Business Facilities - July 2008 - (Page 54)

METRO SPOTLIGHT Albuquerque, NM By Bill Trüb ALBUQUERQUE: Colonial Past, Sustainable Future D ubbed the “Land of Enchantment,” Albuquerque is an arid, sunny metropolis of about 840,000 people, making it New Mexico’s most populous city. Spread over four counties in the heart of the state, Albuquerque’s essence is difficult to define—both the Sandia Mountains and the Rio Grande run through the city, a former Spanish colonial outpost set within the Chihuahuan Desert. But today, Albuquerque has a modern face thanks to its central location in New Mexico’s Technology Corridor, home to Sandia National Laboratories, Intel, and soon, Hewlett Packard. Sustainable energy also is part of the city’s forward-thinking outlook; 20% of Albuquerque’s electricity is drawn from wind turbines, and a cluster of renewable energy companies has formed in Mesa del Sol, a master-planned community in southern Albuquerque. SCHOTT AG, a German solar power company, recently broke ground there, which is a smart move since the sun shines over Albuquerque more than 300 days per year. NM Governor Bill Richardson and executives from SCHOTT AG break ground in Mesa del Sol. View of downtown Albuquerque Rio Rancho Says Howdy to Hewlett SOURCE: NEW MEXICO DEPARTMENT OF WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS, MAY 2008 54 JULY 2008 PHOTO CREDIT: SCHOTT US ewlett-Packard announced in June plans to open a technical support center in Rio Rancho, a growing he Albuquerque metropolitan city within Albuquerque’s MSA. Several hunarea is serviced by two interstate dred workers will be hired when the center opens, and the workforce highways, I-25 and I-40. The local could swell to 1,300 employees by 2012. transit agency, ABQ RIDE, operates “This is one of the most significant economic development agreements a series of city buses, while a comwe’ve ever made,” says New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson. The state muter rail line called the New Mexhas offered the computer giant a bevy of financial incentives that could ico Rail Runner Express has servtotal $40 million. The largest portion of incentives—$20 to $30 miliced Albuquerque since 2006. A rail lion—would come from New Mexico’s high-wage jobs tax credit proextension linking to Santa Fe, NM gram, while the remaining $10 million would come in the form of job is expected to be finished by the end training initiatives. Richardson also will lobby the state legislature to of 2008. For jet setters, Albuapprove $12 million in funding to help offset infrastructure costs. querque International The center could open by next summer, Albuquerque MSA Population: 840,000 Sunport is just three though an exact location has not been determiles from the central mined. Rio Rancho’s officials expect the site to Labor Force: 407,921 Employment: 392,965 business district. Also, fall within its 160-acre central business district. Unemployment: 14,956 Double Eagle II AirSalaries for the new jobs are expected to average NM Unemployment Rate: 3.7% port is available for $45,000 annually. Most of the employees will U.S. Unemployment Rate: 5.5% both charter and pribe hired from the local area, according to Jon vate flights. Flaxman, Hewlett-Packard’s executive VP. H Getting Around ABQ T

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Business Facilities - July 2008 Contents First Word Snapshots Corporate Moves: New York The 2008 Business Facilities Rankings Report 2008 Rankings: Biotech Blasts Off 2008 Rankings: Green with Envy 2008 Rankings: Warm Climate for Business Nanotech Looms Large in Pennsylvania Metro Spotlight: Inland Empire, CA Food Processing Sites: Providing Sustenance as Well as Nutrition Sale-Leasebacks: Easing the Credit Crunch Corporate Moves: Georgia Metro Spotlight: Albuquerque, NM Advertiser Index Inside LiveXchange

Business Facilities - July 2008

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