Project Blue Breaks Ground in Southeast Tucson, Bringing Thousands of Construction Jobs

Published: June 17, 2026 | By TucsonHIRED Team

TUCSON, AZ — One of the largest development projects in the region's history is now out of the ground. Construction is underway on Project Blue, the multibillion-dollar data center campus rising in southeast Tucson, and its multi-year buildout is projected to create thousands of construction jobs across Southern Arizona through 2028.

For local trades workers, laborers, and apprentices, it adds up to one of the biggest sources of construction work the area has seen in years.

📍 Project Blue at a Glance

Project	Project Blue data center campus
Developer	Beale Infrastructure
Location	Southeast Employment & Logistics Center, north of the Pima County Fairgrounds, west of Houghton Road
Investment	$3.6 billion+
Site	290 acres
Construction window	2026 through 2028

What's being built

Project Blue is a campus of data center buildings on a 290-acre site in the Southeast Employment and Logistics Center, north of the Pima County Fairgrounds and west of Houghton Road. The development is planned in phases, with the first phase running into the end of the decade and the first buildings potentially coming online as early as 2027. Amazon Web Services has been identified in county documents as the intended end user, though the developer has not publicly confirmed the operator.

The project also includes a major reclaimed-water infrastructure expansion built in partnership with Tucson Water. The proposal drew opposition from some residents and local groups over its potential water and energy demands in a desert community, a debate that played out through the county and city approval process.

🔥 The construction jobs picture

The headline number for job seekers is on the construction side. County estimates put the buildout at roughly 3,000 direct construction jobs during the multi-year construction period, with additional indirect jobs forecasted across the local economy. That work spans the full range of trades you'd expect on a project this size:

Heavy equipment operators and site/grading crews
Concrete, steel, and structural workers
Electricians and low-voltage technicians
HVAC and mechanical installers
Plumbers and pipefitters
General laborers and apprentices

Project leaders have pointed to the buildout as a chance to keep skilled Tucson workers employed close to home rather than commuting out of the region for large projects.

Permanent jobs once it's running

Beyond construction, the finished campus is projected to support about 180 permanent, full-time on-site jobs by the third year of operations in 2029, with an average salary around $64,000. Those roles are expected to include data center technicians, network and systems engineers, facilities and operations staff, and security. As part of the agreement, Pima County set a minimum requirement of 75 full-time jobs created, with penalties tied to non-performance.

What it means for job seekers

If you work in the trades or want to break into construction, a project of this scale tends to ripple out to contractors and subcontractors across the area for years. Now is a good time to get your certifications current and your resume ready. Start your search here:

For more on where the trades are hiring locally, see our coverage of Marana and Tucson construction jobs and Tucson's broader construction boom. To catch new openings as contractors staff up, create a free TucsonHIRED account and set job alerts

Also you can check out our Tucson Construction Careers guide for more info and current jobs.

📢 Contractors and subcontractors: hiring for the buildout?

If your crews are scaling up for major Southeast-side work, reach local trades talent directly. Post a job on TucsonHIRED and connect with Tucson workers ready to get started.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Project Blue located?

It sits on a 290-acre site in the Southeast Employment and Logistics Center, north of the Pima County Fairgrounds and west of Houghton Road in southeast Tucson.

How many jobs will Project Blue create?

County estimates project roughly 3,000 direct construction jobs during the 2026 to 2028 buildout, plus about 180 permanent on-site jobs by 2029.

Is construction actually happening now?

Yes. Site work on the campus began in 2026, with the first phase scheduled to continue through the rest of the decade.

Big projects mean big hiring, and Project Blue is set to keep Tucson's trades busy for years. Get your skills sharp and your application ready, because the work is just getting started.