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Caterpillar to move HQ downtown, add 600 jobs

Posted at 9:09 AM, May 03, 2016
and last updated 2016-05-03 20:50:27-04

Caterpillar, Inc. is moving its mining and technology offices to downtown Tucson.

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey announced the move in a press release. The facility will add 600 jobs to the economy and is expected to have a $600 million economic impact. 

"This is a huge win for Tucson and the entire region," said Ducey. "In addition to bringing jobs and capital investment to Southern Arizona, a project of this level will have a ripple effect throughout the community and state. I'd like to thank the Caterpillar team for their commitment to and confidence in Arizona. I'd also like to thank our partners, the Arizona Commerce Authority, Sun Corridor Inc., Pima County, Rio Nuevo District and the City of Tucson, for their hard work in bringing this project to our state. This is an excellent example of Arizona's attractiveness to businesses as well as our strength in collaborative economic development."

Caterpillar has been in the state for more than 70 years, including its presence at the Tucson Proving Ground and Tinaja Hills Demonstration Center.

Caterpillar's newest home in Tucson will bring the company's state-wide employment to nearly 1,000 people. The regional headquarters is set to move in to 97 East Congress for surface and mining technologies. 
 
Caterpillar will lease the 40,000 square foot building downtown, pending approval from the state. The new regional headquarters will help the company expand their capabilities at their two existing Green Valley locations. 
 
Mayor Jonathan Rothschild says Caterpillar felt Tucson was a perfect place to call home. 
 
"They looked at the University and Pima, 'Do we have a good workforce? Check the box, yes. Do we have a downtown where our professionals want to be? Check the box yes,"
 
 
More than 600 openings in executive management, engineering, product development and support positions are set to be filled over the next five years. 
 
Mayor Rothschild says the addition of such a big company means more will soon be on the way.
 
The company will begin relocating existing employees starting this summer. 
 
"For the city to take these 600 jobs at that level of pay is something we haven't had in a long time. We've had other big employers come in, but not who are bringing engineers, designers, technical people."