Call Center Company in Goodyear, AZ

Local news outlets are reporting that Meyer Burger has laid off an unconfirmed number of employees at its solar panel assembly facility in Goodyear, Arizona. Worker adjustment and retraining notification (WARN) notices in the state have the number of employees affected within the range of 70 to 355. A Meyer Burger employee noted to Solar Power World that the entire workforce has not been let go, and that the factory was in operation on Wednesday. SPW is awaiting an official statement from the company.

Switzerland-based Meyer Burger opened the Arizona solar panel factory in June 2024. The road to opening the site has been long — the company first announced its plans for a 1.5-GW facility in 2021 and intended to begin operations in 2022. Various financial roadblocks pushed its opening back, but manufacturing incentives in the Inflation Reduction Act helped get the site past the finish line.

Meyer Burger started in the solar industry as a manufacturing equipment developer for heterojunction technology (HJT) solar panel designs. Its “SmartWire” designs were licensed by other manufacturing names, including REC. In 2020, the company ventured into direct solar cell and panel manufacturing and sales, first opening production facilities in Germany before looking at the U.S. market.

As the solar manufacturing market waned in Europe, Meyer Burger placed more of its focus on the United States. The company leased a former Intel lab in Colorado Springs, Colorado, in 2023 where it intended to start solar cell manufacturing to supply its Arizona assembly plant. Plans were scrapped for the U.S. cell plant last year, after Meyer Burger found it “no longer financially viable.”

The company closed its German solar panel assembly facility last year as well, but its German cell factory was allegedly still in production this month, along with the Arizona module facility.

Meyer Burger is the only HJT solar panel manufacturer in the United States. The combo of crystalline silicon and amorphous silicon thin-film is a unique manufacturing process that is a few steps more complicated than the industry standard of PERC and TOPCon silicon development. This differentiator was supposed to give Meyer Burger a leg up on the n-type/TOPCon patent battles moving through the industry.

Solar Power World reached out to Meyer Burger for comment on the Arizona facility but has yet to receive a reply.

Story updated 4:30 p.m. ET with employee clarification.

GOODYEAR, AZ — Buc-ee’s will break ground on its Goodyear travel center this Wednesday, May 14!

“We could not have picked a better location for our first store in the Grand Canyon State. Perfectly placed for our road-trippers headed out to California or coming in for the destination-rich Phoenix area, Goodyear will be the place to stop,” said Stan Beard, Buc-ee’s Director of Real Estate and Development, in a news release sent to ABC15.

According to the convenience store company, the Goodyear groundbreaking ceremony will include Mayor Joe Pizzillo and City Council members Wally Campbell, Brannon Hampton, Laura Kaino, Vicki Gillis, Benita Beckles, and Trey Terry.

The state’s first Buc-ee’s Travel Center will be located at 1001 N. Bullard Avenue in Goodyear and is said to occupy 74,000 square feet and offer 120 fueling positions!

BACKGROUND ON AZ BUC-EE’S

The company had plans to originally open as soon as Christmas 2025, but a Buc-ee's representative confirmed to ABC15 that there is a new opening date: "We are currently planning to open our Goodyear, AZ location in June 2026."

The Arizona travel center is said to be a 24-hour location.

Below is a rendering of the Buc-ee’s Travel Center being built in our state.

The Goodyear City Council approved a zoning change that would allow Buc-ee's to expand to the area on Jan. 29, 2024.

The City of Goodyear said that the location is expected to bring 200 full-time jobs to the area.

The video in the player above showcases some of the best things to do in the Valley this May- read more about it right here.

GOODYEAR, AZ (AZFamily) — Those who’ve relocated to the Valley from the southern U.S. know how big of a deal Buc-ee’s is. And it’ll be in Arizona soon!

City officials officially broke ground on the Goodyear location on Wednesday. It’s located at 1001 North Bullard Avenue, just south of Interstate 10.

According to Buc-ee’s, the chain features “the world’s cleanest bathrooms, freshest food, and friendliest beaver.” Some fan favorites offered at Buc-ee’s include Texas barbeque, homemade fudge, kolaches, Beaver Nuggets, jerky and fresh pastries.

The groundbreaking ceremony included Goodyear Mayor Joe Pizzillo and city council members Wally Campbell, Brannon Hampton, Laura Kaino, Vicki Gillis, Benita Beckles and Trey Terry.

Buc-ee’s in Goodyear is expected to bring at least 200 full-time jobs to the West Valley. Pay begins well above minimum wage.

The location is scheduled to open in summer 2026. Early construction work began in October 2024.

Buc-ee’s is widely regarded for its lovable beaver mascot and hot food (hello, brisket and tacos!). The chain also currently boasts the record for the largest gas station in the world at its Sevierville, Tennessee, location. Not only that, but Buc-ee’s won “Best Restroom in America” in 2012. And if you want to operate a car wash, you can make enough to make an honest six-figure salary.

What else might you find at Buc-ee’s? Sure, there are walls of nuts, gummy candies, and your favorite gas station snacks, but there are also many things you won’t see anywhere else.

Take, for example, Beaver Nuggets, a best-seller that’s probably best described as a sweet version of “Corn Nuts” you’ll find at the grocery store. And the food? Oh man, the food! It’s authentic Texas-style barbeque the whole way: smoked for at least 12 hours and served on a mouth-watering bun.

Feeling adventurous? Get some Buc-ee’s-branded hot sauce (and take some home, too). But if you’re also looking for something to cater to that sweet tooth, you’ve got fudge, Dr. Pepper Icees, and every southern grandmother’s favorite classic: banana pudding.

The chain operates 47 stores in Texas, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri and South Carolina.

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City representatives said the Trader Joe's will be built in Goodyear Civic Square.

GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Good news for people in the West Valley who love to buy groceries at Trader Joe's, you'll have a store closer to home after a new store in Goodyear opens.

On Wednesday, Goodyear announced plans to build a Trader Joe's in the city.

“Goodyear couldn’t be more thrilled that Trader Joe’s has chosen to come to our great city,” said Mayor Joe Pizzillo.

Hundreds were in attendance when the announcement was made in Goodyear Civic Square, where the store will be located.

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Goodyear began conducting surveys in 2017, and Trader Joe's was the community’s most requested grocer, the city said.

“This really is a dream come true for so many of our residents who’ve been asking for this unique grocer for many, many years," said Pizzillo. "It’ll be located in the heart of our growing downtown and will be the perfect addition."

Pizzillo said the new store shows Goodyear's growth in the right direction.

"Trader Joe’s is a testament to where we are going as a city and that the most sought-after businesses are choosing to locate in Goodyear,” said Pizzillo.

The store captain for the future store, Chris Warren, said he is thrilled to be bringing a Trader Joe's to the Goodyear community.

“This location is a great fit for Trader Joe's, surrounded by growth, development, and a strong sense of community," said Warren. "We're excited to bring our unique products and hire more local, friendly crew to serve as Goodyear's neighborhood grocery store.”

The new 13,500 square foot store will be located on the northwest corner of McDowell Road and Bullard Avenue, in the heart of Goodyear Civic Square.

A date for completion was not announced.

The city has been developing the 150-acre Goodyear Civic Square to serve as a mixed-use cultural hub.

It serves as a place for events such as festivals, concerts and parades, according to the city.

Retail stores are also part of the development. Trader Joe's is part of the latest phase of retail stores added to the development.

Representatives said Black Rock Coffee Bar and Firebirds Wood Fired Grill are also coming to Goodyear Civic Square.

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Compass Church announced the groundbreaking of its state-of-the-art facility in Goodyear, a significant step forward in its mission to guide individuals toward a deeper connection with God.

This past Sunday, on a sunny spring afternoon, Lead Pastor Ronn Smith, alongside church leaders and community members, celebrated this pivotal moment at 16060 W. Van Buren St.

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The 18,000 SF, $6.7 million facility was designed by Phoenix-based CCBG Architects, Inc. It includes new worship space, religion classrooms, expanded parking, and site field and landscape development. The single-story facility is scheduled to open in April 2026.

The design creates a new central heart to the existing campus while incorporating the existing structures into a new architecture reflecting the spiritual growth of the growing congregation, said Paul Ladensack, Principal, CCBG Architecture. The architecture incorporates a new, 800-seat worship space that provides a seamless connection to transformed existing buildings that creates a balanced composition and new entry symmetry for future growth. A tower is incorporated with a cross that signals entry and a welcome gesture to Van Buren Street to the south.

“CCBG Architects is honored to bring its deep knowledge and passion for church design to this meaningful project, which will serve as a cornerstone for the Compass Church community in the thriving West Valley,” Ladensack said. “With decades of experience in creating inspiring and functional spaces, CCBG is dedicated to crafting environments that foster connection, worship, and community growth.”

Working with a design team and contractor was a new experience for Compass Church, Pastor Smith explained.

“CCGB Architects was so helpful in every step of the way; we have never done this before,” Pastor Smith said. “They gently helped us walk through the entire process. They gave us great ideas and great thoughts on where to go with the design. We are very thankful for that. Our goal is to have this facility built in a year and start to use our new auditorium.”

The new facility is part of Compass Church’s “Gaining Ground” initiative, a two-year vision adventure aimed at expanding the church’s reach and impact in the West Valley. The project includes the construction of a new auditorium, lobby, and children’s classrooms on the church’s 10-acre property.

“We are thrilled to take this next step in our journey,” Pastor Smith said. “This new facility will provide a space where our community can experience God’s love and grow in their faith. We are grateful for the support of our congregation and the community as we embark on this exciting new chapter.”

The “Gaining Ground” initiative has already garnered significant support, with more than $7 million committed to the project.

“The church is trusting God to provide the necessary resources to complete the construction and continue its mission of loving and serving the community,” Pastor Smith said.

The general contractor was MTV General Contractors, Inc. Notable subcontractors on the project include AV Schwann, structural engineer; Peterson Associates, MPE engineer; and Kaeko Engineering, civil engineering.