Tucson Electric Power supported the creation of nearly 1,300 jobs in Southern Arizona in 2022 as part of our ongoing support for local economic development.
Last year, with support from TEP and local partners, three large employers committed to expansions or relocations that created more than 100 local jobs each in our community. Since 2016, TEP has worked directly with businesses that have created about 20,000 local jobs.
All of the new businesses are in the field of manufacturing operations, with Tucson quickly becoming a hub for battery manufacturing and related industries, including automotive parts and electric vehicles. Tucson has become an attractive option for businesses seeking to take advantage of incentives to retain jobs in the United States, said Camila Martins-Bekat, Senior Market Development Representative.
“We have lots of available land and intellectual capital, since programs through Pima Community College and the University of Arizona align well with the type of workforce these businesses are seeking,” Martins-Bekat said.
TEP regularly collaborates with a regional team, comprised of city, county and business representatives, that promotes the Tucson region to prospective businesses. Outreach includes visits with business representatives as well as interaction with site selectors who help businesses identify locations that fit their needs.
“TEP works closely with companies to support their future electric needs by ensuring appropriate electrical resources are made available in the time frame they need,” Martins-Bekat said.
The largest new business was American Battery Factory, which selected Tucson as the site for its first battery cell gigafactory in the United States and the company’s official headquarters. The factory has long-term plans to add 1,000 jobs to the region. Read a press release from Sun Corridor.
“We are excited to bring high quality technology manufacturing jobs to Tucson and to help establish a healthy and sustainable manufacturing base in the community. We are grateful for TEP’s leadership and dedication to help bring this vision to fruition,” said Michael Davidson, Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel of American Battery Factory.
The other businesses were:
- Sion Power, expansion for a developer of batteries for electric vehicles – 150 jobs
- Advanced Financial Company, consumer loan and other services – 152 jobs
