Marco Melançon 

General Manager 
Bombardier Aviation 
Tucson Service Center

If you were to be asked by a site selector, what is the best part of doing business in Tucson, what are the areas you would highlight?

Tucson is recognized as a national leader in aerospace and defense, renewable energy, and has unique resources that make it an ideal place to operate. With a high concentration of aerospace industries, outstanding college and university educational programs to support engineering and technical needs, along with three nearby military bases, employers have a wealth of skilled personnel from which to choose.

What are some of the emerging trends in your industry that could have an impact locally on site selectors looking at the Tucson region?

The future of aerospace is filled with innovations such as alternative biofuels to reduce carbon footprint, electric propulsion, Artificial Intelligence, autonomous flight systems, utilization of new materials, and virtual reality, to name only a few. These innovations will fuel new and additional educational requirements for our future workforce. Tucson is well poised to accommodate and promote these new technologies due to its high number of emerging tech companies, its established aerospace sector, along with its excellent educational institutions. 

Aside from the areas you would highlight to a site selector, what are you most optimistic about for the future economic development in the region?

Offering an outstanding quality of life along with a relatively low cost of living, manufacturers are well poised to attract employees of the future looking for opportunities in varied sectors. With easy access to Mexico, several major interstates linking Tucson with Phoenix and major U.S. hubs, along with a growing international airport, the region is well positioned to engage in local and international trade in the coming future.

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