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Operating Environment
Yuma, which has two national highway systems running directly through the region: Interstate 8 with East/West access and Highway 95 (Canamex Corridor) with North/South access, is located in close proximity to both major domestic and foreign markets. The New San Luis II Commercial Port of Entry provides expedited movement of commercial traffic from the border directly to Interstate 8.
Yuma Manufacturers’ Association
The Yuma Manufacturers’ Association was formed in 2006 to address concerns about workforce issues raised in a business survey. Its mission is shared interest initiatives to further strengthen manufacturers’ success in our economy. In collaboration with Arizona Western College, YMA has developed a customized training curriculum designed around the common needs of local industry:
- Industrial Electric
- Programmatic Logistic Controls
- “Super Manager” course was designed in conjunction with the technical training
Classes in leadership and management have also assisted industry in cultivating a more skilled local workforce.
Companies can send their employees to centralized training sites or opt to have someone from their own staff become a certified instructor at their place of business.
The local workforce board in cooperation with the community college has attained certification as an Accredited Training Center for the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER). The programs foundation is to develop industry-driven standardized craft training programs with portable credentials and help address the critical workforce shortages in Manufacturing, Engineering, Construction and many other trades. This certification will allow incoming companies to develop operation pertinent curriculum that can be implemented in-house or at the college within 30 days of application.
There are currently 10 active members of YMA, and the group has passed approximately 120 individuals through the multiple training courses. In addition to college credit, participants now receive National Certified Accreditation.
Air Transportation
The Yuma International Airport is served by two major airlines providing service to Los Angeles International Airport via United Airlines and Phoenix Sky Harbor via US Airways. Both airlines offer a combined 12 arrivals and 12 departures daily.
Manufacturing and Maquiladora Operations
Manufacturing and Maquiladora operations have had a strong presence in Yuma for over 30 years. Fortune 500 companies such as Carrier, Shaw Industries, Johnson Controls, and Weyerhauser have successfully operated facilities in Yuma that service their entire southwest market. Maquiladora plants such as BOSE Electronics, Daewoo, and Johnson Controls have managed to reduce their overall costs by utilizing Mexican labor for traditional assembly and rely on the Yuma workforce for value-added product completion.
Since 2000, Yuma’s workforce has grown by 25% to 86,700 workers. These employees all live within commuting distance to the proposed site locations. The recent economic downturn has increased our available manufacturing labor pool by approximately 300 displaced workers ranging in skill set levels from unskilled - skilled workers.
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Why Yuma?
Located near the junction of California, Arizona, and Mexico, Yuma is a natural transportation hub with over 50 million consumers within a one day truck haul via Interstate 8 or US 95 both of which run directly through Yuma County. Some of the major advantages for business in Yuma:
- Low cost utility rates
- Workforce with experience in Advanced Manufacturing
- Competitive labor rates
- Abundant supply of water (senior water rights to 40% of Arizona’s Colorado River allotment
Industrial Manufacturing
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Annual Operating Costs for Industrial Manufacturing
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Area Manufacturing Employers
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Civilian Labor Force
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Manufacturing and Related Occupations
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Incentives
