New Headquarters coming to Tempe (Phoenix, Scottsdale: how much, buying, wages)

[azriverfan.]

More great news for Tempe!!!!

Air Products (NYSE: APD) continues to work toward the previously announced intended spin-off of its Materials Technologies’ Electronic Materials Division (EMD), to what is to become Versum Materials. As part of this continuing process, Versum Materials today announced when it becomes a standalone company, its headquarters offices will be located in Tempe, Arizona.

Air Products

http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/n...f-landing.html

[locolife]

A lot to like about Tempe these days. The city has taken what most would consider a negative, being landlocked, and turned it into a huge positive by attracting a ton of business and developing a nice urban core.

[asufan]

Originally Posted by locolife

A lot to like about Tempe these days. The city has taken what most would consider a negative, being landlocked, and turned it into a huge positive by attracting a ton of business and developing a nice urban core.

This is being located in suburban South Tempe in the ASU Research Park (101 and Warner Rd) near Godaddy. That area is booming.

[JGMotorsport64]

Tempe is doing it right.
Nice work!

[ScottsdaleMark]

What do we think about this comparison ...

Tempe : the Valley :: Austin : Texas ?

They are really killing it and with their more progressive/left-leaning approach they certainly stand out from other competitor cities. They just seem like they are "going for it" and developing in a certain way. I don't know that it's for everyone -- I didn't choose to live there, myself -- but you have to appreciate the success they've had in chasing their dream. I guess the downside to Tempe's renaissance is that they are perhaps stealing some of DT Phoenix's potential thunder in terms of development/redevelopment.

[JGMotorsport64]

Originally Posted by ScottsdaleMark

What do we think about this comparison ...

Tempe : the Valley :: Austin : Texas ?

They are really killing it and with their more progressive/left-leaning approach they certainly stand out from other competitor cities. They just seem like they are "going for it" and developing in a certain way. I don't know that it's for everyone -- I didn't choose to live there, myself -- but you have to appreciate the success they've had in chasing their dream. I guess the downside to Tempe's renaissance is that they are perhaps stealing some of DT Phoenix's potential thunder in terms of development/redevelopment.

I think Tempe has better bones than Phoenix. Both have similar approaches, but Tempe, for now, is more attractive for immediate results. I'd imagine a lot of that is its desirability and ASU. Kind of like Austin with UTexas.

It also shows that companies are looking for more than tax cuts to relocate.

[locolife]

Originally Posted by asufan

This is being located in suburban South Tempe in the ASU Research Park (101 and Warner Rd) near Godaddy. That area is booming.

Yeah, I read that in the article.

But what helps attract them to Tempe in the first place? A talent pool, reasonable wages, etc.. What aspects of a city help retain a strong talent pool? I would argue that an improved urban core helps support job creation in all parts of the valley. You need a city that retains the talent those companies are seeking out, even if they don't locate right in the thick of things.

[BIG CATS]

Who?

Never heard of em.

PHX needs to attract more globally-important big names.

[locolife]

Originally Posted by BIG CATS

Who?

Never heard of em.

PHX needs to attract more globally-important big names.

That's tough to do, big names don't move around a lot. Look how much effort Atlanta put into trying to attract GE but at the end of the day they stayed pretty close to where they started, opting to move from Connecticut to Mass.

It's also hard for a state to control M&A activity. You can't really influence who is buying who, such as the case with US Air being acquired by larger AA. Sometimes the dice fall your way and sometimes they don't.

[asufan]

Originally Posted by BIG CATS

Who?

Never heard of em.

PHX needs to attract more globally-important big names.

A spin off of Air Products which has a couple of locations in Chandler already.