Axiscades, an India-based engineering firm, is coming to Tucson and bringing 300 new jobs over the next five years with it, Sun Corridor officials announced today. The firm serves heavy equipment, mining and other industries. Munjay Singh, the firm’s CEO, called Caterpillar the ‘primary customer’ for Axiscades.

“We chose Tucson to be closer to Caterpillar, one of our key customers, as well as other clients in the mining industry,” said Mritunjay Singh, CEO and Executive Director of AXISCADES. “The entire region is strong not only in mining but also other key AXISCADES strategic growth areas such as aerospace, defense and healthcare.”

The company has leased office space at 177 North Church Avenue in downtown Tucson. AXISCADES joins other name brands such as Caterpillar, Hexagon Mining, Ernst & Young, Tucson Electric Power and Madden Media, among others that have expanded operations in Tucson’s core.

In 2016, Caterpillar Inc. decided to relocate its Surface, Mining & Technology Division to Downtown Tucson, along with up to 600 executive jobs over a five-year period, for an estimated economic impact of $600 million. Caterpillar’s 150,000-square-foot building is under construction west of downtown and is expected to be completed by March 2019.

AXISCADES Engineering Technologies Ltd (A listed entity on Indian Stock Exchange) provides Engineering Services to Aerospace, Heavy Engineering, Automotive and Industrial Products sectors.

The new Tucson operation will expand the company’s ability to provide engineering services to U.S.-based manufacturers, and in particular mining clients in Southern Arizona.

“This is a big win for Tucson and the entire region,” said Governor Doug Ducey. “Two years ago, we welcomed Caterpillar’s surface mining and technology division to Southern Arizona. Since then, Caterpillar’s significant investment has created a ripple effect throughout the community and the state. This is evidenced by the expansion of one of their key suppliers, AXISCADES. The AXISCADES expansion will bring new opportunity and jobs for our citizens.”

“This is another important benefit of Caterpillar’s coming to Tucson: one of its major vendors is moving here, too,” said Tucson Mayor Jonathan Rothschild. “Both Caterpillar and AXISCADES add depth and breadth–and well-paying jobs–to Tucson’s mining technology industry sector. We look forward to making the folks at AXISCADES welcome in Tucson.”

Headquartered in Bangalore, India, AXISCADES Engineering Technologies Ltd has 10 offices worldwide including North America, Europe and Asia.

Sun Corridor announced recently that a high percentage, 70% of Caterpillar’s employees, accepted to relocate to Tucson.

Key project partners include Arizona Commerce Authority, Pima County, City of Tucson, Tucson Electric Power and Sun Corridor Inc.

Last week, Texas Instruments Inc. announced plans to build a new $29 million facility, adding at least 35 high-paying jobs over time in Tucson.

Tucson also recently landed a new Amazon fulfillment center earlier this year, which will employ more than 1,500 full-time workers.

TUCSON, ARIZONA – That speculative warehouse/distribution center project for Century Park Research Center/Port of Tucson certainly appears to be an Amazon fulfillment center coming to 6701 S Kolb Road in Tucson.

And what better location could there possibly be to place one? See Real Estate Daily News The Port of Tucson where Rail Meets the Road. 

The year 2017 was a major one for the online marketplace. Amazon acquired health food giant Whole Foods and now owns 431 of its stores. With AmazonFresh, users can now order Whole Foods products online and receive them via delivery. Amazon also began the hunt for the perfect location to set up the company’s second headquarters, which is planned to be just as large as its current Seattle headquarters. The company asked North American cities to send in proposals, and dozens of cities wrote in to throw their hats into the ring. Amazon has since whittled the 238 bids down to the top 20 candidates, and the company’s second headquarters could end up anywhere from Boston, to Washington, D.C., to Atlanta.

AZBEX – Arizona Builders Exchange, a Phoenix-based online publication, has confirmed plans are in the works for a 875KSF warehouse/distribution center project at Century Park Research Center/Port of Tucson, and while the footprint will be 857KSF, the overall building area is 2.3MSF, according to the preliminary plan and documents AZBEZ was provided by a confidential source affiliated with the project.

Known as “Project Wildcat,” the documentation includes a more than 1,100-page project manual assembled by Ford & Associates Architects. The manual includes project commissioning plans, tenant turnover plans and supporting materials published by “Amazon Real Estate and Construction” (Amazon Real Estate Services).

AZBEX received the materials a little more than a week ago and set about contacting county officials, members of the development team, Amazon officials and every other source they could think of. Being a massive private project, officials were even more quiet than one would normally expect. In most instances, not even a, “No comment” was received, just deafening silence, which just challenges good reporters to keep searching.

The Plans

If the 74.5-acre vacant site is developed according to the initial specifications, the base building will be structured as follows:

• Ground Floor: 857.4KSF
• 1^st Elevated RSP Level: (10’9”): 383.7KSF
• 2^nd Elevated RSP / Process Level: (121’-6”): 671KSF
• 3^rd Elevated RSP Level (132’-3”): 406.5KSF

RSP is an Amazon-specific term related to its use of robotics in its centers. The company is the global leader in robotics-based fulfillment in its distribution centers through the use of its proprietary Robotics Storage Platform – or RSP – functionality.

The four levels yield a total building area of 2.3MSF. Of that, 2.26MSF will be warehouse storage, 48KSF will be office space and 11.5KSF will be support areas, such as restrooms, a facility shop, etc.

A total of 63 loading dock spaces are planned, and 398 transport trailer parking spaces will be provided onsite. General parking spaces are planned at 2,505 divided between the office and warehouses employees and spaces for other users.

The documents list a targeted substantial completion target of May 15, 2019 and a full completion, including all punch list items, of June 15, 2019.

For full story click here https://azbex.com/that-giant-tucson-project-yeah-its-amazon/

Real Estate Daily News Buzz is designed to give news snippets to readers that our (yet to be award winning) editors thought you could use to start your day. They come from various business perspectives, real estate, government, the Fed, local news, and the stock markets to save you time. Here you will find the headlines and what the news buzz for the day will be.

Friday, the Dow Jones industrial average fell 149.76 points, or 0.9%, to 15,698.85. The NASDAQ composite lost 19.25 points, or 0.5%, to 4,103.88. The Standard & Poor’s 500 index shed 11.60 points, or 0.6%, to 1,782.59. Benchmark crude oil for March delivery fell 74 cents to close at $97.49 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

US STOCKS END TOUGH JANUARY WITH ANOTHER DECLINE
NEW YORK (AP) — Stock investors were hit from all sides in January. Concerns about the global economy and U.S. company earnings, as well as turmoil in emerging markets, led the Dow Jones industrial average to its worst start since 2009. However, many investors remain hopeful that the problems will not spill over into the rest of 2014. They even see the downturn as healthy, given the U.S. market’s rapid rise last year. The Dow slid 5.3% in January while the Standard & Poor’s 500 index fell 3.6% and the NASDAQ composite declined 1.7%.

GOVERNMENT MAY BLOCK TAKE OVER OF JOS A. BANKS’
Jos. A. Bank raised doubts Sunday about whether the federal government will approve the takeover bid by rival clothier Men’s Wearhouse. Jos. A. Bank Clothiers said that Men’s Wearhouse had yet to explain why the Federal Trade Commission would approve the proposed combination because of antitrust concerns. “It is a very serious step for the FTC to issue a second request,” the letter said. “Our two companies’ stockholders should understand that second requests are issued in less than 2% of all transactions filed with the government and a high percentage of those transactions are never completed.” The two retailers have been dueling since October when Jos. A. Bank, based in Hampstead, Md., offered $2.3 billion for Men’s Wearhouse.

WALMART, AMAZON SHOW CHANGING SHOPPING HABITS
NEW YORK (AP) — The financial strains and shifting shopping habits of Americans have led to uneven fortunes for retailers. Traditional consumer companies like Walmart and Mattel have continued to struggle as Americans spend more cautiously in the uncertain economy. Meanwhile, Amazon.com has flourished as shoppers increasingly buy online rather than head to stores. The trend was evident during the pivotal holiday shopping season, a time roughly from November through December when many retailers can make up to 40 per cent of their annual revenue. Overall, government figures show that spending during October through December rose at the fastest clip in three years. But exactly where — and how — Americans spent their money during the final months of the year shifted. Fewer people were in and out of stores during the holiday season, but more were shopping online.

STATE DEPARTMENT DELIVERS TO OBAMA REASONS TO SAY “YES” TO KEYSTONE PIPELINE
WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama is running out of reasons to say no to Keystone XL, the proposed oil pipeline that’s long been looming over his environmental legacy. Five years after the pipeline’s backers first asked the Obama administration for approval, the project remains in limbo, stuck in a complex regulatory process that has enabled Obama to put off what will inevitably be a politically explosive decision. But the release Friday of a long-awaited government report removes a major excuse for delay, ramping up pressure on the president to make a call. The State Department’s report raised no significant environmental objections to the pipeline, marking a victory for proponents, who argue the project will create jobs and strengthen America’s energy security. Environmentalists disagree and insist approval would fly in the face of Obama’s vaunted promise to fight climate change, even as the report gives him political cover to approve it. They argue the report, which provides a detailed assessment of tar sands emissions, offers Obama more than enough justification to oppose the pipeline. Obama is not tipping his hand. But the White House pushed back on the notion that the pipeline is now headed for speedy approval. Only after various U.S. agencies and the public have a chance to weigh the report and other data will a decision be made, said White House spokesman Matt Lehrich.

CLINTON BACKS OBAMA ON IRAN SANCTIONS
WASHINGTON – Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is warning Congress that new unilateral sanctions against Iran could upend sensitive international negotiations over its nuclear development, imploring lawmakers to work with the Obama administration in presenting a unified front to Tehran. Echoing President Barack Obama’s deep concerns about another round of tough economic penalties, Clinton said any congressional action could undercut U.S. work with its allies as well as American influence with Russia and China in forcing Tehran to negotiate after years of inconclusive talks. “Now that serious negotiations are finally under way, we should do everything we can to test whether they can advance a permanent solution,” Clinton said. “As President Obama has said, we must give diplomacy a chance to succeed, while keeping all options on the table.” Clinton offered her assessment in a three-page letter to Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., the chairman of the Armed Services Committee. Levin’s office released the letter, dated Jan. 26, on Sunday. Levin and several other committee chairmen have expressed a willingness to hold off on sanctions to give diplomatic efforts a chance. However, 59 Republicans and Democrats back legislation to impose a new round of penalties on Iran, maintaining that crippling economic sanctions forced Tehran to make concessions.

BRANDS VIE TO STAND OUT AMID SUPER BOWL CHATTER
NEW YORK (AP) — If it’s on TV, it’s on Twitter, at least when it comes to blockbuster events such as the Super Bowl. Advertisers, in particular, are ready to capitalize.“What advertisers have realized is that Super Bowl advertising doesn’t just take place on TV, with your 30-second or 60-second spot that you paid millions of dollars for,” said Debra Aho Williamson, an analyst for research firm eMarketer. “You really need to have a broader presence.” Last year’s Super Bowl was interrupted by a 34-minute power outage — luckily, for one advertiser at least. Oreo seized on the opportunity and tweeted “you can still dunk in the dark.” It was retweeted and mentioned on Facebook thousands of times. Every brand wants to be this year’s Oreo. Brands are setting up social media “war rooms” so they can respond to memorable events as they happen — be it another blackout, a snow storm or a wardrobe malfunction — with clever, retweetable quips.

US CONSUMER SPENDING UP 0.4% IN DECEMBER
WASHINGTON (AP) — Americans increased their spending at a solid pace for the second straight month in December even though their income was flat. Consumer spending rose 0.4% in December, compared with November when spending had increased an even stronger 0.6%, the Commerce Department reported Friday. That was the best gain in five months. Income, however, showed no gain at all in December after a 0.2 per cent rise in November. Wages and salaries were basically flat last month, reflecting a sharp slowing in employment growth. For all of 2013, income growth was 2.8%, the weakest performance since 2009 when income fell 2.8% as the country struggled with a deep recession.

ARIZONA LAWMAKERS APPROVE $6.8 MILLION FOR CHILD PROTECTION
TUCSON – State lawmakers this past Thursday gave final approval to $6.8 million in additional funds for the state’s new child welfare agency. The measure requires a signature from Gov. Jan Brewer, who has advocated for the increased spending to fund the hiring of additional caseworkers. The legislation adds funding to the budget of the Division of Child Safety and Family Services, the new agency created earlier this month by the governor’s executive order. The agency will absorb much of what was in the troubled Child Protective Services division of the Department of Economic Security.

TUCSON POLICE OFFICERS GET NEW TRAUMA KITS
TUCSON – About 600 officers and sergeants in the Tucson Police Department (TPD) have been trained to use the new emergency kits, which aim to bridge the gap before medical help arrives from the Tucson Fire Department. The kits cost the department $39,000 and the department qualified for a military surplus program to help equip the kits with additional medical supplies for free, said Lt. Eric Kazmierczak of Operations Division South. The kits contain items such as special wound packing gauzes, a tourniquet, pressure dressings to treat severe wounds, a large bandage to cover abdominal wounds, and an airtight sticker that seals holes in the chest cavity.

TRAFFIC ALERT: UTILITY WORK ON AVIATION HIGHWAY THIS WEEKEND
TUCSON – The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) will have intermittent closures on Barraza-Aviation Parkway (State Route 210), just west of Kino Parkway (milepost 2.08), from 6 a.m. to noon Sunday. Traffic will be stopped in 15 minute intervals during the work.

GOV. BREWER GETTING READY FOR NEXT YEAR’S SUPER BOWL
PHOENIX- Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer is in New York City for Super Bowl weekend and a ceremonial hand-off for next year’s big game in Glendale. Brewer’s spokesman Andrew Wilder says the governor is promoting Arizona (and its warm temperatures) on the trip and will meet tomorrow with New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.