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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport Plans Aerospace Park in Mesa, Arizona

11/27/2017
The Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport Authority selected Mesa SkyBridge as Master Developer of 360-acres of vacant airport property for Gateway Aerospace Park in Mesa, Arizona.

According to airport officials, the project renamed SkyBridge Arizona is expected to create thousands of jobs and represent hundreds of millions of dollars in regional economic benefit.

SkyBridge committed to invest between $20 and $25 million in infrastructure and will aggressively promote and market the many strengths and benefits of Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport. The project will include, three 10,000 foot runways; direct access to Arizona State Routes 202 and 24, a highly-educated and skilled workforce, and Arizona’s close proximity to Mexico.

It is anticipated that SkyBridge Arizona will serve as an air logistics hub focused on shipping high-value goods and expediting the movement of air cargo between Mexico, Latin America and the United States. At full build-out, the park could encompass between 3.5 - 5 million square feet of office, warehouse, logistics/cargo, hospitality, and retail space.

“We are excited to partner with an experienced Master Developer that brings a unique vision and private resources to help broaden Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport’s (Gateway Airport) role as a major economic catalyst for the region,” said Gilbert Mayor Jenn Daniels, Chair of the PMGAA Board of Directors. “This development project will enable the airport to become an even greater asset for the entire Phoenix East Valley.”

“We are pleased to partner with PMGAA to execute the unique vision we’ve developed for SkyBridge Arizona,” said Ariel Picker, CEO of Mesa SkyBridge, LLC. “Gateway Airport offers tremendous potential and SkyBridge Arizona is poised to be an industry leader in global logistics and international air cargo.”

Mesa Mayor John Giles added, “This project and SkyBridge’s investment will create the kind of long-term economic sustainability that has been envisioned for Gateway Airport for nearly 25 years. Today’s signing of the Master Development Agreement clears the next hurdle and moves us closer to bringing thousands of high-wage jobs to the Phoenix East Valley. The SkyBridge team has the experience and relationships to make this a very successful venture and we are thrilled to be working together on this project.”

The project will offer amenities such as Mexican customs officials stationed at Gateway Airport to pre-clear goods headed to Mexico. Currently, products headed into Mexico are routed to a select few airports in the country and sometimes have to wait weeks before being cleared by customs officials. With this program, customs officials from both countries work together to pre-clear cargo in the U.S. so it can go to hundreds of airport in Mexico as domestic product.

The development will include 3.5 million to 5 million square feet mix of warehouse, light industrial, and office, with some retail and a hospitality. The project sits within a Foreign Trade Zone and a Military Reuse Zone, which both provide significant tariff benefits and property tax savings to qualifying companies.

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