Multiple programs boost local economic opportunity
From left, U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Lujan, U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich and N.M. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham listen to the remarks of Keyvan Esfarjani, Intel senior vice president and general manager of Manufacturing and Operations, during the announcement of Intel’s $3.5 million in its Rio Rancho plant Monday. Gary Herron photo.
Work to bolster the economy was the main focus at the Thursday morning NAIOP Rio Rancho Roundtable virtual session.
Sparked by the May 3 news that Intel was investing $3.5 billion into its sprawling Rio Rancho campus, and bringing 700 new high-tech jobs and 1,000 construction jobs, creating new jobs and training a workforce were among the topics.
Speaker: Collaboration, plan vital to stimulate economy
Dove-tailing on his previous talk, at the Rio Rancho Roundtable virtual NAIOP session March 4, Dale Dekker again asked a timely question: How do we diversify our economy?
Dale Dekker
Albuquerque Journal file photo.
In New Mexico, with oil and gas revenue expected to plummet, that’s not an easy question to answer.
But again, Dekker a principal in the architectural firm of Dekker-Perich-Sabatini had ideas for listeners to consider.
“New Mexico needs a strategic business plan,” Dekker said, stressing the importance of “connecting the dots.”
Those dots included critical infrastructure (pharmaceuticals, medical and personal protective equipment, aerospace, microelectronics, advanced manufacturing, critical manufacturing and defense industrial base) with economic development clusters (aerospace and defense, biosciences, cyber security, global trade, advanced manufacturing, green energy and sustainable agriculture)