Pascua Yaqui Tribe Building Career Pivot Center in Tucson with $4 Million Grant
TUCSON (July 25, 2024) – The Pascua Yaqui Tribe plans to build a new worker-training facility in midtown Tucson, near the new casino being constructed at Grant & I-10 and just north of Old Pacqua, to train tribal members and residents across the region for construction jobs.
The U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Gina Raimondo, and the Economic Development Administration (EDA) awarded the Pascua Yaqui Development Corporation a $4 million grant to support workforce development.
This grant will support the construction of a 3,200-square-foot workforce development facility at 2455 N Fairview Avenue on 2.78 acres of land and a former truck terminal purchased by the tribe in January 2023. The grant includes acquiring heavy equipment to facilitate training in the construction trades and four heavy-equipment operator training simulators. According to grantee estimates, this EDA investment will create 135 jobs for the training facility, which will be called the Career Pivot Center.
“The facility and equipment, which will also include four heavy-equipment operator training simulators, will be used to train workers for the tribe’s construction arm, Sonoran Pueblo Contracting, as well as other local training partners,” said Daune Cardenas, CEO of the Pascua Yaqui Development Corp. “Sonoran Pueblo Contracting currently has 36 employees, including about 60% who are tribal members.”
“The Economic Development Administration works closely with local communities to support place-based economic growth,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo. “This investment will bolster the construction and labor industry, creating new job opportunities while helping to diversify the local economy.”
“Today’s $4 million investment will boost business opportunities for the Pascua Yaqui Reservation – supporting strong career paths for Pascua Yaqui Tribe members and fueling economic growth in Southern Arizona,” said Senator Kyrsten Sinema.
“Arizona’s economy has unique needs, especially in rural and tribal communities, and it’s important that we continue to support these areas through targeted investments,” said Senator Mark Kelly. “This funding for the Pascua Yaqui community is a prime example of how we can create good-paying jobs and bolster our workforce. By constructing a new training facility and providing essential resources, we are helping to build a stronger, more resilient economy for Southern Arizona.”
The tribe plans to start design and engineering work in August and have the center running in about 16 months or toward the end of 2025 or early 2026.