Economic Reporter

City of Mesa | Office of Economic Development

November 2022

Mesa: a premier hub for aerospace and defense companies

For decades, Mesa has been a strategic location for aerospace and defense companies such as Boeing, Northrop Grumman, Nammo Defense Systems, MD Helicopters, Amphenol, Times Microwave Systems, Inter-Coastal Electronics, Textron, Embraer, Unical Aviation, and more – all with large operations in Mesa.

Recently, Mesa has added more big names to the mix, including Virgin Galactic, Gulfstream, and KP Aviation to name a few. These companies choose Mesa because of its strategic competitive advantages.

Mesa’s two airport districts are loaded with opportunities

At the center of the Falcon District is Falcon Field Airport, one of the nation’s most active general aviation airports and an ideal location for aerospace, aviation and defense companies involved in manufacturing, research and development, aviation services, and MRO operations. Falcon Field is surrounded by significant industrial development that can accommodate aerospace companies of all types and sizes.
 

Currently, construction is being completed on phase two of the Falcon Field Hangars. This project brings hundreds of thousands of square feet of leasable hangar and office space to Falcon Field. Just north of the airport, Boeing just completed Phantom Works, its 155,000-square-foot advanced composite fabrication center to produce components for future combat aircraft.

Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport is the key economic driver for Mesa’s Gateway Area and is a prime location for aerospace, aviation and defense related businesses including high-tech manufacturers and suppliers, research and development, logistics and cargo services, and MRO operations.

Recently, Gulfstream Aerospace has taken 112,000 square feet of existing space at the airport while it builds a 225,000-square-foot MRO facility. Virgin Galactic just announced it will be taking approximately 150,000 square feet of space that is currently under construction for a new final assembly manufacturing facility for its next-generation Delta class spaceships.

Gateway Airport is currently undergoing a $25 million expansion of its current terminal facilities and is under agreement with Boyer Company to develop approximately 100 acres on the airport’s eastside.

 

SkyBridge Arizona has 363.5 acres for mixed-used development at the southwest corner of the airport. Currently, two industrial buildings and a hotel hosting two Wyndham brands have started construction.

Surrounding the Gateway Airport are millions of square feet of speculative industrial space under development and thousands of acres of developable land, providing plenty of options for relocating and expanding companies.

Arizona ranks well nationally

According to the PwC’s 2021 Aerospace Manufacturing Attractiveness Rankings, Arizona ranks #5 in the U.S. This “attractiveness index” examines relative strengths across numerous variables of locations both within the United States and globally.
 
Additionally, Arizona Commerce Authority states these Arizona statistics on its website.
  • #1 in concentration for guided missile and space vehicle manufacturing.
  • #2 in aviation maintenance economic activity.
  • Top 5 largest employment in aerospace and defense manufacturing.
  • #7 in aerospace and defense employment with more than 57,800 workers.
  • $17.5 billion in department of defense contracts.
  • ASU is in the top 5 nationally for supply chain management/logistics programs.
  • The Arizona-Sonora megaregion is one of the most vibrant aerospace business and innovation environments anywhere in the world.
  • Aerospace parts and products were Arizona’s second-largest export commodity.

An abundant talent pool and pipeline

The Phoenix-Mesa metro area is well supplied with an abundant, skilled workforce and Mesa’s workforce talent pipeline is incredibly strong. Mesa’s several higher education campuses offer specialized training for high-tech aerospace and defense industries including composites, manufacturing and electronics technology, aeronautical engineering, airport management, air traffic control, pilot training, aircraft maintenance, and much more. And recently, ASU’s Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering enrollment hit 30,000 making ASU the largest engineering school in the nation.

Low cost of doing business

Mesa and the State of Arizona are business-friendly with a low cost of doing business. Arizona has no franchise tax, business inventory tax, or estate tax, and is among the lowest in the nation for corporate and individual income tax rates. Furthermore, Mesa’s Foreign Trade Zone and Military Reuse Zone offer qualified companies a significant property tax reduction of as much as 72.9% among other benefits.

 

Learn more about Mesa’s aerospace and defense sectors at www.MesaAerospace.com. 
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Visit Mesa welcomes back visitors with new Adventure Passport

Visit Mesa has joined Wildjoy on a joint marketing campaign aimed at enticing visitors to explore Mesa’s many outdoor recreation areas. The all-new Adventure Explorer Passport features more than 20 curated experiences in Mesa and the surrounding area – the Tonto National Forest, Superstition Wilderness and along the Lower Salt River – and incentivizes exploration with a points reward system.

Lacy Cain, the founder of Wildjoy, has been making incredible waves in Arizona’s social media community for her online platform which serves as a resource for exploring all the state’s wonders and activities. Visitors can log their journey on the mobile-friendly platform and exchange points for prizes. 

All the adventures range from easy to moderate and each one is marked by geo-coordinates making the check-in experience seamless on the cell phone passport. Guests can also download Visit Mesa’s accompanying Adventure Explorer Guide which features a detailed listing of Arizona birds, wildlife, flora, outfitter listings, and helpful tips on how to prepare for your visit to the Sonoran Desert. Download the Adventure Explorer Passport at www.VisitMesa.com/Passes. 

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