At the turn of the century, Tucson faced many challenges when trying to recruit new companies.
Downtown was seen as a liability, as was the dysfunction happening at Pima Community College at the time.
Business leadership was fractured, not working together, and companies eyeing a move to Tucson were unsure how to approach.
Twenty years later, downtown is now seen as a great asset and PCC has risen to prominence with its Centers for Excellence.
Now the leaders of the two largest business groups have come together.
The Centers of Excellence at Pima Community College is credited with being a recruiting tool for companies looking to move into the Tucson market.
The Tucson Metro Chamber, which primarily focused on small business, and Sun Corridor Inc., which worked with site selectors to recruit big companies to Tucson, now sit under one roof, .
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“We went from courting to marriage in about seven months,†said Joe Snell, CEO of the new organization, who previously headed Sun Corridor. “We’re a combined voice of economic development and an army of small businesses.â€
The missions do not conflict.
“A lot of our small businesses are suppliers to the larger business,†said Michael Guymon, formerly the head of the Tucson Metro Chamber and now chief advocacy officer for The Chamber of Southern Arizona. “It’s a symbiotic relationship.â€
In a unique move, both CEOs have chosen to remain with the new chamber and work together.
Snell said that since the announcement was made about the merger, feedback has been positive with a lot of queries from other communities about how Tucson made it happen.
“We are going to be a regional chamber,†he said. “We’re going to work in partnership with other chambers on issues.â€
The revitalization of downtown Tucson has drawn more events, such as the Jazz Festival, and thousands of visitors which creates an energy that companies looking to do business in the city appreciates.
Most businesses operating in the Tucson area have less than 100 employees, and the new chamber represents nearly 85% of the region’s businesses.
“We’re going to work on behalf of all businesses,†Snell said. “It’s not so much about the size but what they bring to Tucson.â€
Guymon added that the new chamber also wants to corral the power of all the other chambers in the region, such as the Hispanic Chamber, Black Chamber and other town chambers.
“The different chambers are diverse, and some are more advocacy focused,†he said. “We’re going to take the lead on a lot of policy issues.â€
The University of Arizona has always been a recruiting tool, and its new focus on fusion energy is a compelling marketing tool, Snell said.
The Centers of Excellence at Pima Community College focus on applied technology and information technology, among other fields.
He said the rise of Pima Community College’s has added to Tucson’s appeal.
When companies see students being trained for specialized workforce needs, those companies see a pipeline of employees.
Downtown, once a largely abandoned area except for government buildings, is now bustling with new shops, restaurants, hotels, sporting and entertainment events.
The proximity to Mexico and its manufacturing capabilities continues to be an asset for Tucson, as suppliers look to be close to that base which has spurred much investment in industrial space in the region.
Defense and biotech industries also help Tucson stand out.
The revitalization of downtown Tucson has been a big plus for recruiting companies to the region
Roads continue to be a challenge and Guymon said that is one example of where the new chamber will place an emphasis on policy.
“Transportation infrastructure will be a top priority,†he said. “There are going to be some big policy areas that our community is going to need to address.â€
The chamber hopes to show the value of the merger and accomplishments.
“I want to look back a year from now and showcase to the community how and why it made sense,†Guymon said. “I want the community to understand the value we bring.â€
