State Farm Insurance Expansion in the Valley

State Farm insurance is expanding, and rumored to do so in Tempe. Robert Villegas, a representative from State Farm, confirmed that the company is doing so in Dallas and Atlanta as well. The boost in operations is targeted to strong markets and fortunately plans to bring numerous employment opportunities to the Valley.

The Tempe expansion will be in addition to the two other State Farm locations in Tempe located near Priest and Alameda, and the other off Priest and Washington. State Farm has leased a building in Phoenix, where the company will also add more employee positions.

Mark Mitchell, Mayor of Tempe, would not confirm whether State Farm had selected Tempe for its expansion.

“When any company is ready to make an announcement about their intentions in Tempe, we stand beside them in doing that,” Mitchell said. “Until then, it’s not appropriate for us as a city to get out in front of a business and make their announcement for them.”

After last week’s announcement of a merger between US Airways and American Airlines, Tempe is  dealing with the loss of jobs. The merger is expected to bring forth the transferring of high-level jobs from downtown Tempe US Airways to Fort Worth, Texas.

Whatever Valley city State Farm selects, Mitchell said, “The company’s announcement to grow in Arizona is an important step in improving the state’s economy and would benefit the region as a whole.”

The financial gain would come at an essential time when Arizonans are not sure of how big of a loss may come from the moving of the US Airways headquarters.

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport will continue to be a hub of the merged airline, but the extent of job losses at the Tempe offices is not yet known.

 Sources: State Farm, Arizona Republic