Business View Civil and Municipal l December 2022

31 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 9, ISSUE 12 he city of Casa Grande, Arizona has come a long way since it was first founded as “Terminus” back in 1879 as a mining town. It earned its name because it was established in an area where the railway ended. Casa Grande is now home to many leading companies in the electric vehicle (EV) industry and other high-tech sectors. Employers like leading EV manufacturer Lucid Motors continue to make significant investments in the city hiring over 3,000 employees and expanding their 840K s/f manufacturing operation to over 3.5M s/f in order to support its building of luxury EV sedans and future SUVs. Kohler is building a 1 million- square-foot facility in the city and will be one of the city’s largest employers joining Hexcel and Abbott Nutrition, who each employ hundreds of area residents. Numerous semiconductor and chemical companies have added to the city gaining a reputation as a high-tech corridor. “We are a launching pad for the EV community,” says Casa Grande Economic Development Director Richard Wilkie. He adds that there has been a “clustering effect” that has attracted other EV and high-tech companies. Lucid Motors continues to put its footprint down in the area and purchased two large vacant properties totaling over 1,300 acres near its existing electric vehicle factory in Casa Grande in May 2022 for further expansion. This employer growth should come as no surprise. Residents in Casa Grande enjoy a very high quality of life largely free of traffic congestion and urban chaos. The city enforces a dark sky ordinance that allows all to see the stars and enjoy the natural outdoors. In addition to seeing the stars on a clear night, Casa Grande offers multiple features for the outdoor enthusiast. There are nearly 19 different parks and 17 miles of hiking trails throughout the city. Plenty of golf options abound, including Mission Royale Golf Course and Tierra Grande Golf Course. Additionally, Casa Grande is the home to the only in-residency soccer academy for the famed international club team FC Barcelona. “It’s part of the “small town” feel that is attractive to potential residents and employers alike”, Wilkie says. With a population of over 63,000, Casa Grande is poised to grow significantly in CASA GRANDE , AR I ZONA STEEPED IN TRADITION WHILE LOOKING TO FUTUREGROWTH ON THE HORIZON T