Caterpillar Inc. is coming to downtown Tucson, bringing hundreds of six-figure jobs to the region, Arizonaβs governor and local officials announced this morning.
The regional headquarters of the manufacturer of construction and mining equipment will bring more than 600 jobs to Tucson over five years with employees in executive management, engineering, product development and support positions.
The majority of the jobs will be relocated employees from around the globe. The state estimates the economic impact to Southern Arizona at $600 million.
βThis is a huge win for Tucson and the entire region,β Gov. Doug Ducey said today. βIn addition to bringing jobs and capital investment to Southern Arizona, a project of this level will have a ripple effect throughout the community and state.β
Moves are set to begin in the coming weeks.
Between 40 and 60 employees will relocate into the county-owned building at 97 E. Congress St., while a new facility is built for Caterpillar, also be in the downtown area.
Caterpillar has a proving ground near Green Valley that opened in 1990. The company also has a large plant in Monterrey, Mexico, and suppliers throughout Northern Mexico.
βThe ability to get closer to our customers and tightly collaborate across all aspects of the business is at the center of our strategy,β said Tom Bluth, Caterpillarβs vice president, who oversees the Surface Mining and Technology division. "Southern Arizona is a growing region known for a workforce rich in mining, technology, and engineering expertise as well as an attractive quality of life for both families and young graduates.β
Mayor Jonathan Rothschild said the buzz in downtown Tucson was a big draw for company officials who visited several times.
"Caterpillar has chosen downtown Tucson because of the UAβs and Pima's ability to supply a workforce of designers and engineers, our proximity to Mexico, and the excitement they saw in our downtown," he said. "I couldn't be more thrilled."
John Moffatt, Pima Countyβs director of strategic planning, praised the teamwork between state, county and city officials to land the deal.
βThis was really a community effort,β he said. βI canβt emphasize enough how well the city and county worked together on this.β
The pay level of the incoming workforce will have a big impact on Tucson, Moffatt said.
βTheyβll bring a lot of new money into town,β he said.
Coming Wednesday:Β Negotiations to get a regional headquarters for Caterpillar Inc. to Tucson began more than six months ago and involved dozens of players, multiple site visits and millions of dollars pledged.
