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Communities: Rio Rancho Community Overview

shawna — Fri, 02 Jun 2006 10:49:49 -0600

Rio Rancho Community Overview

Rio Rancho was recognized by Money Magazine (August 2005) as the eighty-third (83rd) best place to live in America. The study was based on many factors including jobs/economy, crime, education, and arts & leisure. The study evaluated over 1,300 US cities and particularly recognized Rio Rancho for its quality jobs and economy.

Education, Crime and Cost of Living

The Rio Rancho Public School system constantly ranks either first or second on state standardized tests and has a graduation rate higher and drop-out rate lower than state averages. The city also has the state's second lowest crime rate and a cost-of-living rate (96.2, 2009 average) lower than the national average (100).

Growth

With a growth rate approaching 20% (2000-2005), Rio Rancho is the fastest growing city in New Mexico and one of the fastest growing small cities in the nation. The city is experiencing record breaking new home construction rates adding more than 3,000 homes in 2005. Current population is estimated at 78,000 (2006) and is projected to reach 100,000 by 2010.

City Centre

Currently in development is Rio Rancho's new City Centre central business district. City Centre is to become the region's premier destination for upscale retail, office, dining, and entertainment venues.

Quality of Life

Central New Mexico is home to a number of recreational areas offering countless activities including biking, hiking, skiing, snowboarding, white-water rafting, camping, hang gliding, horseback riding, hunting, fishing and more. With over 300 sunny days, outdoor activities are always available. Chamisa Hills County Club is home to a championship 27-hole golf course and 10 other courses are within 30 minutes of the city. In addition to the New Mexico Scorpions, residents can enjoy minor league baseball, soccer and basketball as well as the University of New Mexico Lobos sports teams.

For more on Rio Rancho please visit:

Communities: Rio Rancho Business Overview

shawna — Fri, 02 Jun 2006 10:39:21 -0600

Rio Rancho Business Overview

Major Economic-Base Employers

5,000+ Employees: Intel Corporation
500+ Employees: Bank of America Banking Services, Sprint PCS, E-telecare Global Solutions, Victoria's Secret Direct, Hewlett-Packard
200+ Employees: Brycon Construction, JC Penney Company Inc., U.S. Cotton, Inc.
100+ Employees: Intersections, Lectrosonics, Insight Lighting, Waste Management of New Mexico, Form-Cove Manufacturing

Other Rio Rancho employers: Rio Rancho Public Schools, City of Rio Rancho, Aerobox Composite Structures, Aero Mechanical Industries, Aeroparts Manufacturing and Repair, Stainless Motors, and Permacharge.

Labor Force

Rio Rancho's labor market is defined by the Albuquerque Metropolitan Statistical Area which includes Bernalillo, Sandoval, Valencia and Torrance counties.

Civilian labor force: 408,600 (2009)
Unemployment rate: 7.1% (2009)
Over 91% of Rio Rancho residents have at least a high school diploma and nearly 26% have a bachelor's degree or higher

Transportation

Rio Rancho is just five minutes from Interstate 25 and 15 minutes from Interstate 40. In addition to the Albuquerque International Sunport, Rio Rancho is served by Double Eagle II airport which is just south of city limits. The major thoroughfares of NM 550 and NM 528 allow four lane access in and out of town. Rail service is available in the town of Bernalillo, just minutes north of Rio Rancho.

Utilities

Gas and electric service is provided by the Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM), a publicly-owned utility regulated by the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission.
Water and sewer are provided by the City of Rio Rancho. Groundwater is Rio Rancho's sole water source. The city has water rights permits that meet current and near-term demand. The long-term water plans include future acquisition for 24,000 acre-feet of water rights as well as new water infrastructure development.
Solid waste services are provided by Waste Management of New Mexico.
Qwest and Xspedius provide fiber and other telecommunication services.

Communities: Los Lunas Community Overview

shawna — Fri, 02 Jun 2006 10:27:25 -0600

Los Lunas Community Overview

Los Lunas, a village of about 12,600 residents just 20 minutes south of Albuquerque in Valencia County, combines the advantages of small-town life with the convenience of a big city. Valencia is the second fastest growing county in New Mexico and the population of over 72,000 is growing at a rate of 1.4 to 2% annually.

New industry and retailers are attracted to this growing town, which has added new subdivisions and expanded its utilities to accommodate future growth. The community has approved a 2,200-acre master-planned community and golf course development, along with the largest "active adult" community in New Mexico, with 1600 homes planned. Jubilee Los Lunas, a 375-acre gated community will also include a 40,000-sqare-foot recreation center.

Los Lunas is a livable town, with 300 days of sunshine a year, and access to and views of the spectacular Manzano mountains and the Rio Grande, which runs through town. The community of Bosque Farms, just north of Los Lunas, received a '2003 Greenest Community Award' from the National Rural Water Association.

Compared to the overall Metro area, Valencia County as a whole has many business advantages:

low cost industrial sites
available and talented work force
low average wages
low cost housing

Housing

Housing in Los Lunas ranges from large farms to small acreage equestian properties to newly-built subdivisions.

The median sales price for a single family home in the Los Lunas area was $145,580 in 2009.
New homes range from $90,000 to $350,000

Quality of Life

Los Lunas offers affordable housing, beautiful scenery, ample opportunities for sports and recreation, and easy access to historic, scientific, and cultural activities in nearby Albuquerque and in Los Lunas. With a strong emphasis on family, residents of Los Lunas cherish their peaceful lifestyle, from farmers' markets to fireworks after a rodeo.

New Mexico surrounding Los Lunas is at an elevation averaging about 5,000 ft. while the Rio Grande and irrigation bring green to the Valley. It is otherwise semi-arid with some 8 inches of rainfall annually.

Communities: Los Lunas Business Overview

shawna — Fri, 02 Jun 2006 10:25:49 -0600

Los Lunas Business Overview

Labor Snapshot

Labor force size: 31,326 (Valencia County, 2009 average)
Unemployment rate: 7.7% (2009 average)

Comparison Wage Table

2004	Average Annual Wage (Private Industries)
Valencia County (Los Lunas)	24,724
Bernalillo Co. (Albq.)	38,122
State of New Mexico	36,651

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment & Wages, 2008

Major Los Lunas Employers

Company	Employs	Description
Los Lunas Public Schools	1,400	Education
Wal-Mart	900	Warehouse and retail store
New Mexico Correctional Center	600	Corrections
Valencia County	230	Government
Village of Los Lunas	150	Government
Fresenius Medical	100	Distribution Center for Kidney Dialysis machines
Merillat Industries	100	Manufacturer, Kitchen and Bathroom Cabinetry
UNM-Valencia	90	Education
K-Bobs Restaurants	70	Corporate Hqtr & Restaurant

Utilities

Public Service Company of New Mexico provides electric utility service to Los Lunas, (505) 241-2700
The Village of Los Lunas provides water, sewer and solid waste services. It has over one million gallons per day available for business and industry, (505) 865-0945
Qwest Communications provides telephone service, (800) 603-6000.

Transportation

Los Lunas, just 17 miles south of Albuquerque, is an ideal location for businesses. Interstate 25, a north-south highway that connects Mexico with the Northern Rockies, skirts the village's west side. Traffic going west from Los Lunas can connect to Interstate 40, thirty-five miles west of Albuquerque, via NM Highway 6. It takes only 20 minutes to travel from the Los Lunas I-25 interchange to the Albuquerque International Sunport. Travel time to the airport from Valencia County is actually faster than from many locations in Albuquerque. The Mid-Valley Airport provides general aviation service for Los Lunas.

In the summer of 2006, the New Mexico Rail Runner commuter rail began service for the public between Albuquerque and Bernalillo. Rail service now extends all the way to Santa Fe.

Business Resources

Los Morros Business Park provides an excellent business location adjacent to the Los Lunas exit off Interstate 25
The Small Business Development Center at UNM-Valencia offers information and assistance to small businesses in Los Lunas
The Valencia County Chamber of Commerce has 275 members and offers networking and community events

Jim Covell, Economic Development Consultant
Phone: (505) 839-3840 E-mail: cibolaj@aol.com

Communities: Estancia Valley Community Overview

shawna — Fri, 02 Jun 2006 10:17:34 -0600

Estancia Valley Community Overview

Quality of Life

The Estancia Valley provides exceptional opportunities for quality of life. Open space preservation and trail systems promote activities such as hiking, cycling, and horseback riding, and just minutes away you can hike in the Sandia National Wilderness, visit the Wildlife West Nature Park or the 500-acre National Single Action Shooting Society, ski at the Sandia Peak ski area, glide, soar or fly in the vallyes or at one of three area airports.

Education

The Estancia Valley is well-served by the Moriarty Municipal Schools, ranked in the top five school districts in New Mexico, as well as many private educational facilities. The Estancia Valley is within a few minutes of a variety of post secondary institutions, including the University of New Mexico, Central New Mexico Community College (CNM), and a number of private colleges and universities.

Population Characteristics for the Estancia Valley/East Mountain Region, 2002
Population Characteristic	Number	% of Subject Population
Population	44,597	NA
Population Age 16 and Over	32,558	73.1
Population Age 16 and Over Civilian Labor Force	32,568	73.0
Civilian Population 16 and Over that was Employed	19,469	59.8
Education for Population age 25 and Over	28,101	63.0
Less than High School Graduate	2,318	8.25
High School Graduate	9,891	35.2
Some College or Associate Degree	7,728	27.5
Bachelors Degree	2,978	10.6
Masters or Professional Degrees	1,787	6.4
Total Minority Population	9,718	21.8
Total Households	16,182	NA
Married-couple Households (individuals 15 and over)	9,822	66.8

Community Resources

Edgewood, New Mexico - Town resources, community information, employment, housing
Moriarty, New Mexico - Real estate, travel, education and relocation information

Communities: Estancia Valley Business Overview

shawna — Fri, 02 Jun 2006 10:16:16 -0600

Estancia Valley Business Overview

Demographics

Population and Labor Force for the Estancia Valley/East Mountain Region to 2025
Year	Population	Average Annual Rate of Growth	Civilian Labor Force
2000	43,533		21,233
2005	49,024	2.29	25,707
2010	55,851	2.64	30,388
2015	61,295	1.88	32,423
2020	66,380	1.61	33,110
2025	71,083	1.38	34,006

Sources: U.S. Census, UNM-BBER, and MRCOG

Estancia Valley's Top Employers

Employers

Moriarty Public Schools

Correction Corporation of America

TA Travel Center

Torrance County

Smith's Grocery

Sandia Tobacco Company

Anaya Incorporated

Central New Mexico Electric Cooperative

King Brothers

Tillery Chevrolet

City of Moriarty

Rich Ford

Transportation

Area Highways - Interstate 40, U.S. 285, U.S. 60, NM 55, NM 41,
NM 333, NM 344, NM 14
Rail Services - Amtrak passenger, AT&SF freight (Albuquerque);
BNSF Albuquerque, Belen, Mountainair
Air - Moriarty and Mountainair Municipal Airports;
Edgewood and Sandia Airpark, Albuquerque International Sunport

Infrastructure

Broadband Internet Access - Wireless, cable, DSL, satellite
Electric Utilities - Central New Mexico Electric Cooperative, PNM
Natural Gas - EMW Gas, PNM
Water Utilities - Entrosa Water & Wastewater Assoc., New Mexico American Water, Thunder Mountain, municipal water in the communities

Business Resources

Estancia Valley Economic Development Association - Regional economic developement association for the Estancia Valley
Moriarty Chamber of Commerce - Business listings, fees and area information
Mountainair Chamber of Commerce - Business, tourism, relocation and events
Torrance County - Business directory, calendar, county departments, and job opportunities

Search the Property Database for industrial, office and land properties available in Estancia Valley.

Communities: Belen Community Overview

shawna — Fri, 02 Jun 2006 10:02:48 -0600

Belen Community Overview

Belen is centrally located in the State of New Mexico along the Rio Grande Valley. Located only 30 miles south of Albuquerque but still within the Metro area, Belen is enjoying a remarkable growth spurt. This family-friendly, semi-rural community has an ideal climate (average temperature is 73 degrees) and is located within a few minutes drive of some of New Mexico's most spectacular public recreation areas. It has low-cost industrial sites, low average wages and very affordable housing. With three access points to Interstate 25, a growing municipal airport, home to Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad and the beginning of the line for the RailRunner commuter train, Belen has been tagged as the Hub City. 120 trains come into and through the city every day making Belen a perfect location for any expanding industry with rail needs to move their goods and services.

Housing

From a horse property to an historic home in downtown, to a new house on the mesa overlooking the valley, Belen has a housing option to suit everyone's needs

The average sales price for a single-family home in 2009 was $114,107.
Three new subdivisions are 80 percent built out.
Average rent is $609 for a one bedroom apartment.

The local real estate market is booming. The annoucement of Rancho Cielo, a 5,600 acre mater planned community, has brought in lots of interest and out of state investment. The City of Belen annexed the Rancho Cielo property in 2006. The plans are for 3,000 homes in the greater Belen area.

Quality of Life

With an elevation of 4800 feet above sea level, Belen has a mild, four-season climate. Winter daytime temperatures average in the low 50s during the day and low 20s at night. Summer temperatures average 95 degrees during the hottest months, with lows in the 60s at night. Average annual precipitation ranges from seven to ten inches.

Belen is within easy driving distance to the museums, concerts and cultural amenities of Albuquerque. Located along the Rio Grande Valley, the town is within close proximity of the Manzano and Magdalena mountains, which offer vast hiking and camping opportunities, and the Bosque del Apache Wildlife Refuge, the home of one of the largest winter bird migration populations in the country. Belen is revitalizing its historic downtown, and residents here enjoy a family-friendly, semi-rural lifestyle.

Some local events, like the "Miracle on Main Street" and the annual Hispano Chamber of Commerce Matanza — a day-long event with pig roasting, tortilla-rolling and a red chili cook-off — draw on Belen's historic Hispanic traditions.

Public School District - Belen Consolidated Schools

Schools	# of Students	# of Teachers
Elementary	2,545	198
Belen Middle School	765	57
Belen High School	1,331	88

School Budget $32,252,280.00

St. Mary's Catholic School

School	# of Students	# of Teachers
Grades PreK-8	176	14

Universities & Community Colleges

School	Location	Avg. # of students per semester
UNM-Valencia Campus	Valencia County	1,600
UNM	Albuquerque	26,239
NM Institute of Mining & Tech	Socorro	1,800
Central New Mexico Community College (CNM)	Albuquerque	22,250

County % High School Graduates, 2000 = 70.2%
County % Bachelor Degree or higher, 2005 = 15%

Belen Resources

City of Belen -City information, government
Valencia County -Community information, government
Greater Belen Chamber of Commerce - tourism, members, relocation
Alexander Municipal Airport - General aviation airport
Bosque del Apache - National wildlife refuge
Burlington Northern & Santa Fe Railway -Major freight hub
New Mexico Tech -Undergraduate and graduate university specializing in science and engineering education and research
Valley Improvement Association -Rio Communities, Belen, New Mexico
The Very Large Array (VLA) Telescope - Giant radio telescopes that move along 27 miles of Y-shaped tracks

Communities: Belen Business Overview

shawna — Fri, 02 Jun 2006 10:01:39 -0600

Belen Business Overview

Labor Snapshot

Labor force size: 31,330 (Valencia County, 2009.)
Unemployment rate: 9.0% (12/09); 7.7% (2009 average)
Median age: 35.3

Major belen employers

Employer	# of Employees
Belen Public Schools	740
Wal-Mart Super Center	500
Ambercare Home Health Services	450
Sud Chemie Performance Packaging	200
BNSF Rail Road	352
Artistech Acrylics, Inc	135
City of Belen	130
UNM - Valencia Campus	101
Adelante Development	96
Wells Fargo Bank	85
Ranchers State Bank	80
Sisneros Bros. Manufacturing	50

Utilities

Public Service Company of New Mexico provides Belen with electric services. (505) 241-2700. New Mexico Gas Company provides Belen with its natural gas services.

The City of Belen supplies well water with a capacity of 5.5 million gallons per day and sewage disposal capacity of 1.2 million gallons per day. The plant has an expansion capacity for a population of 24,000. (505) 864-8221

The nearby Rio Communities can draw on the 3.9 million gallons per day capacity of wells owned by New Mexico Water Company, which has a sewage treatment capacity of 200,000 gallons per day. (505) 865-0945.

Qwest and McCleod Telecommunications provide phone service to the Belen area. In addition, Bandwidth.com sells Voice over Internet Protocol, and several other providers offer high-speed broadband capabilities, including Comcast (digital cable).

Transportation

With over 100 trains passing through Belen on a daily basis, the town has a robust infrastructure for rail-based shipping. It is located just a few hours north of the Santa Teresa Port of Entry with Mexico, and has three improved exits on Interstate 25, which runs from Mexico to the northern Rockies, crossing several major east-west interstates (including I-40 in Albuquerque) along the way. Belen Alexander Municipal Airport serves general aviation airplanes, small jets and private planes. The City of Belen is currently working on a multi-million dollar expansion of the airport, which will include the addition of a crosswind runway, expansion of the existing runway and development of industrial/commercial sites. In February 2007, Belen started its commuter rail service with the NM Rail Runner Express, which now services the corridor including Belen and points north to Santa Fe. The Rail Runner operates 6 days a week providing service for workforce and tourists along the Central New Mexico region.

Communities: Albuquerque Community Overview

shawna — Tue, 02 May 2006 16:47:04 -0600

Albuquerque Community Overview

Located in Bernalillo County, Albuquerque is one of the most livable cities in the U.S., with an average of 304 days of sunshine a year, and rare to non-existent natural disasters. The metro area averages 8.9 inches of rain a year and only 4.2 days of snow a year. Average humidity ranges from 30 percent in the summer to 56 percent in the winter. The city rests at the foot of the Sandia Mountains, which tower 10,678 feet above sea level and provide breathtaking views. The Rio Grande runs north to south.

Albuquerque has been named one of the ten fastest growing cities in the nation. Between 1990 and 2000, the metro area population increased 22 percent. By 2020, the metro area population is expected to exceed more than 1 million.

For more regional information on Albuquerque, visit here.

Housing

Housing in Albuquerque is new, affordable and diverse. Residents can choose from tree-lined neighborhoods along the Rio Grande to high-desert homes to planned communities and urban lofts.

The median sales price for a single-family home in 2009 was $180,000.
The area has a large supply of affordable rental housing including some 75,000 apartment units.

Quality of Life

Albuquerque's scenic beauty of mountains and high desert is unparalleled. There are some 200 parks throughout the city and more than 80 miles of running and biking trails. Skiing and snowboarding are less than an hour from the city and golf is a year-round activity on the more than 15 courses in the city. For those who prefer more remote adventures, New Mexico boasts millions of acres of public lands and rivers for fishing and hunting; white-water rafting, mountain climbing and biking; hang gliding, horseback riding, backpacking and camping.

Sports fans enjoy collegiate and professional games. The University of New Mexico Lobos have popular major college football, baseball, basketball and soccer games. The area's Triple A baseball team, the Albuquerque Isotopes, entertain fans in a multimillion dollar state-of-the-art stadium. The Albuquerque Thunderbirds, part of the NBA Development League, is Albuquerque's newest sports team.

The Southwest culture in Albuquerque is unique and renowned. The city boasts more than 40 art galleries and 20 museums, numerous arts and crafts fairs, more than 30 performing arts centers and groups, an historic Old Town with old world charm, 500-plus places of worship, and two library systems.

For more information, visit these links: Albuquerque Arts and Culture or Albuquerque Recreational Opportunities.

Albuquerque Community Resources

Albuquerque Convention and Visitors Bureau - What to do, where to go, map, history, relocation info
City of Albuquerque - Community calendar, city services, department listings, list of Albuquerque A-Z

Communities: Albuquerque Business Overview

shawna — Tue, 02 May 2006 16:31:54 -0600

Albuquerque Business Overview

Labor Snapshot

Labor force size: 408,600 (2009 average)
Unemployment rate: 7.1% (2009 average) 7.9% (12/09)
Median age: 35.9 (2009 estimate)
Major industries: Government - 22%, Professional & Business Services - 16%, Educational & Health Services - 14%

Major Albuquerque Employers

ORGANIZATION	EMPLOYS	DESCRIPTION
Kirtland Air Force Base (Civilian)	16,533*	Air Force Materiel Command
Sandia National Labs (Lockheed Martin)	8,400	Research & Development
University of New Mexico	15,260	Educational Institution
Albuquerque Public Schools	14,000	Educational Institution
Presbyterian Healthcare	7,425	Hospital/Healthcare Services
City of Albuquerque	5,940	Government
State of New Mexico	5,710	Government
UNM Hospital	5,455	Hospital
Lovelace Health System	3,400	Hospital/Healthcare Services
Bernalillo County	2,530	Government
Central New Meico Community College	1,855	Educational Institution
Veterans' Administration Medical Center	1,800	Hospital
Sandia Resort & Casino	1,800	Resort & Casino
PNM Electric Services	1,065	Electric Utility
T-Mobile	1,500	Customer Service Center
Citi Cards	1,100	Credit Card Collection & Customer Service Center
Honeywell Defense & Space Electronic Systems	1,100	Aircraft Avionics Manufacturer
Isleta Resort & Casino	1,200	Resort & Casino
Verison Wireless	1,500	Wireless Technical Data Services & Customer Service Center

*Kirtland’s employment number includes civilian employees and contractors, including Sandia National Laboratories. However, Sandia National Labs employment is also shown separately since Sandia and Kirtland publish data in different cycles.

Utilities

The Public Service Company of New Mexico, an investor-owned utility company, provides Albuquerque's electricity.

The Albuquerque Bernalillo Water Utility Authority is a joint agency that administers the water and wastewater utility for all of Albuquerque and Bernalillo County. The city owns a substantial amount of water from the San Juan-Chama Diversion Project, which, in 2008, began infusing more than 15 billion gallons of water annually into the city and will provide up to 70 percent of the area's water.

Qwest, Time Warner Telecom, MCI Worldcom, McLeod USA and Xspedius all provide fiber or telecommunications services locally.

Transportation

Albuquerque is well-positioned to give companies a market access advantage. Two major highways (I-40 and I-25) bisect Albuquerque, providing easy access in all directions. Albuquerque International Sunport is served by eight major airlines and six commuter airlines. The Burlington Northern & Santa Fe Railway offers a north-south line that connects in Albuquerque and an east-west line that connects in Belen. Commuters can ride the RailRunner Express, a new commuter rail traveling between Santa Fe, 60 miles north of Albuquerque, and Belen, 35 miles south of Albuquerque.

Business Resources

Albuquerque Economic Development - Business relocation and expansion information, Alliance member
Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce - Promotes economic and educational opportunities for the Albuquerque Hispanic community.
Bernalillo County - Officials, departments, and general info
Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce - Contact members of business community, calendar of events, relocation information
City of Albuquerque - Officials, departments, and general information