Economic Development

Why Yuma

The Gateway to Business Opportunities in Yuma, Arizona

In Yuma, Arizona, we do things differently.

Here, businesses find the freedom to grow with fewer obstacles, greater access, and a supportive community that values innovation and enterprise. In major metro areas, challenges like high costs, regulatory red tape, and congested infrastructure are often seen as the price of doing business. Welcome to a place where opportunity moves at your speed—and your bottom line comes first.

Doing business in Yuma means:

Strategic Location: Reach California, Arizona, and Mexico within hours—Yuma sits at the center of a dynamic tri-state corridor.
Competitive Costs: Affordable land, utilities, and operating expenses make Yuma a smart investment.
Pro-Business Climate: Local leadership is accessible, responsive, and ready to help you succeed.
Skilled Workforce: A growing talent pool with strength in agriculture, logistics, defense, and manufacturing.
Room to Grow: Industrial parks, shovel-ready sites, and streamlined permitting processes mean faster time to market.

Let’s redefine what’s possible.
Welcome to Yuma—where business works for you.

Strategic Location

Yuma sits at the intersection of Arizona, California, and Mexico, offering exceptional access:

Equidistant to Phoenix and San Diego
Less than 5 hours to Los Angeles and Las Vegas
Connected via I-8 and SR-195
Member of 4FrontED, a binational economic development coalition
Part of a megaregion with:
- 1.5M+ population
- $20B GDP
- Same-day freight access to 52M consumers

Target Industries: Growing the Future in Yuma

In 2022, the City of Yuma completed a Target Industry Analysis & Market Study to strategically guide business attraction efforts. The result: a refined focus on high-growth sectors aligned with Yuma’s competitive strengths — including geography, workforce, infrastructure, and cost advantages. Explore how your company can grow in Yuma’s top- performing industries.

Advanced Manufacturing

Yuma offers a low-cost, business-friendly environment with direct access to California and Mexico markets — ideal for manufacturers seeking operational efficiency and workforce availability.

Key subsectors:

Precision component manufacturing
Value-added assembly
Light industrial production

Aerospace & Defense

Home to Yuma Proving Ground and MCAS Yuma, the region is primed for defense testing, aviation, and aerospace innovation — including potential for spaceport development.

Advantages:

Existing defense workforce pipeline
Access to over 2,000 sq. miles of restricted airspace
Alignment with Arizona’s growing aerospace cluster

Technology & Green Energy

Yuma’s climate, infrastructure, and proximity to solar-rich deserts make it an ideal location for clean tech manufacturing.

Emerging opportunities:

High-tech electronics
Solar panel components
Electric vehicle parts
Semiconductor and device manufacturing

Logistics & Transportation

Strategically positioned along I-8 and SR-195, Yuma connects Arizona, California, and Mexico in a single-day drive. Border proximity, rail access, and FTZ #219 status make Yuma a logistics powerhouse.

Growth sectors:

Distribution centers
Cross-border warehousing
Supply chain support services

Agriculture Innovation & Support

Building on Yuma’s $3B ag economy, new opportunities lie in ag-support industries like:

Fertilizer and input manufacturing
Cold storage and packaging
Agtech, automation, and sensor development

Life Sciences & Medical Manufacturing

With expanding regional healthcare demand and rising reshoring trends, Yuma is suited for light medical device production and healthcare supply manufacturing.

Key advantages:

Strategic location for Southwest U.S. distribution
Lower operational costs
Skilled local labor and training institutions

Industrial Growth

Discover the Power of Foreign Trade Zone #219

Yuma’s Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) #219 is more than just a location — it’s a strategic advantage. Whether you’re a manufacturer, distributor, or logistics provider, FTZ #219 is designed to reduce costs, simplify operations, and open doors to global markets.

Here’s what you can expect when operating in FTZ #219:

Tariff Advantages: Defer, reduce, or eliminate duties on imported goods.
Property Tax Savings: Enjoy up to 78% reduction in property taxes.
No State Inventory Tax: That’s right—zero.
Flexible Warehousing: Store your goods indefinitely without penalty.
Duty-Free on Re-exports: No duties on items exported, scrapped, or wasted.
Fast Activation: Sites within Yuma County can go live in just 60 days.

To learn more about how FTZ #219 can benefit your business, contact the Greater Yuma Economic Development Corporation at GlaVann@greateryuma.org or download the FTZ Brochure here.

Opportunity Zone: Unlock Tax Advantages