BizECONOMY
21st-Century Convergence Center Airport, Railroad, Interstate Highway By June C. Hussey One of the biggest opportunities looming on the horizon for Southern Arizona is the transformative potential of the airport region to become a largescale employment center as well as a transportation and logistics hub. Yet establishing a bold direction for any community requires a shared vision and consensus among community members and their leaders. Sun Corridor Inc. and the Tucson Airport Authority entered into a formal agreement in April for Sun Corridor Inc. to take the lead in marketing TAA and the airport property as an employment center and transportation hub. The airport already is the landlord for a number of employers, including Raytheon Missile Systems. Lisa Lovallo, a member of Sun Corridor Inc.’s Chairman Circle and an ex44 BizTucson
<<<
Fall 2018
ecutive with Cox Communications is on board. “The Sun Corridor Inc./Tucson Airport Authority partnership has the potential to revolutionize our aerospace corridor and logistics footprint.” “The partnership with Sun Corridor Inc. is an opportunity to take advantage of the synergies between TAA’s already strong $7.4 billion annual economic impact and the region’s other successes,” said Bonnie Allin, TAA president and CEO. “From the airport side we have Raytheon Missile Systems, Bombardier Aerospace, Aerovation, Ascent Aviation and others that could be leveraged with the recent arrivals nearby including HomeGoods’ distribution center, Federal Express, Faribault Foods, Target and of course the new Amazon fulfillment center.” Joe Snell, president and CEO of Sun
Corridor Inc., said “I think the continual focus on our key industries that drive us will be important – that’s continuing to work to bring in vertically integrated companies in the mining industry and the biotech arena, and continuing to focus on our spot as an aerospace and defense hub. But some of the bigger opportunities I see in the next 10 years surround the whole Sonoran Corridor and airport employment region.” TAA has also been an active participant in the Arizona Department of Transportation’s work and studies regarding rail. A north-south Union Pacific line runs along the west property line of Tucson International Airport, and TAA has various plans and studies that would connect that line to airport property for future non-aeronautical development. In addition, TAA enjoys www.BizTucson.com