Tucson Airports Partner With Economic Development Agency Sun Corridor Inc.

The Tucson Airport Authority and the southern Arizona-based economic development organization Sun Corridor Inc. have agreed to a new partnership to maximize commercial and industrial development and investment of the region’s airports.

The Boards of both the TAA and Sun Corridor Inc. voted Friday (April 20) to approve the new partnership.
The TAA’s two airports, Tucson International Airport (TUS) and Ryan Airfield (RYN), provide $7.4 billion annually to the economy of southern Arizona, supporting more than 43,000 jobs with an average wage of $81,731, according to an economic impact study by Elliott D. Pollack and Company that was released April 4.

The TAA has been actively working to attract development to its airports and this new agreement takes advantage of Sun Corridor’s expertise and leverages its more than $2.5 million budget to accelerate its goals in a cost-effective manner.

“We believe this partnership announcement is a game changer because we are pioneering a new way forward in how economic development is accomplished by the TAA,” TAA President and CEO Bonnie Allin and Sun Corridor President and CEO Joe Snell said in a joint announcement. “As leaders of these two organizations, we cannot express enough how truly excited we are to announce this new model for the airport and other potential industries.”

Their enthusiasm was echoed by the Board Chairs of both organizations.

“The Sun Corridor Inc. staff represents over 100 years of combined experience and we are recognized by the national site selection community as the ‘quarterback’ and leader in economic development for Southern Arizona,” said David G. Hutchens, chair, Sun Corridor Inc. and president & CEO, UNS Energy Corp., Tucson Electric Power & UniSource Energy Services. “We have the ability to rapidly market one of the region’s top assets.”

“This new relationship allows the TAA staff to focus on its own core strengths: operating the safest and most effective and efficient airport system for Southern Arizona,” said TAA Board Chair Lisa Lovallo, Southern Arizona Market Vice President for Cox Communications. “We’re looking forward to a broader promotional reach of the airports’ assets.”