Partnership with Israel Tech Park Promises Tucson Jobs

Nancy Montoya
December 22, 2015

Next year may bring a big boost to Southern Arizona’s Economy courtesy of Israel. Nancy Montoya reports that efforts by the University of Arizona Tech Park are beginning to pay off with the goal of bringing more industry and higher-paying jobs to the area.

During a recent overseas trip, the head of the University of Arizona Tech park, Bruce Wright and his team scored a big win by signing agreements with their counter part at the Advanced Technologies Park in Israel. One Israeli industry planning to expand to the UA Tech Park is solar.

“We have considerable expertise at the U of A in that field and we have a growing solar energy sector here in Southern Arizona and the Israelis have also been very innovative in that field of work," said Bruce Wright, associate vice president of Tech Parks Arizona.

The other Israeli industry heading for the UA Tech Park has to do with their decades of experience with anti-terrorism and security technologies. Wright said Southern Arizona needs to attract new industries.

“That’s how you increase the wealth of the community," Wright said. "That’s how you bring new jobs into the economy.”

Wright said the jobs will pay well.

“I’ll give you the example. Here at the UA Tech Park, the average wage is a little over $90,000 dollars per worker. That’s about twice the Pima County Worker.”

Wright said the formula for Southern Arizona prosperity is simple: high-tech jobs equal better paying jobs.