It is official: Prescott will become the North American headquarters for the multi-million-dollar manufacturing company CP Technologies (CPT).
Michael McCormack, president and CEO of CPT, told an invited group of Quad Cities community and business leaders that he and other executives had selected Prescott from among several Arizona communities and four other states that were competing to lure the company.
CPT, for several years, has been headquartered in San Diego. Since its acquisition in 2018 by Israeli-based Aeronautics Ltd., the company has expanded its designing and manufacturing of rugged high-performance standard and custom computer platforms, data links, electronic hardware and software, aircraft avionics, and LCD displays. Such items are built for military, industrial and commercial markets.
McCormack also said some equipment is used for control missile defense systems.
He said he was genuinely pleased to find such a welcoming environment in Prescott. During mid-morning groundbreaking ceremonies June 24, he cited Gov. Doug Ducey, the Arizona Commerce Authority, the Arizona Israel Technology Alliance and the City of Prescott for their support. He praised them and others for their “welcoming attitude that assisted us in making our relocation process run smoothly.”
McCormack singled out Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) and Yavapai College (YC), saying both higher education institutions are becoming partners in providing “…impressive talent to fill our employee ranks.” He emphasized that ERAU was the leading aerospace-aviation university in the world, and that YC had developed a strong emphasis in trades, vocational and technical training.
McCormack told Quad Cities Business News that after looking at cities in Texas, Alabama, Utah and Nevada, company officials found that Prescott was, by far, the desired location. They had considered other communities in Arizona, too, including the greater Phoenix area, Payson and Prescott Valley.
“I am especially pleased with the quality of life and the friendliness of people in the greater community,” said McCormack. “And, you don’t have anything like the traffic problems we have in Southern California.”
He also said Prescott was particularly desirable because of the immediate proximity to Prescott Regional Airport-Ernest A. Love Field (PRC). McCormack noted he plans to bring other supply-side businesses to the site in the future.
Prescott Mayor Pro Tem Billie Orr told the crowd that the construction site is part of a master plan for the Deep Well Ranch area, which was created several years ago by longtime local residents and community benefactors Ron and Laura James.
Prescott Mayor Greg Mengarelli said in a statement, “I want to thank CP Technologies for choosing to locate and invest in Prescott. We are proud of our quality of life, world-class educational resources, and excellent transportation links. All of these have allowed us to attract outstanding high-wage technology jobs like those CPT is bringing.”
Sandra Watson, president and CEO of the Arizona Commerce Authority, stated, “CP Technologies’ selection of Prescott demonstrates the quality of talent, a pro-business environment, and the strategic location the region provides to high-tech manufacturers. We thank them for the significant investment in Arizona, one that will create hundreds of quality jobs for our residents and support our state’s global competitiveness.”
The location for the 50,000-square-foot, two-story contemporary building will be near the intersection of Highway 89 and Deep Well Ranch/Crystal Lane Road in northeast Prescott. Construction at the 5.5-acre site already is underway. The land was available from about 40 acres that Chamberlain Development has for business development.
Jim Chamberlain of Chamberlain Development in Prescott told the crowd that other companies are expressing interest in the same area. CPT is the first to start construction. Sun State Builders, which is owned by Chamberlain, is the main contractor for the building. Local subcontractors and suppliers will be used as much as possible during construction.
Construction is expected to be complete during the first quarter of 2021.
McCormack said in the near future, several employees from the San Diego area will be moving to Prescott. “Our assembly personnel are well paid. We’re going to hire a lot of local employees, too.” He said initially, about 60 people would be employed, but he expected that number to grow to 200 within the first four years.
CPT first began operations in 1997 in San Diego. When it was acquired in 2018 by Aeronautics of Israel, it added Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) or drones and sophisticated data links to its production cycle. QCBN
By Ray Newton, QCBN
For more information about CP Technologies, visit cp-techusa.com.
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