Prescott will be the North American headquarters for CP Technologies, a multimillion-dollar manufacturing company which is relocating from San Diego.
During mid-morning groundbreaking ceremonies June 24, Michael McCormack, president and CEO of CPT, told an invited group of elected officials and community and business leaders that Prescott was selected from among several Arizona communities and from four other states which competed to lure the company.
Prior to the groundbreaking for a 50,000-square-foot, two-story complex, McCormack described the products the high-tech manufacturing company will manufacture.
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.
It began making unmanned aerial vehicles — drones—in 2018. Some equipment is used for control missile defense systems.
CPT had been headquartered in San Diego since 1997.
Prescott is particularly desirable because of immediate proximity to Prescott Regional Airport-Ernest A. Love Field (PRC), McCormack said. He plans to bring other supply-side businesses to the site in the near future.
“I am especially pleased with the quality of life and the friendliness of people in the greater community. And you don’t have anything like the traffic problems we have in Southern California,” he quipped.
McCormack said several CPT employees from the San Diego area soon will move to Prescott. He declined to comment about salaries for employees other than to say they would be well compensated above the fair range. “Our assembly personnel are well-paid. We’re going to hire a lot of local employees, too.” He said initially about 60 persons will be employed. He expects that number to grow to 200 within the first four years.
Prescott Mayor Greg Mengarelli in a written statement said, “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, Arizona Commerce Authority, echoed Mengarelli. She wrote, “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 contemporary building is 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 site was selected from among 40 acres Chamberlain Development has for business development. Sun State Builders, owned by Jim Chamberlain, is the main contractor. Local subcontractors and suppliers will be hired as much as possible during construction.
Construction should be complete during the first quarter of 2021.
Chamberlain told the crowd other companies are expressing interest in the same area.
More information about CP Technologies is online at www.cp-techusa.com