TUCSON, Ariz. (Mar. 26, 2026) — Pima Community College (PCC), in partnership with the Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) and regional leaders, has officially opened a new Flexible Industry Training (FIT) Lab at its downtown Tucson campus, expanding Arizona’s Future48 Workforce Accelerator network and strengthening the region’s advanced manufacturing talent pipeline.
The 10,000-square-foot training facility is designed to deliver hands-on instruction using the same advanced equipment and technologies found in modern manufacturing environments. The FIT Lab aims to address evolving workforce needs across Southern Arizona’s high-growth industries, including battery manufacturing, aerospace and defense, and other advanced industrial sectors.
Developed with support from a $3.2 million investment by the Arizona Commerce Authority, the lab represents a collaborative effort between education providers, industry partners and government leaders to expand flexible training opportunities aligned with employer demand. The facility will offer customized training programs that can be delivered on accelerated or flexible schedules, allowing companies to rapidly upskill current workers or prepare new hires for emerging technologies.
Regional officials emphasized the importance of workforce readiness as Arizona continues to attract significant capital investment in advanced manufacturing and technology-driven industries. The FIT Lab will serve as a key hub for industry-driven training, reinforcing PCC’s role as a leading provider of workforce development and a strategic partner in regional economic growth.
The new accelerator site joins a statewide network of Future48 facilities located in Tucson, Phoenix, Mesa, Apache Junction, Casa Grande, Kingman and Yuma. Together, the network is designed to provide hands-on training for high-tech careers and support Arizona’s competitiveness in sectors such as semiconductor manufacturing, battery production and aerospace innovation.
By aligning academic programming with real-world industry requirements, PCC’s FIT Lab is expected to play a critical role in strengthening Southern Arizona’s workforce ecosystem while supporting long-term economic development across the state.
