Tractor Supply is now open in Rita Commerce Center

Gabriela Rico

Tractor Supply Co. has opened its fifth Tucson-area store, this one on the city’s southeast side.

The new location has a garden center with an expanded assortment of annuals and perennials, shrubs and decorative plants, fruit trees, vegetables, herbs and gardening tools.

It also has a pet wash station with elevated wash bays, grooming tables, specialty shampoos, brushes, combs and towels as well as a waterproof apron and professional dryer, which can be used for $9.99.

Other items available at the new location include riding mowers, equine supplies, power tools, fencing and welding.

The store also carries apparel.

“Homeowners, livestock and pet owners, gardeners, hobby farmers, ranchers, tradesmen and others rely on Tractor Supply for a wide assortment of products,” said David Williams, the district manager of the Tucson Tractor Supply store. “We’re excited to call Tucson home and serve the community with the essentials you need.”

Tucson Tractor Supply supports youth education like local 4-H clubs and FFA chapters, along with animal shelters and veterans.

The new Tucson Tractor Supply store at 9848 E. Old Vail Road is open 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday.

The company’s other local stores are on the southwest side, Green Valley, Marana and Catalina. Visit tractorsupply.com to find a store near you.

Meritage joins Rocking K Masterplan with Significant Acquisition

Tucson, Arizona (October 6, 2023) — Meritage Homes has successfully closed the Tucson region’s most significant lot acquisition in 2023 comprising of 172 platted and engineered lots within the Rocking K Master Planned Community (MPC) in Vail. These paper lots in the Mountain View neighborhood were secured at a purchase price of $10,225,500. averaging $59,450 per lot. The seller in the transaction was Rocking K Development Co., led by Diamond Ventures, Inc., David Goldstein, President.

These newly acquired lots, measuring 45′ X 120′, represent Meritage Homes’ inaugural entry into the Rocking K project, solidifying their presence alongside a robust roster of esteemed homebuilders, including Lennar, Richmond American, KB Home, Pulte, Del Webb, and Moderne homes for rent. Furthermore, this addition introduces a new lot size segment to complement the existing offerings. Rocking K currently commands one of the region’s most diverse master-planned communities in product type and offerings.

Spanning nearly 5,000 acres, the Rocking K Master Plan stretches south of Old Spanish Trail and borders the Rincon Mountains and Saguaro National Park to the north. Notably, it falls within the renowned Vail School District and enjoys close proximity to employment, retail, and services in southeast Tucson. The Rocking K community is home to a diverse array of homebuilders and residential product types, and it has garnered recognition among the region’s homebuilders for its exceptional master-planned community attributes, evident through robust sales and pricing.

Rocking K’s core philosophy revolves around seamlessly connecting neighborhoods with nature. Rocking K is themed “Designed by Nature,” and the community harmoniously integrates builder neighborhoods with expansive natural and recreational open spaces, encouraging outdoor engagement throughout the Rincon Valley and Vail. Rocking K residents enjoy a full calendar of adult, family and children’s events throughout the year, ensuring neighbors quickly become friends. can look forward to an exciting array of outdoor events and programs designed to enrich their living experience.

Will White and John Carroll of Land Advisors Organization in Tucson handled the transaction.

According to White, “Meritage Homes’ substantial investment into the best-in-class master-planned community of Rocking K underscores the appeal and potential of this remarkable project. Rocking K is at the forefront of the market with its diverse product offerings, iconic foothills location, adjacency to a national park, and access to one of Arizona’s top school districts. Rocking K will continue to command a significant portion of the Tucson region’s market share.”

White and Carroll should be reached at 520.514.7454 for more information.

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MicroStar Logistics Expands Network of Keg and Pallet Quality Centers With New Tucson, Arizona Facility

TUCSON, Ariz., July 21, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — MicroStar Logistics has expanded its investments in quality services for the beer industry with a commitment to build a new Keg and Pallet Quality Services Center in Tucson, Arizona. The ~270,000 square foot facility adds to MicroStar’s industry-leading repair and maintenance capabilities in order to service millions of kegs and new, reusable pallets each year benefiting its customers ranging from small craft brewers to the largest individual brewery in the world.

The new facility will be operated by approximately 200 quality professionals and feature a range of first-of-its-kind equipment including one of the largest, most sophisticated pallet cleaning lines in the world. MicroStar also operates a network of other facilities across the country enabling the company to efficiently repair and maintain its fleet of over 6 million kegs. To see video highlights of MicroStar’s quality capabilities, click here.

“This state-of-the-art facility further supports the beer industry’s commitment to quality,” said Glen Opp, MicroStar’s Chief Operating Officer and President of MicroStar’s Network Services Division. “For over 40 years our Quality Services teams have finetuned a remarkable set of tools and techniques to keep kegs looking and working like new while extending the life of these valuable assets. Now in Tucson we are leveraging this expertise to manage, clean and maintain the highest-quality fleet of resuable pallets. We are working with the top equipment manufacturers to expand on our tried-and-true processes, and also pioneer new technologies – robotics, vision inspection systems, sustainable water reclamation systems and more – strengthening our position as a high-performing extension of our brewers’ operations.”

The new MicroStar facility will provide approximately 200 new jobs, and significant economic impact to the Southern Arizona region. Positions include operations, production, quality control, logistics, management, and other positions. MicroStar is in the process of securing 20 acres for the new 270,000 square-foot building at the Rita Ranch Commerce Center in Tucson.

Project partners include Arizona Commerce Authority, Sun Corridor Inc., Pima County, City of Tucson, Diamond Ventures and Keyser.

“Pima County is pleased to announce that MicroStar Logistics will be joining the Pima County business community. With its exceptional capital investment and a large number of jobs across multiple different disciplines, MicroStar is a welcome addition. We are prepared to assist with MicroStar’s workforce development needs, and look forward to having it as part of the Pima County business community,” said Sharon Bronson, Pima County Supervisor, District 3.

“I look forward to welcoming MicroStar to Tucson,” said Tucson Mayor Regina Romero. “Their mission of creating a circular economy aligns with the City of Tucson’s Zero Waste Goals. Tucson is leading in becoming a more sustainable, resilient, desert city and MicroStar is a welcome partner to our ongoing efforts.”

“We thank MicroStar for its confidence and investment in Tucson and Southern Arizona. Our CEOs across the region stand ready to assist them and look forward to the company’s long-term prosperity here in the Tucson region,” said Susan Gray, president & CEO, Tucson Electric Power.

“In recent years, big names have bet on Tucson for logistics operations, including Target.com, Amazon. Home Depot and HomeGoods, among others. As COVID-induced supply chain disruptions prompt companies to rethink their logistics networks, Tucson continues to be a strong option as a strategic logistics hub,” said Joe Snell, president & CEO, Sun Corridor Inc.

“We are excited to welcome Microstar’s world-class supply chain operations to Tucson,” said Sandra Watson, President and CEO of the Arizona Commerce Authority. “This advanced facility furthers Southern Arizona’s reputation as a premier logistics destination, while adding hundreds of jobs to the region.”

About MicroStar

Founded in 1996, MicroStar Logistics is the world’s leading provider of circular, outsourced supply chain solutions for the beer industry. MicroStar’s highly efficient and sustainable shared keg programs now include over 6 million stainless steel kegs (MicroStar-branded kegs in the US and Kegstar-branded kegs internationally). Its Network Services Division manages reusable assets including returnable plastic pallets. Its Quality Services division extends the life of reusable assets making the most efficient use of finite resources. Visit MicroStarLogistics.com or Kegstar.com to learn more.

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