Posts Tagged ‘White Sands Missile Range’

Release courtesy of NMSU News Center

Writer: Justin Bannister, 575-646-5981, jbannist@nmsu.edu

Contact: Dawn Hommer, 575-646-5213, dhommer@nmsu.edu

New Mexico State University’s Arrowhead Center has agreed to work with White Sands Missile Range to pursue potential business development opportunities in the fields of national security, space and aerospace, alternative energy initiatives and technologies with both military and civilian applications.

“This agreement between NMSU and White Sands Missile Range will not only allow collaboration between two of the largest economic development engines in Southern New Mexico, but also establish the groundwork for new and exciting economic development opportunities,” said Garrey Carruthers, NMSU’s vice president for economic development and dean of the College of Business.

The memorandum of understanding will help the Arrowhead Center and WSMR work in concert in pursuit of potential business development opportunities. The goal is to complement assets, expertise and capabilities of both entities. The collaboration will support the Arrowhead Center’s mission of economic development and WSMR’s mission of research, development, testing and evaluation.

The Arrowhead Center specializes in accelerating economic development within New Mexico, providing enhanced directed learning experiences for students and diversifying the funding base for NMSU. Since its inception in 2004, the Arrowhead Center has completed more than 200 business research projects involving more than 300 graduate and undergraduate students.

NMSU and WSMR have informally worked together for the past few years. This move allows that relationship to continue more effectively.

As many of you are already aware, MVEDA has a core, focused approach to economic development that concentrates on growing the economic base of Dona Ana County.  Economic based approaches focus on industries that export a product or service outside the region thereby bringing new dollar flow into the local economy.   It is one of the fundamental means by which a region can build and create new wealth and demand.  New dollar flow into an economy then leads to greater disposable spending that can be used to purchase the local goods and services that we rely on each day.    We have had success in this approach to economic development and as move closer to entering the fourth quarter of our fiscal year the impact from economic based industry development becomes evident; not only in job creation but in the new tax base that it creates.

For example, currently this fiscal year MVEDA has been involved in efforts that have assisted in the creation of 216 new jobs as well as the retention of 42 jobs within the City of Las Cruces with the total capital investment estimated in new construction and equipment estimated at $40mm.  Utilizing IMPLAN economic impact analysis, a 3^rd party statistical software that measures direct, indirect, and induced economic impacts, new tax revenue to the City of Las Cruces would exceed $700,000 during the construction phase and over $226,000 per year in subsequent years should employment levels be maintained.  Likewise, the increased tax revenue to the State of New Mexico as a result of these projects is estimated at over $2.3mm during the construction phase and over $347,000 in subsequent years.  Our educational institutions also benefit as a result of these economic based projects.  Las Cruces Public Schools property tax revenues could grow by as much as $200,000 per year.

Also, MVEDA is working closely with a handful of projects that have considerable impact to Dona Ana County; primarily with Union Pacific’s $400mm refueling station and intermodal ramp which would create over 3,000 construction jobs and eventually over 500 permanent, high wage jobs in Santa Teresa.  The impact of this project would create $19.9mm to the State of New Mexico and $3.5mm to Dona Ana County in new gross receipts and compensating tax paid on construction services alone.   As the State of New Mexico is currently faced with large budget deficits, the identification and creation of a new tax base becomes even that much more critical.  As evident from the above discussion, the attraction of economic based industry to the State and County is the solution.

Economic development practitioners and leaders around the United States value economic based industry growth and it is for this reason that competition continues to grow.  And even during these challenging economic times, and even with budget deficits, we see that States and regions across the country are investing more in their economic development efforts.  For example, just to the south of Dona Ana County in Horizon City (a suburb of El Paso), the city has adopted a new tax to build an economic development fund.  This is in addition to the State of Texas’ Enterprise Fund which provides the State with deal-closing dollars to attract industry.  Recently, Arizona legislators began a special legislative session to begin consideration of business tax cuts and the creation of a $25mm closing fund to attract new business to their State.   On a recent trip to Atlanta, MVEDA met with several national site selectors and two messages became clear.  First, that there would be an exodus of companies from California, and second, that Arizona and Texas had firmly placed their flag in the ground as the business friendly destination.   With less than a month left in New Mexico’s 60-day legislative session, we are hopeful that the State of New Mexico remains aggressive in the pursuit of economic development.  For this reason the Dona Ana County Legislative Coalition has been supporting the following economic development issues:

1.    Support of a State economic development recruitment budget by expanding the New Mexico Partnership beyond present funding levels, with the purpose of creating new private sector employment opportunities, creating new jobs for New Mexicans and expanding business in the State.  Currently, past year funding has been at $1.1mm.  This is a significant decrease in funding from when the program began in 2003. It is also a small budget in comparison to neighboring cities, much less other State recruitment budgets.  The Partnership also provides lead generation flow to smaller communities that do not have their own marketing budget to work with.  Rural communities that have benefited from the Partnership’s involvement have included Clovis, Roswell, Gallup, and Dona Ana County to name just a few.   To compare this funding level against some of our neighbors;

o    El Paso, TX has a recruitment program funded at about $1.5mm, and

o    The Greater Phoenix Economic Development Council has a recruitment program funded at about $4mm.

2.    Support of retaining existing economic development incentives to include:

o    Funding the State’s Job Training Incentive Program,

o    Maintaining the Technology Jobs Tax Credit, the Manufacturing Investment Tax Credit, and Rural Jobs Tax Credits.

3.    Support of regional border issues which comprise New Mexico’s second largest existing industrial base:

o    Reinstatement of the Locomotive Diesel Refuel Tax Exemption to make southern New Mexico more competitive against Texas as a bi-modal, transportation and logistics hub.

o    Creation of an Commercial Overweight Zone which will assist in attracting new logistics and distribution companies to New Mexico, &

o    Creation of a border infrastructure fund to plan, design and construct border infrastructure to allow for pro-active economic development planning.

Regardless of the outcome at the State level, we still have tremendous economic growth opportunities here in Dona Ana County.  This stems from a direct industry focused marketing approach that leverages the unique assets of the region.  They include our border logistics and port of entry with Mexico, our proximity to White Sands Missile Range, our natural assets in solar, a strong agricultural region, and the continued development of an aerospace industry with Spaceport America as its anchor.  As illustrated in the Lead Generation chart, MVEDA continues to receive diversified industry interest lead first by manufacturing and logistics, followed by renewable energy, and increased growth in the aerospace and food processing sectors.  We have also recently seen a renewed interest in high tech companies looking at the area.

In terms of performance output versus past years, MVEDA has assisted in the creation of 237 new jobs in Dona Ana County as of March 1 of this fiscal year which places us well ahead of job creation numbers in each of the past previous two years, only overshadowed by the positive economic climate of 2007-’08.  However, there remains a strong potential that we will see a handful of projects close before the end of the current fiscal year which would then create a record year for MVEDA.

As also illustrated in the Completed Projects chart, as of March 1^st we have already surpassed past years’ results in the industrial square footage taken off the marketplace and in the total capital investment that these projects have brought to Dona Ana County.

In addition to economic based industry attraction, MVEDA is working on solutions to connect local businesses to the opportunities that economic based industry brings to the region.   Therefore we were pleased to announce our first “Business Connection Series” on Monday, March 7, 2011 where SunEdison provided local vendors, suppliers, and sub-contractors with a pre-bid briefing on their 12 MW solar project at the West Mesa Industrial Park.  We are hopeful that this will be the first in a series of localized economic-based business building opportunities.

Additionally, in conjunction with the Border Industrial Association (BIA), MVEDA hosted a Business Incentives Workshop for the southern New Mexico industrial base and the CPA firms that service them.   The workshop which also counted towards CEP credit was provided by Moss Adams, a MVEDA Partner and covered, not only the details of applying for state incentives, but federal incentives as well.

As evident, even with the budget challenges at the State level, we are optimistic about the future of economic development in Dona Ana County and appreciate the continued support of all of our partners and stakeholders.

Article courtesy of the Las Cruces Bulletin

By Todd G. Dickson

Armadillo Aerospace – which has been the leader in developing rocket technology for vehicles to take off and land vertically – will be conducting three NASA-funded tests this winter at Spaceport America.

Photo courtesy of Armadillo Aerospace

Programmer John Carmack, who made his fortune creating computer games such as “Doom,” started Armadillo in 2000 to pursue advances first tested at White Sands Missile Range in the 1990s. In the past two years, one of his vehicles has successfully accomplished the first levels of a NASA-sponsored contest for designing a new lunar lander.

The demonstration vehicle built by Armadillo of Rockwell, Texas, has previously flown at the Las Cruces International Airport for the now-dormant X PRIZE Cup spaceflight expo. Rick Homans, executive director of the New Mexico Spaceport Authority, said these new tests illustrate the research and development capabilities of Spaceport America, which is being constructed in the desert 45 miles north of Las Cruces.

“These launches mark an important step in NASA’s plan to empower the emerging commercial spaceflight industry to assume a greater role in the nation’s space program,” Homans said. “Spaceport America is the launch pad for this new industry, and Armadillo’s decision to launch here affirms our important position.”

Armadillo is developing new vehicles that can launch small payloads to suborbital “near space,” which NASA defines as altitudes between about 19 and 106 kilometers, and return them safely to earth.

“Armadillo is proud to pioneer reusable rocket technology for the commercial space industry and Spaceport America provides the perfect place for our launches,” said Neil Milburn, vice president of program management at Armadillo Aerospace. “We selected Spaceport America because of its geographic advantages, dedicated staff, technical experience, flexibility and its low cost. We need exactly this kind of support to be successful.”

Milburn said Armadillo will move its test operations to Spaceport America for two NASA-funded Commercial Reusable Suborbital Research Program (CRuSR) flights to 15 kilometers, under the Amateur Class III waiver, and a subsequent fully licensed or permit flight to at least 40 kilometers this winter.

NASA’s CRuSR program envisions a series of suborbital flights that will provide access to a few minutes of microgravity for experimentation, discovery and testing. According to Homans, NASA wants to help private firms develop suborbital spacecraft that will eventually provide the nation with lower-cost and much more reliable access to orbital space. Spaceport America anticipates playing a critical role in the CRuSR program, Homans said.

The Armadillo announcement comes just two weeks after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) awarded at least $5 million to New Mexico State University to develop a Center of Excellence for Commercial Space Transportation.

“These announcements, coming one on top of another, are big news for Spaceport America,” Homans said.

Southern road deal

The Armadillo news also comes as Homans had finished brokering a deal with Sierra and Dona Ana counties to pave the southern road to Spaceport America. The route to Spaceport America that starts from the Upham exit off Interstate 25 is a graded dirt road about 24 miles long. Currently, the only paved road to Spaceport America comes from Elephant Butte via Truth or Consequences.

Technically, Spaceport America’s operations are in Sierra County, and the unpaved road travels some seven miles in Dona Ana County before crossing the county line. Voters in both counties have passed a small increase in gross receipts taxes (GRT) to support the spaceport’s construction, and the estimated $13 million for the road will come from the next $19 million the spaceport GRT brings in, Homans said.

The counties – primarily Dona Ana County – will provide services for designing and permitting of the paved road. Homans said he is finalizing the contracts and expects meetings soon to start the preliminary work.

Water well worries

When contractors for Spaceport America tapped a former train well to provide water for the construction of its two-mile-long runway and Virgin Galactic’s Terminal Hangar Facility, it wasn’t expected to have any adverse effect on the neighboring open range ranching.

But earlier this summer, neighbors complained their wells were running dry because spaceport construction firms were using the well for the massive amounts of concrete needed for the runway and other facilities.

Since the spaceport stopped using the well, water levels have returned for most of the surrounding wells, Homans said, and the spaceport’s operations will be depending on two other wells that get their water from a different aquifer source by the end of this month.

Homans said he promised the surrounding ranchers that the spaceport would find a “fair and reasonable solution for all parties, I feel we’ve kept our word.”

Release courtesy of New Mexico Space Grant Consortium

LAS CRUCES, NM – When Dr. Pat Hynes was recently notified that the New Mexico Space Grant Consortium at New Mexico State University (NMSU) was selected by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as a 2010 Center of Excellence for Commercial Space Transportation, she predicted that this would help make New Mexico the magnet for commercial space in the nation and the world. At a press conference held August 19 at NMSU, Dr. Hynes noted that this highly competitive process for the $10 million dollar funding was an important win for New Mexico because it also marks the first time the federal government has made a major investment in the commercial space industry, and it was made in New Mexico.

“Robert Goddard and NMSU’s Physical Sciences Laboratory were pioneers in the space industry along with White Sands Missile Range, leadership in space research is our heritage at NMSU and in New Mexico” Dr. Hynes said. “As we begin the age of Spaceflight for Mankind, the State of New Mexico is once again leading the effort.”

The FAA has created the Center of Excellence (COE) program in partnership with the Office of Commercial Space Transportation (AST) to help identify solutions of existing and anticipated space transportation issues. By teaming with the nation’s top academic research institutions, the COE will help ensure the protection of the public, property, and the national security and foreign policy interests of the United States during commercial launch or reentry activities. NMSU will be the lead institution for the FAA, working with the following core university partners: New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology; Florida Institute of Technology; Florida Center for Advanced Aero-Propulsion; Stanford University; University of Colorado – Boulder; and the University of Texas – Medical Branch.

Initial funding for the COE is $2 million for the start-up phase, with and additional $4 million in agency funds over the first five years of operation, which will be matched by the partners to total $10 million in initial funding. Center Operations Cooperative Agreements will be issued to all seven research universities. Research funding will come from government contracts in addition to the operating funds in the form of IDIQ contracts.

Dr. Hynes explained what the COE will do for the FAA. “We will work on research for improved spaceport operations systems, and to find ways to improve airspace integration, for example.” She explains that vehicles traveling to space will transverse through present commercial air space, so changes to the air traffic control process will allow for frequent travel to and from space. “We will also characterize the business of commercial space, and define the related markets we expect it will create.” In addition, the COE will provide education services for all organizations involved in commercial space transportation.

Dr. Hynes is also the Director of the New Mexico Space Grant Consortium which is a member of the congressionally funded National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program. This program is administered by NASA. The statewide consortium supports a wide range of space related research and education projects, including the Student Launch Program which provides annual access to space from Spaceport America for student experiments.

Article courtesy of the Las Cruces Bulletin

By Todd G. Dickson

Rick Homans, who starts his second stint as the New Mexico Spaceport Authority’s executive director this week, said the $198 million Spaceport America should be fully operational by mid-2011.

Speaking before the Greater Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce Thursday, June 24, at the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum, Homans said a number of new potential tenants are interested in the spaceport.

Homans said new and existing aerospace companies are especially interested in the spaceport’s vertical launch area to develop new launch systems as NASA changes its focus.

The potential for new jobs and economic opportunity is what has always drawn him to the spaceport effort, Homans said.

“I’m absolutely honored to be back on the job,” he said.

But just as the spaceport authority still has many issues to work through to make Spaceport America operational, local businesses need to get ready as well, said Mark Butler, operations program manager for Virgin Galactic, Spaceport America’s anchor tenant.

“A lot of things need to happen,” Butler said of Virgin Galactic safety testing its newly developed spaceliner system. “But let’s say that if we start flying 18 months from now, a lot of supply chain issues need to be worked on now.”

That’s because, Butler emphasized, Virgin Galactic’s primary focus will be flying customers into suborbital space at $200,000 a ticket. With these people paying so much for their trips, Virgin Galactic can’t allow the cancellation of a single flight because of something as minor as a lack of spare parts, fuel or materials – let alone something as miniscule as running out of bolts, he said.

Local businesses need to realize that these new passengers aren’t just going to be coming for a quick flight and leave. It will be at least a two and- a-half-day stay during which the passengers will go through training to prepare them for their spaceflight experience.

That means hotel stays – nice hotels. Butler said he believes one nice hotel near the spaceport won’t be enough.

These customers will want to find fine dining, preferably food made with quality local ingredients. Their visits will require reliable transportation to and from the spaceport in the desert between Las Cruces and Truth or Consequences.

There will be a need to provide activities for friends and families of the passengers while they are going through their pre-flight training. Though local businesses should offer experiences for these accompanying families and friends. Butler admitted that a jaunt to Las Vegas, Nev., is not that far of a trip for them and will likely be a draw away from local sites.

There are many needs in the direct supply chain of the Virgin Galactic flight system that should preferably be made readily available locally, Butler said, such as repair materials for the specialized carbon fiber composite materials manufactured by Burt Rutan’s Scaled Composites operation in California.

Virgin’s owner, British billionaire Richard Branson, is requiring his network of companies to reduce its carbon footprint and be as ecologically sensitive as possible. Part of the philosophy includes having these kinds of resources close to operations, which requires less shipping, Butler said.

Each flight of the spaceliner will require the replacement of the hybrid rocket engine, fueled by specially shaped rubber particles and nitrous oxide. Having the manufacturing of those fuels locally would provide additional assurance as well as satisfy the company’s ecological desires.

Considering the money at stake, reliability of those suppliers also will be tantamount, he said.

Because Virgin Galactic’s primary mission is making sure the customers experience safe flights, Butler said the company isn’t interested in coming up with all the “trinkets” and mementos passengers will want to take home from their trip. That is another opportunity for local businesses, he said.

Since Virgin Galactic is an international company, all of its American employees will have be U.S. citizens to comply with international trade agreements, he noted.

These are some of the reasons why the chamber has created a working group for the spaceport, said Wayne Savage, who chairs the committee. Butler’s talk gave some insight to kinds of jobs and money the spaceport could bring to the region, he said.

“We haven’t seen this kind of a catalyst for the local economy since the creation of White Sands Missile Range,” Savage said.