Posts Tagged ‘Parkview Metals’

Article courtesy of the Las Cruces Sun-News

By Brook Stockberger/Sun-News Business Editor

LAS CRUCES – “Las Cruces, manufacturing hub!”

Well, southern New Mexico’s largest city might not gain that moniker anytime soon, but the reality of an operating Spaceport America north of town and the start of construction on a $400 million Union Pacific Railroad facility south of town, has spurred increased interest in Las Cruces among manufacturing and logistics companies.

According to a recent quarterly report, the Mesilla Valley Economic Development Alliance says that 65 percent of all new leads are in the manufacturing sector.

“This is a great area to be growing in because manufacturing/logistics generally involves paying local people and local suppliers to make things that people outside the region pay for,” said Christine Logan, economic development administrator for the city of Las Cruces.

L&M Radiator and Alaska Structures both moved into town and created manufacturing jobs. That was welcome news that came on the heels of a stretch last decade in which Las Cruces lost Parkview Metals, Rea Wire Magnet Wire and manufacturing jobs with Taylor Precision Products. “Both of these companies moved from El Paso to Las Cruces,” Logan said. “A big factor was that we had facilities here that they could move into and expand their operations. A recurring theme in the city’s economic development efforts has been the need for existing industrial space.”

Minnesota-based L&M had a facility in El Paso, but outgrew that location and turned its eyes north across the state border. “Our business has seen a tremendous amount of growth over the last year,” L&M Radiator President Dan Chisholm said when the company decided to move. L&M, which makes cooling systems for heavy machinery, is leasing about 52,000 square feet of manufacturing and warehouse space on South Valley Drive.

In addition, TE Connectivity, an electronics component manufacturer, will relocate 100 jobs to its Santa Teresa plant from El Paso. “In the next three years, we’re hoping those 100 jobs grow to 250,” said Jerry Pacheco, vice president of the Border Industrial Association.

According to the city’s most recent economic development report, the manufacturing business category makes up just 1 percent of the businesses and 4 percent of the jobs.

Still, Davin Lopez, president and CEO with MVEDA, said that the area is increasingly showing up on companies’ radar. MVEDA works to bring companies to Doña Ana County and to help those already here expand. “We continue to see manufacturing leads increase as a percentage of total leads developed,” Lopez said. “This category also includes logistics companies. Whereas this category accounted for approximately 39 percent of all leads in the last fiscal year, we have seen it grow to 65 percent of in the first quarter of this year.”

Both Logan and Lopez said that the Union Pacific facility in Santa Teresa plays a major role. “Over the past 12 to 18 months, we have received greater interest from manufacturing and logistics firms due to the Union Pacific announcement,” Lopez said. “A $400-million-plus investment catches attention both regionally and nationally.

“It has enabled us to not only showcase opportunities in and around the Santa Teresa region but also to bring greater attention to the Las Cruces region where we happened to have existing facility space that fits the needs of some of these companies,” he said.

“We are getting more attention lately because, No. 1, we had vacant facilities to accommodate companies,” Logan said. “No. 2, there is pent-up demand for manufacturing space since no one wanted to expand or relocate in the worst of the economy and, No. 3, the proximity to the Union Pacific intermodal facility makes this a great place to locate a manufacturing facility.”

Brook Stockberger can be reached at (575) 541-5457

Photo courtesy of Davin Lopez

New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez and Economic Development Secretary Designee Jon Barela were warmly welcomed by Alaska Structures (AKS) as the Governor and the Secretary toured the facility and addressed the employees.  In 2010, Alaska Structures expanded from approximately 70,000 sq. ft. of space to over 250,000 sq. ft. of space at the City of Las Cruces West Mesa Industrial Park, occupying both the former REA Magnet Wire building as well as the former Parkview Metals building.  Since their expansion they have grown from approximately 170 employees to over 300.

Photo courtesy of Davin Lopez

Addressing the employees, the Governor expressed her commitment to getting all New Mexicans who want to work the opportunity to work and that economic development was a primary goal of her administration.  “This is definitely a company we want to brag about!” commented the Governor.  Commenting to the Governor, Davin Lopez stated  “Just a year ago this facility was vacant. Now you walk through it and it’s bustling with employees back in the work force.  Alaska Structures is truly a success story for Las Cruces.”

AKS designs, engineers and delivers survivable fabric building systems for extreme environments. Since 1975, AKS products have been used for nearly every building application in every part of the world: United Nations’ disaster relief facilities, military housing facilities, aviation hangars, convention centers, medical complexes, warehouses, mining and manufacturing facilities, film locations, theaters, incarceration complexes, housing, retail outlets, hotels, as well as many other applications large or small, remote or otherwise.

Article courtesy of the Las Cruces Sun-News

By Brook Stockberger

LAS CRUCES – Another dormant commercial location will again be alive with the buzz of Las Cruces workers. Arlington, Va.-based Vangent announced that it plans to hire 120 employees as it takes over the empty location at 1630 Hickory Loop, vacated in 2009 by Frontier Airlines.

Vangent operates call centers, so, if you’re looking for a job, warm up your vocal cords and spruce up your résumé, because the company plans to hold job fairs starting Wednesday next week at the Workforce Connection office, 226 S. Alameda St.

“This is another great opportunity to refill lost jobs,” said Davin Lopez, president and CEO with the Mesilla Valley Economic Development Alliance.

The news comes after the recent announcement that the large Rea Magnet Wire building on the West Mesa Industrial Park had been sold to Alaska Structures, which also has occupied parts of the years’-empty Parkview Metals buildings.

“I’m excited; this is great news for Las Cruces,” said Las Cruces Mayor Ken Miyagishima. “I’m so proud of our community and economic development team.”

The job fairs will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday as well as from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday.

Lopez said a delegation from Las Cruces first met with the company in February in Washington D.C. “They are a third-party contract center that does work for a variety of industries, including the federal government,” Lopez said.

Vangent reports it has been serving clients in the federal government since 1973 and has more than 7,000 employees worldwide. The company did not give specifics on the function of its Las Cruces facility, but its website reports that is has worked with the Department of Commerce, the Department of Defense, the Department of Education, NASA and other clients.

Vangent will hire entry-level customer service representatives, senior representatives, supervisors, quality monitors, operations representatives, workforce management specialists and a trainer. The company offers temporary and full-time employment. It did not disclose wage information, but reports it offers “competitive pay, benefits and flexible schedules.”

For all positions, a high school diploma or GED is required and applicants must pass a typing test of at least 20 words per minute. Everyone who is hired also must pass a security clearance and a pre-employment drug test.

“Our unemployment (rate) is already down and this will help that even more,” Miyagishima said. “I can’t stress enough the teamwork at MVEDA, the city and county and university on (economic development).”

Vangent said it chose Las Cruces “due to a well-educated workforce, an area free from extreme weather and easy access to major metropolitan centers in New Mexico, Texas and Arizona. In addition, Vangent has received valuable support from the Mesilla Valley Economic Development Alliance and members of their board of directors.”

Brook Stockberger can be reached at (575) 541-5457

Article courtesy to the Las Cruces Bulletin

By Gabriel Vasquez

Not many people know about the West Mesa Industrial Park, a 1,820-acre development located on Interstate 10, eight miles west of Las Cruces. It is home to several companies specializing in light and general manufacturing, and more are coming.

Most recently, Alaska Structures (AKS), a company in Las Cruces for more than 10 years, has expanded from its South Main Street facility into the 180,000-square-foot West Mesa building previously occupied by Rea Magnet Wire.

“I can confirm they are now occupying the old Rea building, and have taken over part of the Parkview site as well,” said Davin Lopez, president and CEO of the Mesilla Valley Economic Development Alliance.

The Parkview Metals site, vacant since 2007, stands at 100,000 square feet. AKS leased all but the office space in the building as it continues to consolidate its El Paso operations into Las Cruces.

“(AKS) will need more employees, but I do not know if they are hiring right now,” said Christine Logan, administrator for the city’s Economic Development Department. AKS designs, engineers and manufactures fabric-building systems for extreme environments for both military and commercial use. It recently was awarded a large contract that called for the expansion. Expected employment for the Rea site is 75 to90 employees, city officials said, with a possible expansion of up to 170 employees once the Parkview site is fully operational.

“It’s safe to say, that any local company that expands at this rate can only be a great opportunity for us,” Lopez said.

Although industrial buildings are still available for lease, space on the West Mesa is becoming more of a hot commodity.

“Don Billings has a 6,000-square-foot spec building available on Trigg Loop and NAI 1st Valley is marketing a 23,000-squarefoot facility on Crawford Boulevard,” Logan said. “Although there are not many buildings available, there are several development ready land parcels available through private land owners and the city.”

Current West Mesa tenants include Samson Equipment, which continues to do well and is looking to acquire additional land for expansion. F&A Dairy Products has completed a significant expansion and has recently upped its employment number to 93.

The Sapphire Energy research and development site continues to grow and now employs 24 full-time and has added several interns from New Mexico State University.

Onion producers Barker Produce have a new facility under construction on the West Mesa and Premier Distributing opened a facility there in February and employs 63 people in the park.

For more information on the West Mesa Industrial Park, a city-owned light manufacturing and industry development, call (575) 541-2286.