Posts Tagged ‘Southern New Mexico’
Union Pacific Construction Underway Near Santa Teresa, New Mexico
A view of the Union Pacific site, looking east with the Airport, Santa Teresa, El Paso and the Franklin Mountains in the background. Photo courtesy of Suzie Azar.
Release courtesy of Union Pacific Railroad.
The passage of the Locomotive Fuel Tax Deduction HB523/SB179 by the New Mexico state legislature and signing into law by Governor Martinez was the catalyst that allowed Union Pacific Railroad to break ground on a state-of-the-art rail facility in the southern part of the state. With an overall economic impact of $500 million for the New Mexico economy, Union Pacific’s investment in the project totals more than $400 million. The facility will create 3,000 jobs during the construction phase from 2011 to 2015, and will eventually be headquarters for more than 600 permanent jobs. For the first time ever, southern New Mexico will have a key inland port, positioning the Santa Teresa area as a strategic focal point for goods movement in the southwestern U.S.
Phase 1 Construction
The Phase 1 construction launch occurred on August 8, 2011. Phase 1 will continue through 2012. Rangar-Benson received the first construction contract and will complete the mass grading in which approximately 5.6 million cubic yards of dirt will be excavated and 4.1 million cubic yards of dirt will be placed. This phase will also extend approximately two miles of Dona Aña County public water and sanitary sewer lines that will serve the facility. This work is scheduled to last approximately one year.
Seven of the ten contractors on the project are New Mexico based, totaling $40 million worth of contracts, more than 66 percent of the Phase 1 contracting.
340 people have been working on the site at any given time to date during the Phase 1 construction process with more than 50 percent of those hailing from New Mexico.
Phase 2 Construction
The second phase of construction will commence after Phase 1 and will complete the remaining portion of the yard to include all the mechanical, electrical, architectural, utilities, track and civil engineering portions of the project.
As part of the contract, there is an expectation that the general contractor will consider New Mexican subcontractors and also look for opportunities to hire qualified New Mexicans.
Global Economy Demands Efficiency
The construction of the Santa Teresa facility will permanently position Southern New Mexico as a crucial component of the historic “Sunset Route,” one of the oldest and most critical rail corridors in American history, securing New Mexico’s future as a leader in the goods movement industry. Union Pacific’s initial plans for capital spending in 2012 total $3.6 billion in support of America’s freight transportation needs. That investment will continue enhancing the safety and efficiency of Union Pacific’s 32,000-mile network. The resulting improved rail capacity benefits everyone. It allows freight rail service to grow, helping to build a cleaner environment. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, freight trains are nearly four times more fuel efficient than trucks.
About The Project
Fueling Facilities – Located along the busy “Sunset Route” between El Paso and Los Angeles, this fueling facility will enhance commerce and goods movement in the state of New Mexico.
Crew Change Buildings – This facility will eventually serve as home base for Union Pacific employees operating long-haul trains out of the area.
Intermodal Ramp – This regionally focused intermodal ramp will permit both local and regional businesses more immediate access to the efficiencies of freight trains.
Las Cruces Gains Manufacturing Momentum – Will It Last?
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
Re-Energize the Americas Conference Begins This Week
WHAT: Re-Energize the Americas Conference
WHEN: 8 a.m.-9 p.m., Oct. 26; 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Oct. 27
WHERE: El Paso Convention Center, One Civic Center Plaza, El Paso, Texas
Re-Energize the Americas seeks to spur economic development of sustainable energy resources and activities within the West Texas, Southern New Mexico and Northern Mexico area known as the “Paso del Norte” by helping to capitalize on the region’s abundant natural resources, production capacity and distribution networks.
The conference is a collaborative effort among New Mexico State University, The University of Texas at El Paso and the El Paso-based economic development organization the Paso del Norte Group.
On Oct. 26, El Paso Mayor John Cook and Las Cruces Mayor Ken Miyagishima will open the conference. In addition, NMSU President Barbara Couture will provide an overview of the energy projects being conducted at the university.
The keynote lunch speaker will be Col. Joseph A. Simonelli Jr., garrison commander at Fort Bliss. At the dinner closing the first day of the conference, Hunter Hunt, president and CEO of Hunt Consolidated Energy, will provide the keynote address.
The Re-Energize the Americas conference coincides with the 18th Annual Border Energy Forum sponsored by the Texas General Land Office, which will be held Oct. 27 and 28 at the same location. The two conferences will hold a joint session on Oct. 27.
To request media credentials by noon Oct. 25, please contact Janet Perez at 575-646-4120 or at perezjm@nmsu.edu.
NMSU, UTEP Presidents Announce Inaugural Re-Energize the Americas Conference
Release courtesy of the NMSU News Center
WRITER: Janet Perez, 575-646-4120, perezjm@nmsu.edu
CONTACT: Britt Porter, 915-585-8585, bporter@truenorthadvisors.com
New Mexico State University President Barbara Couture, University of Texas at El Paso President Diana Natalicio and Britt Porter of the Paso del Norte Group will be announcing details of the first Re-Energize the Americas conference. The conference will take place Oct. 26-27 at the El Paso Convention Center.
Re-Energize the Americas seeks to spur economic development of sustainable energy resources and activities within the West Texas, Southern New Mexico and Northern Mexico area known as the “Paso del Norte” by helping to capitalize on the region’s abundant natural resources, production capacity and distribution networks.
New Mexico State University’s Re-Energizing America energy conferences provided the framework for this new multinational, multi-partner event. Along with NMSU, the Re-Energize the Americas conference is organized by the University of Texas at El Paso and the El Paso-based economic development organization the Paso del Norte Group. This collaboration among NMSU, UTEP and the Paso del Norte Group increases regional competitiveness and showcases the energy-related research activities of both universities.
The Re-Energize the Americas conference coincides with the 18th Annual Border Energy Forum sponsored by the Texas General Land Office, which will be held Oct. 27 and 28 at the same location. The two conferences will hold a joint session on Oct. 27.
Before and after the press conference, UTEP will offer a tour of its energy facilities. Reserved parking will be available for invited off-campus guests and the media. For more information on parking, contact Alberto Lopez at alopez@utep.edu.
Commercial Space Exhibit Hall Grand Opening and Growing Partnership Luncheon on October 18th
You are invited to attend the Commercial Space Exhibit Hall Grand Opening and Growing Partnership Luncheon on October 18th at the Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum, 11am – 2pm. This event is part of the International Symposium for Personal and Commercial Spaceflight (ISPCS) where leaders from the commercial space industry meet, listen, talk, and collaborate.
Growing the community partnerships is an essential activity as we continue on the path of leading the commercial spaceflight industry here in Southern New Mexico. At the luncheon you will:
• Attend Grand Opening of Commercial Space Exhibit Hall
• Meet commercial space entrepreneurs
• Enjoy lunch and keynote speaker Allan Lockheed
• Tour Commercial Space Exhibit Hall
The Grand Opening of the Commercial Space Exhibit Hall will be hosted by the Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce Conquistadors. (This event is free, 11:00-11:30)
Allan Lockheed Jr., son of aviation pioneer Allan Lockheed, will describe how the commercial space transportation industry parallels the development of the airline industry. This event is sponsored by Steinborn & Associates Real Estate and the Las Cruces Bulletin. Registration is required for luncheon.
Visit NASA’s Exploration Experience display. This is a visual journey through the past, present and future of space exploration, using the latest in 3-D imagery.
To register for the luncheon, please visit www.ispcs.com.
ISPCS 2011 will be held Oct. 19-20 during Space Week in New Mexico.
ISPCS is organized by the New Mexico Space Grant Consortium, a member of the National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program, administered by NASA.
