‘Wide open for business’: State reveals first designated site-readiness locations

A handful of potential development hubs across the state are now one step closer to becoming shovel ready.

The state has named five locations in Rio Rancho, Las Cruces, Santa Teresa, McKinley County and Sandoval County that are now designated as “strategic economic development sites,” according to a Monday news release from the New Mexico Economic Development Department.

The five locations are the first designated sites within the state’s site-readiness program, which aims to identify and prepare sites for business development in the hopes of making it easier for out-of-state companies to come to New Mexico. Designated sites are eligible for the program’s pre-development funding.

The designations come roughly a year after the state appropriated $24 million from its general fund to launch and support the program for three years.

“I cannot overstate how important site readiness is. If we don’t have shovel-ready locations for companies to build, we lose those opportunities and the jobs that come with them,” said Economic Development Secretary Rob Black in a statement. “These sites are the first of many, sending a clear message that New Mexico is ready to move at the speed of business.”

Since launching the program, EDD — with the help of site selection consulting firm Global Location Strategies — has evaluated 47 municipal, tribal and privately owned sites across the state. Evaluations consider the site’s utility access, environment, traffic, transportation, zoning and ownership to see what kind of investment it will take to prepare the site for development.

The designation of sites marks a significant step in the process, allowing property owners of those sites to start applying for funding. An advisory committee will then review the application before it is sent to Black’s team for final approval.

The first five designated sites were selected because of their infrastructure, utility access, workforce considerations, development capacity and alignment with long-term economic priorities, according to the news release.

The Las Cruces Innovation & Industrial Park was among the sites selected. Located near White Sands Missile Range and NASA facilities, the site features 333 acres zoned for aerospace, defense and research — making it an ideal spot for advanced manufacturing and high-tech uses.

The 43-acre City Center site — located within Rio Rancho’s Central Business District — also made the cut, offering 20 adjoining acres primed for mixed-use and commercial development.

The three remaining sites range between 35 and 2,500 acres, capable of supporting energy, transportation, manufacturing and commercial business expansion operations.

Site selectors can view these sites and several others that have been evaluated at EDD’s online site-readiness map, which the department launched in January.

“By providing comprehensive site-readiness data, New Mexico has put itself at the front of the line in attracting economic activity that will result in high-paying jobs across the state,” said Sen. Michael Padilla, D-Albuquerque, in a statement.

Padilla, one of the sponsors of last year’s site-readiness legislation, said the selection of the program’s first designated sites demonstrates “that New Mexico is wide open for business.”

Kylie Garcia covers retail and real estate for the Journal. You can reach her at kgarcia@abqjournal.com.