CEO says UA health giant has big future

Stephanie Innes Arizona Daily Star Arizona Daily Star | Posted: Sunday, August 29, 2010 12:00 am

Two local nonprofit health-care companies joined forces this summer, resulting in a $1.2 billion entity that’s one of the region’s largest employers.

The new nonprofit, tentatively named UA Healthcare Inc., was formed when University Medical Center Corp. joined with University Physicians Healthcare.

University Medical Center Corp. operates University Medical Center in central Tucson.

University Physicians Healthcare operates University Physicians Hospital at Kino, on Tucson’s south side; manages the UA College of Medicine’s physician faculty practice; and manages a health plan that directs patients to various health-care facilities.

Both companies were spun off from the University of Arizona and have maintained primary missions of supporting the UA College of Medicine.

But contract value falls as Army cuts Excalibur Ib order

Raytheon to build new guided munition

David Wichner Arizona Daily Star | Posted: Saturday, August 28, 2010 12:00 am

Tucson-based Raytheon Missile Systems has won a competition to build the next generation of the Excalibur Ib guided artillery projectile, beating out rival Alliant Techsystems Inc.

But the long-term value of the contract – once estimated at potentially $1.2 billion – will be far less after the Army drastically cut the number of new Excalibur rounds it plans to order.

The Excalibur Ib contract is in two parts over 22 months with a total contract value of $60 million, Raytheon said. An initial $23 million contract will fund work to finalize the design of the 155 mm precision-guided projectile.

Delivery of the Excalibur Ib rounds is projected to occur in 2012, the company said.

Solar firms get state grants for job creation

Inside Tucson Business
Published on Friday, August 27, 2010

Two Tucson firms are among six renewable energy companies that will receive money from $2.7 million in grants from the Arizona Commerce Authority for their plans to bring jobs to the state.

Schletter Inc., 3761 E. Farnum Place, will receive $500,000 for its work on photovoltaic energy systems.

Prism Solar Technologies, 3450 S. Broadmont Drive, will receive $494,071 for its work on holographic film used in photovoltaic modules.

The grant money is to be used for energy-efficient fixed assets and is meant for companies locating to the state and bringing jobs. Recipients must create two jobs for every $100,000 granted and provide 50 percent in matching funds. The equipment must be installed within 12 months.

The money comes from the Manufacturers’ Energy-efficiency Grant Assistance program at the authority.

The other four firms to receive money are Fluidic Inc., Scottsdale, $500,000; Linamar Solar Systems, coming to Glendale,  $260,670; Suntech Arizona Inc., Goodyear, $260,670; and Southwest Windpower Inc., Flagstaff, $458,918.

Copyright © 2010 Inside Tucson Business

UA selects GLHN for $42 million addition

Posted by Joe Pangburn in Featured Articles, Odds & Ends on Aug 26th, 2010

Inside Tucson Business

The University of Arizona has selected GLHN Architects and Engineers, Inc. to design a $42 million, 128,000 square foot addition to the University’s Environmental and Natural Resources Building.

The project has been dubbed the ENR2 project.

The ENR2 facility will house the Institute of the Environment (IE), the School of Geography Development (SGD), the School of Natural Resources & Environment (SNRE), including the Office of Arid Lands Studies (OALS), and the Department of Atmospheric Sciences/Institute for Atmospheric Physics (ATMO) and will be designed to facilitate scientific collaboration and interdisciplinary research.

Another of the primary goals for the project is to create a facility that reflects the University’s commitment to design excellence and sustainability in the Sonoran Desert environment.  LEED Platinum certification will be sought for the project.

Corporation Commission approves 10 renewable energy contracts for TED

Posted by Joe Pangburn in Featured Articles, SciTech on Aug 26th, 2010

Inside Tucson Business

The Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) expressed its support for Tucson Electric Power’s plan to purchase the output of 10 new renewable power projects that together will generate nearly 150 megawatts (MW), enough energy to power more than 30,000 Tucson homes.

The ACC concluded that TEP’s agreements to purchase energy from eight new Tucson-area solar power systems, a landfill gas generation project and a New Mexico wind farm are “an appropriate component” of its efforts to comply with state renewable energy goals.

The commission’s endorsement allows developers of the systems to proceed with efforts to finalize financing, secure land rights and clear other necessary hurdles in hopes of completing their projects in time to begin providing power in 2011 or 2012.

Bomb deal worth billions to give Tucson big boost

David Wichner Arizona Daily Star | Posted: Wednesday, August 25, 2010 12:00 am

Raytheon’s new program to develop a small guided bomb for the Air Force will keep hundreds of engineers in Tucson busy for years and could be worth more than $2 billion over time, company officials said Tuesday.

The Air Force announced earlier this month that Tucson-based Raytheon Missile Systems and its partners had won a $450 million contract to develop its GBU-53/B Small Diameter Bomb II (SDBII) for manufacturing.

Raytheon beat out a team led by Boeing Co., which has been producing the initial version of the Small Diameter Bomb since 2006.

Raytheon Missile Systems President Taylor Lawrence called the contract award “a terrific win” for the company during an online press briefing.

Applied Energetics teams with California firm to bid for defense contracts

Posted by Joe Pangburn in Featured Articles, SciTech, Inside Tucson Business Blog, SciTech on Aug 24th, 2010

Applied Energetics Inc. has teamed up with L-3 Interstate Electronics Corporation to pursue department of Defense contracts involving counter-IED systems.

Anaheim, Calif.,-based L-3 Interstate Electronics Corporation (IEC) is an operating division of L-3 Communications. Under the terms of this agreement, Applied Energetics will serve as prime contractor with L-3 IEC positioned as subcontractor.

The agreement will provide Applied Energetics a leading engineering, technical and manufacturing group capability. Applied Energetics intends to focus its efforts in technical areas requiring high voltage electronics, systems integration, systems testing and development for support of advanced counter-IED technologies. L-3 IEC is expected to contribute expertise in power electronics, systems engineering, configuration control and production management.

MDA awards $14.1M to research grants

Published on Friday, August 20, 2010

The Muscular Dystrophy Association awarded $14.1 million in new grants last week including $375,000 to the University of Arizona.

During its July meeting, the MDA Board of Directors approved new funding for 38 research leaders in 20 states, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Israel, The Netherlands and the United Kingdom.

The money will be spent on scientific research looking at ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig’s disease), both Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophies as well as clinical trials and experimental research.

Copyright © 2010 Inside Tucson Business

2 Arizona cities saluted for defense jobs

By John Yantis – Aug. 19, 2010 12:00 AM
The Arizona Republic

Phoenix and Tucson are among the best cities in the Southwest for defense and aerospace jobs, according to a website that matches U.S. job seekers who have an active federal security clearance with companies that are hiring.

Although there is bad unemployment news coming out of the region because of the economic downturn, industries that require the security clearances are doing fairly well in Arizona, according to the site ClearanceJobs .com.

“The state’s defense activity continues to draw new businesses and job opportunities for those with a clearance,” the site says. “This trend is equally matched by the high-tech industry, which is also faring very well in the state.”