Tucson Regional Economic Opportunities, Inc. (TREO) today announces that the organization will expand its footprint across Southern Arizona, changing its name to Sun Corridor Inc.

TREO has been providing economic development support for the entire Southern Arizona megaregion for several years, assisting in key expansions of several employers, advocating for military installations, including Ft. Huachuca; and establishing new Foreign Trade Zone sites in Pinal County. 

“The drivers discussed in TREO’s Blueprint are the keys to strengthening our competitiveness, and by addressing talent, infrastructure, healthcare and collaboration regionally through the Sun Corridor we differentiate Southern Arizona in the marketplace for high wage jobs,” said Guy Gunther, chairman, TREO Board of Directors and Vice President Operations, Arizona, CenturyLink.

“TREO leadership recognized through this work that we have a significant opportunity to coalesce one market under a unified brand,” said Denny Minano, TREO Executive Committee member and Managing Director, CMM.  “We began to seriously consider a tangible structure that defines Sun Corridor business opportunities and provides a path to combine expertise in the attraction and expansion of business, thereby increasing our global competitiveness.”

“With Mexico’s growing economic strength, it paves the way to market the entire Southern Arizona/Sonoran region as a bi-national, world-class center in integrated research, manufacturing and supply chain strength,” said Fletcher McCusker, TREO Executive Committee member and CEO, Sinfonia HealthCare Corporation. “Few economic development groups have the unique strategic position of this ‘perfect storm’ of opportunities.” 

“President Kennedy said, ‘Change is the law of life and those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.’  I’m confident that our future within the Sun Corridor has enormous potential and by making this bold move into this new regional partnership we will emerge as a stronger competitor in the global economy and position ourselves to be an attractive choice for expanding local business and recruiting new ones,” said Anthony Smith, Chair of the Pinal County Board of Supervisors and new TREO Board member. 

“It’s time for a name change to better reflect the current work we are doing and to position us as a force in the new global economy,” said Joe Snell, president & CEO, TREO. “The Sun Corridor has been recognized as one of the fastest-growing megaregions in the U.S. and with TREO’s strong foundation of economic development success, the new name Sun Corridor Inc. puts a critical business focus on a significant area of the state and the country.”

“These changes are strategic and build on the foundation of success set by TREO’s core leadership in the Tucson MSA and Pima County over the last ten years,” said Sharon Bronson, chair, Pima County Board of Supervisors. “We fully support this expansion, as it represents a new era for economic development.” 

With this new approach, Southern Arizona will benefit from:

– Promoting the megaregion as a gateway for near-shore products and movement

  of goods

– A stronger bi-national position with Arizona’s largest trading partner, leveraging

  Mexico’s economic growth

– Greater synergy to compete in a new global economy post-recession

– Enhanced influence at state and federal levels, representing a greater geographic

  economic super region

– Leveraging a larger talent pool, increasing competitiveness

– Combined resources and expertise to address complex economic trends

Effective August 1st, Sun Corridor Inc. will be located at 1985 East River Road, Suite 101, Tucson, AZ 85718.