First global product sourcing center chooses Pinal County

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AzSourcing and its affiliates have selected Casa Grande in Pinal County to build the nation’s first global product sourcing center.

“In the very near future, people seeking to stock gift stores, select merchandise for resale or furnish hotels and restaurants will be able to do so with one stop to the Phoenix Mart in Casa Grande,” said Pinal County Supervisor David Snider who has worked with project participants for two years to bring the project to Arizona.

“The Phoenix Mart will participate in the U.S. Customs & Immigration Service’s EB-5 program which offers incentives for job creation and investment in areas of high unemployment,” Snider explained.  “Phoenix must generate at least 3,000 permanent full-time jobs for U.S. citizens.”

The 1.5 million square foot project will enable small and mid-sized businesses to wholesale their products globally with e-commerce and catalog support.  They will also welcome retail shoppers to the project.  Phoenix Mart will feature six product areas, with vendors categorized by merchandise type:  Women’s, Men’s, Youth, Auto, Home & Hotel and Food. 

A convention center is also envisioned for the site, which is two miles east of I-10 and 1.5 miles from the Promenade Mall.

“This project will not only generate thousands of new jobs in Casa Grande, but will also provide international exposure to our city and county,” Casa Grande Mayor Bob Jackson said.

A study by Evans, Carroll & Associates shows that Phoenix Mart is expected to create more than 7,000 direct and indirect jobs and more than $150 million in capital investment.  Neither the city nor the county provided incentives to lure the project. 

Pinal County Board Chairman Pete Rios said that the project will bring benefits to Pinal County in terms of global tourism and commerce.  “People don’t realize some of Pinal County’s strategic assets – this project will take advantage of the Union Pacific Railroad, as well as two major  Interstates – 10 and 8,” Rios said.

“Pinal County is serious about economic development and global opportunities,” Supervisor Bryan Martyn said.  “There are many exciting things on the horizon for Pinal County and this project will be a first for America and a first for Arizona, putting Pinal County front and center in people’s minds.  Pinal County will be the heart of the Sun Corridor where the majority of the state’s growth will occur.”

“Pinal County has fertile ground to stage an economic recovery and I am pleased to see that Az Sourcing and Phoenix Mart will play a role in that recovery,” Supervisor Snider said.

To learn more about Phoenix Mart, watch the videos at:

Press Conference at Casa Grande City Hall (video courtesy of the City of Casa Grande)

www.youtube.com/user/PinalCountyAzGov#p/a/u/1/wdZvlajmKdg or http://goo.gl/fIOUv
Interview
with Supervisor David Snider
www.youtube.com/user/PinalCountyAzGov#p/a/u/0/wuiAllSewec or http://goo.gl/TZvDn
Additional
details about AZ Sourcing and Phoenix Mart can be found at www.azsourcing.com and www.phoenixmart.com.