OPINION: Albuquerque is ready to take the next step

Every great city reaches a moment when its strengths align and reveal a future once just out of reach. After visiting New Mexico annually for more than a decade, I’ve long believed Albuquerque is what’s next — and increasingly, it’s what’s now. The city’s mix of talent, culture, affordability, research capacity and quality of life gives it a foundation most regions envy. The question is no longer whether Albuquerque can compete for the jobs and industries of the future, but how quickly possibility can turn into performance.

Momentum is already visible. Pacific Fusion’s $1 billion research facility, the Netflix expansion at ABQ Studios and Kairos Power’s partnership show that Albuquerque is on the radar of decision-makers in boardrooms and research labs nationwide.

People are the heart of every thriving economy — and New Mexico’s human capital runs deeper than many realize. The state leads the nation in Ph.D.s per capita, with expertise spanning engineering, chemistry, materials science, artificial intelligence, quantum and film production. The University of New Mexico’s leadership in quantum information science strengthens that edge. Equally powerful is the creative talent that animates the region’s culture. Artists, designers and makers form an ecosystem that is both authentic and exportable. Members of the creative class seek places with character, affordability and access to the outdoors — and Albuquerque checks every box. Place matters.

Albuquerque has invested in experiences that elevate daily life — restaurants, hotels and gathering places developed by Heritage Hotels & Resorts have boosted both visitor experience and civic pride. The Rail Runner’s link to Santa Fe adds mobility and cultural permeability few metros can match.

Affordability is another advantage. Among Mountain West cities, Albuquerque remains the most attainable, with 71% of residents owning homes. That stability attracts and retains talent, as do the region’s climate, open space and recreation.

Partnership is the catalyst for what comes next. New Mexico has taken deliberate steps to remove barriers and accelerate investment. The Job Training Incentive Program funds workforce development; high-wage tax credits help recruit talent; and the Local Economic Development Act offsets construction and rental costs. Industrial Revenue Bonds have financed transformative projects, including $750 million of Pacific Fusion’s investment. Research and Development tax credits reward invention and risk-taking.

Equally significant are programs that create “site product” — shovel-ready infrastructure that shortens time to market. The Site Readiness Program funds utilities, broadband and traffic studies. The Trade Ports bill and Utility Pre-deployment Program strengthen logistics and signals that New Mexico welcomes innovators.

Together, these policies reduce friction and send a clear message: The state and city are open for business.

Perhaps Albuquerque’s greatest long-term advantage lies in its research ecosystem. The University of New Mexico’s Research 1 status, combined with Sandia and Los Alamos national laboratories, forms an innovation stack matched by few regions worldwide. When aligned with the private sector — through technology transfer and startup formation — this capacity becomes powerful economic fuel. Cities don’t transform through individual effort. They evolve when public, private, academic and community leaders choose alignment. Albuquerque has shown that in film, hospitality, site readiness and placemaking.

The next chapter demands that same collaborative spirit applied to advanced manufacturing, clean energy, aerospace, bioscience, artificial intelligence and the creative industries that define identity and attract talent. The ingredients are here: a skilled workforce, world-class research, cultural richness, affordability and government partnership that accelerates progress. What’s next is not reinvention but acceleration — connecting strengths, telling our story boldly and inviting the world to see what New Mexicans have long known. The future belongs to cities that align their assets with purpose. Albuquerque is ready.