Sahuarita Businesses: Two businesses in Sahuarita will be the first to move into a new tech and manufacturing facility there. We visit Hydronalix and Control Vision to find out what tech products they make, and what they’ll get out of locating in the new facility. Guests: Tony Mulligan and Dan Crawford. Sahuarita Tech Center: Victor Gonzalez is the economic development director for the town of Sahuarita. He explains how the town made plans and got funding the Sahuarita Advanced Manufacturing and Technology Center (SAMTEC). He says it is an important step on the town’s goal to no longer be just a bedroom community where people commute to other places for work. Start Up Tucson: Start Up Tucson is losing federal funding to help entrepreneurs develop their businesses. Zac Ziegler takes us to a local business called R Bar that makes healthier energy/snack bars. The owner, Brian Cornelius, went through the Start Up business incubator program and explains how that helped get the business off the ground. He also interviews the CEO of Start Up Tucson, Justin Williams, about what services it can provide without this funding. Analysis: The director of Tech Parks Arizona, Bruce Wright, explains the regional impact of adding a tech center in Sahuarita on the overall efforts to encourage economic development. He also shares what options small businesses have now that Start Up Tucson is no longer able to mentor entrepreneurs.
