PINAL COUNTY, AZ (April 4, 2025) – Today, the Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA), alongside Pinal County, Central Arizona College, and LG Energy Solution, marked a milestone in strengthening Arizona’s workforce with the grand opening of the battery-focused Future48 Workforce Accelerator in Pinal County, Arizona. Led by the members of LG Energy Solution, the Accelerator will provide hands-on training for future battery professionals who will take part in LG Energy Solution’s commitment to U.S. electrification and also support the state’s growing battery manufacturing industry.

Those in attendance included Future48 Accelerator partners Arizona Commerce Authority President and CEO Sandra Watson; Pinal County Supervisors Jeff Serdy, Mike Goodman, Stephen Miller, Jeffrey McClure, and Rich Vitiello; Dr. Jackie Elliott, President and CEO of Central Arizona College; Richard Ra, President of LG Energy Solution Arizona, and Brian Ko, Tech & Manufacturing Lead of LG Energy Solution Arizona. The Accelerator partners were joined by Queen Creek Mayor Julia Wheatley, representatives from McCarthy Building Companies, Inc., Design Systems Inc. (DSI), Architekton Architects, local government, and education leaders.

At the event, LG Energy Solution provided an update on construction progress of its battery manufacturing facility located in Queen Creek, where the regional workforce trained through the Accelerator will start their careers into the next-generation battery industry. As the company’s first cylindrical battery plant in the U.S., the facility will deliver its state-of-the-art 46-Series cylindrical batteries to renowned automakers, bringing well-paying, high-quality jobs to the community along the way.

“By expanding workforce development, we are creating pathways for more Arizonans to realize the Arizona Promise,” said Governor Katie Hobbs. “Our Future48 Workforce Accelerators are a shining example of how collaboration advances our efforts to equip Arizonans with the skills and training they need to succeed. This new accelerator will further grow our talent pipeline and fill in-demand jobs that strengthen families and our economy.”

“The Future48 Workforce Accelerator will not only expand workforce training opportunities focused on battery manufacturing and hands-on training for LGES but will allow CAC to expand educational opportunities for students to learn the latest LGES manufacturing technology from industry experts,” said Dr. Jackie Elliott, President and CEO of Central Arizona College. “We are excited to see the progress of the LGES training program and celebrate the successes of the first cohort of graduates.”

Located at Central Arizona College’s Superstition Mountain Campus in Apache Junction, the 19,850-square-foot Accelerator will provide workforce training focused on the manufacturing process of cylindrical batteries used for electric vehicles and other applications. Specifically, as the program is designed to develop regional talent who will join LG Energy Solution’s Queen Creek facility after completion, members of LG Energy Solution Arizona will provide hands-on training for the facility’s manufacturing equipment and safety processes and incorporate simulation technology for personnel training.

“Pinal County and our communities have done a very good job in building houses over the past decade, but we've been crying out for high quality, well-paying jobs," said Jeff Serdy, Pinal County District 5 Supervisor. "Therefore, the opportunity to provide training to Pinal County residents for these types of roles is essential, and I'm grateful for the collaborative effort with the ACA, Central Arizona College, LG Energy Solution, and the municipalities of Apache Junction and Queen Creek, who have worked with Pinal County to bring this Future48 Training Center to fruition."

The battery-focused Future48 Workforce Accelerator marks the second training center launched in partnership with Central Arizona College and Pinal County. In 2021, Arizona launched Drive48, the inaugural Future48 Workforce Accelerator, an automotive training assembly facility in Coolidge with partners including the ACA, Central Arizona College, Pinal County, the City of Casa Grande, and Lucid. Drive48 features multiple assembly robots and individual training rooms to prepare students for jobs in automotive assembly manufacturing.

“We will create 1,500 new employment opportunities overall by 2027, significantly thriving the local economy and further cementing Arizona’s growing reputation as a hub for advanced manufacturing,” said Richard Ra, President of LG Energy Solution Arizona. “This workforce training center at CAC will be a cornerstone of our effort, preparing a highly skilled workforce for the jobs of tomorrow for Arizonans by awakening their infinite potential.”

“We’re incredibly excited to celebrate this milestone with the launch of another Future48 Workforce Accelerator,” said Sandra Watson, President and CEO, Arizona Commerce Authority. “The battery-focused Accelerator will play a critical role in equipping students with the skills needed for battery manufacturing careers in Arizona, where we have thousands of new jobs coming online. We’re grateful to all of our partners including Governor Hobbs, Pinal County, LG Energy Solution, and Central Arizona College for their continued collaboration and support."

Background on the Future48 Workforce Accelerators

Arizona’s Future48 Workforce Accelerators are supported through a $30 million investment from the ACA to build advanced manufacturing training facilities across the state in partnership with local community colleges. Since launching the first Future48 Workforce Accelerator, known as Drive48 in 2021, the Future48 network has expanded to include six training centers across Coolidge, Apache Junction, Yuma, Kingman, Phoenix and Mesa focused on industries such as automotive, battery, semiconductors, and more.

The Future48 Workforce Accelerators are modeled after the successful Drive48 facility in Pinal County. Since launching in 2021, more than 2,000 students have graduated from the program, with many currently working at Lucid’s Advanced Manufacturing Plant in Casa Grande.

Media Contacts
Alyssa Tufts, Arizona Commerce Authority, [email protected]

James Daniels, Pinal County, [email protected]

Angela Askey, Central Arizona College, [email protected]

About the Arizona Commerce Authority

The Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) is the state's leading economic development organization with a streamlined mission to grow and strengthen Arizona's economy. The ACA uses a three-pronged approach to advance the overall economy: attract, expand, create - attract out-of-state companies to establish operations in Arizona; work with existing companies to expand their business in Arizona and beyond; and help entrepreneurs create new Arizona businesses in targeted industries. For more information, please visit azcommerce.com and follow the ACA on X @azcommerce.