Aerospace and Defense Testing

Yuma’s Aviation Assets

• Military community with skilled aviation workforce
• Restricted and Special-Use Airspace for testing and flights
• Aviation Industrial Park with access to aprons, taxiways, and runways
• Shared Use Airfield with FAA certified Yuma International Airport Foreign Trade Zone #219
• No noise or encroachment issues
• Clean desert air, low humidity, 350 sunny days every year
• Within a two day truck haul of all primary suppliers on the west coast
• Four colleges and universities
• Low interest financing programs (Municipal Bonds, IDA and New
• Market Tax Credits)
• Multiple flight and testing ranges
• Existing facilities for testing or manufacturing

Education

Embry Riddle Aeronautical University has partnered with Arizona Western College-Yuma to provide certificates and degrees in the fields of Mechanical Engineering, Avionics Technician, Systems Maintenance and Aviation Structural Repair. The campus facilities are located on the Marine Corps Air Station-Yuma and also via satellite at the community college. The aviation catalogue at Embry Riddle-Yuma can be expanded for the needs of the company and expansion of the campus is in development.

Workforce

On an annual basis 8,000-12,000 Marines from the Yuma MCAS Air Station, many certified in Mechanical Engineering, Avionics Technician, Systems Maintenance, and Aviation Structural Repair exit the service seeking employment in the Yuma region. The existing skilled Avionic labor force that resides in Yuma is complimented with an additional 3,000 engineers located at the Yuma Proving Ground test center.  An abundance of skilled technicians, mechanics, engineers and industrial trade employees creates a built in pipeline of DOD experienced labor that is very hard to find in most parts of the country. Programs at the local college level along with Northern Arizona-Yuma and Embry Riddle are equipping our workforce with the skills necessary to garner careers within the Aerospace and Defense industries.

LOCAL INCENTIVES

City of Yuma Economic Development Incentive Fund

The City of Yuma has created a performance based incentive fund designed to encourage new business development, business expansions and relocations. The fund can provide up to $1,500 per new hire, given to the company in an upfront cash grant award.

City of Yuma Real and Personal Property Tax Abatement

The City of Yuma will support and agree to property tax abatements for companies creating new jobs above the County median wage ($12.12/hr) along with a capital investment to exceed $1 million and per the approval of the City Council. The duration of the abatement will be predicated upon the overall economic impact of the project.

Workforce Salary and Training Grant

YPIC offers programs that cover the entire costs of employee training, Including teaching, materials, equipment and other expenses. Companies can additionally qualify for reimbursement of 50% employee salaries paid during training for up to 6 months.

New Market Tax Credits

Below market interest loans guaranteed by federal government for the purpose of stimulating development in rural communities. The loan is valued at 15% of the total project cost. Companies utilizing New Market Tax Credits pay on the interest only of the loan for seven years. After the 7th year, the loan is forgiven and the company is awarded the principal and equity of the loan.

	Nav: Leading Industries
	Food Technology  Military & Defense Testing  Industrial Manufacturing  Logistics & Distribution  Renewable Energy  Twin-Plant / Maquila  Operations

 

CONTACT US

Embry Riddle - Yuma

Embry-Riddle accepts up to 90 semester credits from non-traditional credits towards a degree. The total credit requirement for a bachelor’s degree is 120 credits. Of the 120 credits, general education requirement is 36 credits, which can be completely earned

 from AWC and transfer over. The tuition per credit for Active Duty student is $250, which matches with the maximum amount covered by the Tuition Assistance available for active duty students. Currently at MCAS Yuma, 1 student is enrolled in the Aviation Maintenance Technology Certificate course, 22 students enrolled in Bachelor’s degree programs, and 2 students are working towards Master’s degree programs through Embry-Riddle. Companies seeking to provide continuing education for their employees can utilize Embry Riddle’s extensive Aviation catalogue of courses for training in Yuma.

Aerospace and Defense Testing
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Wage Comparison (partial list) Aerospace and Defense Testing

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Contractors Operating at Yuma Proving Ground and Marine Corps Air Station
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Lockheed Martin Test Pilots
Click here to view 5th generation fighter planes video

Incentive Programs

Greater Yuma EDC F35 Website

Maps

Arizona Service Highway

Arizona State Highway System

National Highway System

Southwest Border Major Roads

Union Pacific Railroad

Union Pacific Sunset Route

Yuma International Defense Contractor Complex

The Defense Contractor Complex (DCC), located at Yuma International  Airport is a state of the art industrial park dedicated to the manufacturing,
distribution, repair and maintenance of the aviation industry. The 120 acre
complex has been equipped with the infrastructure and technology needed to provide a center for completing the secure activities required by multiple avionic industry sub-sectors.

DCC Features:

• *New* 45,000 sf spec multi-tenant facility available in 2012
• $500m invested in new infrastructure to support the 2012 arrival of the F35B Stovl
• Four runways which range in size from 5,711' by 150' up to 13,300' by 200'
• 340,000 sf of Apron space
• 12" thick concrete aprons and taxiways rated for 980,000 lb aircraft
• Controlled Access
• Military Spec Security
• Foreign Trade Zone #219 
• 80+ acres available for lease or build to suit options
• Brand new, executive level FBO services with government fuel contract
• Large aircraft tug and drive support equipment available
• Noise abatement contours allow for all aircraft testing 24/7
• Blast pad large enough for 787’s

Yuma  Proving Ground

Yuma Proving Ground is the nation’s largest military testing facility.  Situated in western Yuma County, the site is 1,307.8 square miles with no urban encroachment. The primary testing activities  include unmanned aerial systems, long range munitions, artillery systems and military vehicles. Yuma Proving Ground boast the single largest concentration of  engineers in the State of Arizona (3,000+).

YPG Features:

• 2,000 square miles of restricted airspace
• 24/7 Onsite and Offsite testing facilities and support staff
• Six airfields with hangar space
• No urban encroachment or noise contours
• The longest overland artillery range (40 miles) in the nation
• The most highly instrumented helicopter armament test range in the Department of Defense
• Over 200 miles of improved road courses for testing tracked and wheeled military vehicles
• Over 600 miles of fiber-optic cable linking test locations
• The most modern mine and demolitions test facility in the western hemisphere
• One of the premiere test and evaluation sites for improvised explosive devices (IEDs)