Article courtesy of the Las Cruces Bulletin
On Thursday, Aug. 11, the Mesilla Valley Economic Development Alliance met with community members to discuss the 2010-11 fiscal year for the organization. Though the economy may be in distress, MVEDA showed growth in the Mesilla Valley.
“I am proud to present the results of MVEDA’s 2010-11 fiscal year, which by almost all accounts has been a record setting year,” said Davin Lopez, president and CEO of MVEDA. “Not only has it been MVEDA’s second-best performing year in terms of job creation and square footage absorption, but the organization also far exceeded any past operating year in terms of capital investment and wealth creation.”
Charged with bringing companies to the Mesilla Valley and increasing the wealth of Doña Ana County, MVEDA works with other entities such as the City of Las Cruces, Doña Ana County, local chambers of commerce as well as a diverse group of leaders from the business community.
“With an additional three solar projects in Doña Ana County with total investments upwards of $100 million, a recent groundbreaking for a major multi-unit residential development in Santa Teresa, and the future industry potential that Spaceport America offers, should make us all stop and wonder whether or not national headlines are accurate … or, at the very least, relevant to our region,” Lopez said.
Over the past fiscal year, 45 companies actively looked into relocating to Las Cruces with several of them completing the process and moving into vacant buildings. Some of these companies include Vangent, Samson, NRG, L&M Radiator, Products USA and NextEra Energy.
In early June, MVEDA hosted an open house for L&M Radiator, a manufacturer that recently announced its move to Las Cruces. L&M plans to transfer or hire more than 100 employees, Lopez said.
“Less than a year ago, Alaska Structures expanded in Las Cruces’ West Mesa Industrial Park and now occupies more than 300,000 square feet in two facilities and employs more than 300 workers,” Lopez added.
The year generated more than 580 jobs, contributed to more than 270,000 square feet in commercial real estate absorption, with capital investments totaling more than $540 million. The average salary for the new jobs exceeds $47,000 per year, which is almost 28 percent above average wages for Doña Ana County.
Since January 2003, through the most recent fiscal year, MVEDA has assisted in the expansion or location of 68 projects in Doña Ana County – including Union Pacific – creating more than 3,200 jobs with an annual payroll in excess of $96 million.
