveraging our limited dollar, by reducing duplication, and by speaking with a unified voice. And by celebrating and supporting each other.
On behalf of TREO's Board of Directors, I commit to you that we will aggressively and judiciously do our part to rise to the challenge.
Business Development Update
Despite the slowing economy, activity in TREO's Business Development department remains very steady. In fact, the number of active projects and business program assistance is significantly higher this quarter compared to the first quarter of 2007.
Number of Active Projects by Industry
*Up by 28.13% over 1st quarter 2007
Call Center – 7
Manufacturing – 19
Other – 10
Professional Services – 3
Transportation – 2
Total - 41
Potential Jobs by Industry
Call Center – 1380
Manufacturing – 978
Other – 585
Professional Services – 313
Transportation – 20
Total – 3276
- Hosted 8 Clients (Attraction)
Assisted 6 local clients (Expansion)
30 Requests for Information (Attraction)
Responded to 190 inquiries about business assistance programs *Up by 31.94% over 1st quarter 2007
Data is from 1st Quarter 2008, starting July 2008
Targeted Industry Highlights
Big News in Bioscience
In October, the CEO of Oro Valley-based Ventana Medical Systems announced an increase in its workforce by about 250 as well as plans for expansion of research and development activities.
Switzerland-based Roche bought Ventana Medical Systems Inc. earlier this year, which is now the headquarters of one of Roche's global business units that focuses on diagnostics.
Since acquisition by Roche in February, Ventana has purchased 17.1 acres for $8.9 million to expand its campus. Roche will invest $100 million in the company in 2009, which is more than twice what Ventana spent in 2007.
Ventana President & CEO Chris Gleeson will retire at the end of the year and will be replaced by Chief Operating Officer Hany Massarany, who has worked for Ventana for 10 years.
New Industry Cluster Brochures
TREO is finalizing industry cluster brochures for each of its four targeted industries: aerospace & defense, bioscience, solar, and transportation and logistics.
Click here to view the Bioscience brochure. For more information or to obtain copies, contact Erin Coulter at (520) 243-1935 or erin.coulter@treoaz.org.
3S - Swiss Solar Systems Opens Doors in Tucson
3S Industries AG, the world's technological leader for automatic string soldering machinery, laminating lines and testers for solar module production, opened a sales and service office in Tucson on September 8. The establishment of the subsidiary 3S Industries USA Inc. is an important milestone for the international development of the Group, and American customers involved in crystalline and thin-film module production will benefit from the shorter channels and simplified advisory and service processes.
TREO has worked with 3S through their locate and start up process and continues to provide assistance with incentives.
Blueprint Mobilization Update
On Oct. 2, more than 500 business and community leaders attended TREO's Annual Luncheon and the launch of the first Community Report Card.
Dr. Robert Shelton, University of Arizona President, delivered a presentation on data from the Report Card. Click here to see a snapshot of the Report Card data. In addition, Blueprint Mobilization Co-chairs Mike Jameson, President and CEO of Tucson Newspapers, and Daisy Jenkins, Vice President of Human Resources at Raytheon Missile Systems, presented details on the history of the Blueprint Mobilization process as well as a call to action for future efforts.
No one person or one group has ownership of meeting the growth and economic development needs of this community. It's through the active engagement of us all that our community will thrive. Many communities fail in economic development and other important initiatives because they try to do everything at one time. The Report Card data tells us where the gaps are and the priorities on which we should focus our efforts.
Jenkins ended the luncheon by asking the community to support efforts to improve educational excellence and downtown revitalization. The data tells us we have challenges and opportunities in these two key areas, and the two are so impactful to economic development that when these areas work, many of the other areas fall in line.
Call to Action
TREO has already committed to High-Skilled/High-Wage jobs. This is a very important area of focus for our economic development: it's important in retaining new college grads, attracting new talented and diverse professionals, and sustaining and growing our current high-tech/high-wage employers.
So what can you or your organization champion? What can you do to promote and be actively engaged in our community success? Select one or both of the two focus areas, Urban Renaissance and Educational Excellence, and commit to an action that will move us closer to success. For a list of ways you can contribute, click here and read the section called "What can you or your business do?" in the Report Card Snapshot.
What's Next?
TREO is a partner in the Innovation Frontier Arizona WIRED Initiative, which puts strategies from the Economic Blueprint into motion by using a survey of Southern Arizona employers to identify skill set gaps to help us attract more High-Skilled/High-Wage jobs in the region. See the next article below for detailed information about the WIRED Initiative and how you can get involved.
In addition, TREO supported efforts to pass the TUSD Budget Override in the November election. Unfortunately the proposition did not pass and we are disappointed that this opportunity to improve local education was not embraced by the community. TREO will continue to support initiatives that contribute to educational excellence in the Tucson region and we encourage you and your business to do the same.
Stay tuned for more action based on the data from the Community Report Card in the coming months.
Innovation Frontier Arizona WIRED Initiative
Innovation Frontier Arizona (IFA) is a regional talent development initiative that brings together partners in education, workforce development and economic development in Yuma, Cochise, Santa Cruz and Pima Counties. The effort is focused on developing Southern Arizona as a center of excellence for homeland security and advanced technology by fostering talent development, entrepreneurship and regional collaboration. IFA is funded by a Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development (WIRED) grant and a Community-Based Job Training Grant from the U.S. Department of Labor's Employment & Training Administration.
TREO is playing a leading role and offering support to other economic development stakeholders in mapping current and future workforce needs in targeted industries.
The goal of the initiative is to involve businesses from the aerospace-defense, border security, logistics and other strategic industries to participate in: talent development efforts, the assessment of current and projected workforce needs, and the integration of workforce needs assessment into regional supply chain development efforts.
The first phase of the three year grant involves a confidential survey of Southern Arizona businesses to identify workforce needs. The survey results will be used to help develop curriculum at educational institutions to help meet the workforce needs.
Your Input Needed
Your participation in the confidential survey will help ensure that the workforce needs of TREO Investors are considered in the development of educational curriculum. To provide your input, contact the following to obtain a copy of the survey:
Gerri Brunson, TREO
gerri.brunson@treoaz.org or (520) 243-1945
Evelyn Wright, Pima County
ewright@pima.gov or (520) 243-6678
For more information about the Innovation Frontier Arizona WIRED Initiative, visit www.azcommerce.com/Workforce/Innovation%20Frontier%20Arizona.htm online.
Upcoming Events
Community Conversation on Land Use
On Dec. 3, the next in a series of community conversations will be presented by the Tucson Regional Town Hall. "Crafting Tomorrow's Built Environment: A Community Conversation on Regional Land Use" will be held from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Tucson Convention Center.
Keynote speakers are Robert Grow from Envision Utah and Grady Gammage, Jr., Land Use Attorney and Senior Fellow, ASU's Morrison Institute.
Click here for an event flyer.
Mercado Holiday Bazaar
The Mercado San Agustín, the Westside Coalition and the Microbusiness Advancement Center, along with sponsors T.L. Roof & Associates Construction Company and Ward 1 Council Office are proud to announce the first annual Mercado Holiday Bazaar.
Beginning December 12th and running through the 24th, this event will take place in a huge canvas tent next to the construction site of the Mercado San Agustín. Features of the Holiday Bazaar include: a celebration for la Virgen de Guadalupe, a procession for Las Posadas, Tucson Arizona Boys Chorus Christmas tree lot, visits from Santa Claus, nightly live music, and art and food vendors from all over Tucson. There will be a variety of charitable organizations represented, so community members can embrace the spirit of giving that is inherent in the holiday season.
Click here to download a Mercado Holiday Bazaar flyer, or visit the event website online at http://mercadoholidaybazaar.wordpress.com/about/.
Celebrate the Holidays in Downtown Tucson
DecemberFest
Held throughout the month of December, DecemberFest includes a series of special holiday displays, including displays at El Centro Cultural de las Americas, and new displays of doll houses, holiday villages and model train layouts in Downtown storefronts. Merchants’ storefront windows will be decorated by area students, with contests and judging by members of the general public. Holiday caroling will take place at various Downtown locations during several December evenings.
14th Annual Parade of Lights - Dec. 13
Music and other activities will begin at Armory Park at 4 p.m. and continue through the parade’s kickoff at 6 p.m., continuing until 8:30 p.m. Mayor Bob Walkup will light the official tree at 5:45 p.m. at the Joel D. Valdez Main Library Plaza.
Save the Date for "First Night" Dec. 31
The month-long DecemberFest festivities conclude with First Night, a family-friendly, arts-focused, alcohol-free evening of activities at multiple Downtown venues.
First Night seeks to foster the public's appreciation of visual and performing arts through an innovative, diverse and high quality New Year's Eve program which provides a shared cultural experience, accessible and affordable to all.
First Night celebrations draw singles, couples, and families from the local community, as well as visitors, to the festival. First Night festivals often become a "focus event" within a downtown revitalization strategy and a showcase for local visual and performing artists. In the larger cities, audiences of 20,000 or 30,000 are not uncommon.
First Night began in Boston in 1976 and has since grown to more than 100 American cities. This will be the first Tucson First Night.
For more information on holiday happenings downtown, visit www.downtowntucson.org.
TREO Awarded
Joe Snell named an "Economic Engine" for Arizona
Arizona Business Magazine has named TREO's President Joe Snell an "Economic Engine" in its Third Annual Economic Engines of Arizona Awards.
From 82 nominees, 16 people, products and places were honored as exemplifying the “best of what drives Arizona’s economy.”
Combined, the winners directly employ thousands of people and indirectly employ tens of thousands more. Their positive impact on the state's economy encompasses payrolls, taxes, infrastructure improvements, charitable contributions, quality-of-life enhancements and more.
Click here to read the press release including a list of all the award winners.
IEDC Awards TREO for Annual Report
The International Economic Development Council honored TREO with an award for its 2006-2007 Annual Report during the annual IEDC conference in Atlanta on Oct. 21. TREO's Annual Report competed with organizations serving areas with a population greater than 200,000 and was cited as a clear standout among the competition.
Click here to read the press release.
Common Ground Awards
At the Metropolitan Pima Alliance's annual Common Ground Awards on Nov. 7, TREO was recognized in Economic Development for being a member of the team in the Target.com Fulfillment Center/Rita Tech Park project. The Target project was a success due to the efforts of individuals in both the public and private sectors who provided the land, facilitated the fast tracking of the project and related permits, and encouraged Target's location in Tucson over many competitive cities and markets.
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
Did you know?
TREO's website features Success Stories and photos from local businesses and organizations in the Tucson region. Click here to read the Success Stories.
Would you like your business or organization to be featured on TREO's website as a Business Success Story? Contact Erin.Coulter@treoaz.org or call (520) 243-1935 for more information.
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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