By Davin Lopez, President/CEO
The last few weeks have been extremely busy with MVEDA’s primary focus going towards the closing of several projects with several more in the works. Through the joint efforts of the NM Partnership (represented by Jerry Pacheco and his team), the NM Economic Development Department, and MVEDA, we were able to close on three projects in Santa Teresa. Governor Susana Martinez recognized these companies and the jobs that they will create at her announcement at the War Eagles Museum on Thursday, March 6.
- ERO Resources, a provider of container storage and mechanical services for rail-related business. The company purchased six acres in the Santa Teresa Intermodal Park where it will establish a terminal for business. The company will hire up to 50 employees within the next three years.
- Transmaritime, a third-party logistics organization which purchased 25 acres in the Santa Teresa Intermodal Park where it will construct a terminal to handle ocean freight containers for its clients. The company plans to hire 15 people for its operations.
- Stagecoach Cartage and Distribution, LP, an El Paso-based company that provides trucking and logistical services to clients throughout the U.S. and Mexico has purchased ten acres in the Santa Teresa Intermodal Park where it will establish a logistics yard and will hire up to 10 employees.
We are also in the final stages of negotiations and site analysis with four manufacturing operations whose combined employment numbers would exceed 400 new jobs should all of them choose Doña Ana County. Two of those projects representing 220 jobs would be in the City of Las Cruces, while the other two projects would locate in unincorporated areas of Doña Ana County.
On Tuesday, March 11 MVEDA also hosted two Cabinet Secretaries at two separate events. First, MVEDA hosted the Cabinet Secretary for the New Mexico Energy, Minerals, and Natural Resources Department, David Martin, for a listening session between industry and regulation stakeholders for the upcoming development of the New Mexico State Energy Policy and Implementation Plan. The vision of the plan is to spur economic development through an innovative and commercial deployment of energy. The Las Cruces session focused on biofuels, renewable energy, and the water-energy nexus. That same day, at MVEDA’s monthly Business in the Borderplex Luncheon, Secretary of Economic Development Jon Barela, provided a presentation on the results of the most recent legislative session and discussed the opportunities and challenges of spurring job creation through the next fiscal year. He also addressed the State’s most recent opportunity to be placed on the short list for Tesla’s mega battery manufacturing facility.
Speaking of Tesla, I have received a number of inquiries over the past two weeks to find out if Las Cruces and Doña Ana County is being considered as a potential site location. Although there is confidentiality surrounding this project, MVEDA has been making efforts with our public and private partners to assure Doña Ana County is getting exposure to this project.
MVEDA’s marketing efforts are in full gear. The week of March 17-21, Eric Montgomery traveled to Washington D.C. as part of the joint Chamber/MVEDA Advocacy trip. While support of operations at White Sands is the group’s primary objective, MVEDA uses this trip to initiate meetings with companies considering Doña Ana County as a potential site for future operations. By presenting a community supported front, we were able to attract Vangent (now General Dynamics IT) to Las Cruces a few years back. We will use this same approach during a dinner with a current client. Meanwhile, I will be in Atlanta at the MODEX Supply Trade Expo. This is an opportunity for MVEDA to market the transportation and logistics assets in Doña Ana County to continue our momentum as a major distribution hub in the Southwest.
On March 11, we also officially launched a MVEDA video campaign which showcases the value of business and living in Las Cruces and the Mesilla Valley. This will be pushed out on YouTube, including industry related websites such as Area Development Magazine. Several of our Partners have asked to use the video in their marketing efforts and we’re happy to have it used throughout the community. The video can be viewed and downloaded for your use at the following link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdnleDpjO8w
We are excited about the next few weeks as we feel there are many more announcements to come. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
