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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 (97.7, 4th Quarter 2005) 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. The development site consists of 160 acres of property and will include a new City Hall and multi-purpose Events Center. The Events Center will by completed by October 2006 and is the new home for the New Mexico Scorpions minor league hockey team.

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
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, Xynatech, 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: 392,360 (2005)
Unemployment rate: 4.9% (2005)
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 11,000 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 the population of over 76,000 is growing at a rate of 2,000 new residents annually.

New stores and industries are attracted to this growing town, which has added new subdivisions and expanded its utilities to accommodate future growth. The community has recently approved a 2,200-acre master-planned community and golf course development, along with the biggest "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:

the lowest cost industrial sites
the most available work force
the lowest average wages
the lowest cost housing.

Housing

Housing in Los Lunas ranges from large farms to small acreage equestian properties to newly-built subdivisions. A significant portion of the housing stock in Valencia County has been built since 1970. Home building is extensive in Los Lunas. There are over 3,000 lots plotted in several subdivisions. New home building permits are averaging over 100 per month in 2006.

The median sales price for a single family home in Los Lunas was $125,000 in 2005.
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: 32,068 (Valencia County, 3/06)
Unemployment rate: 5.2% (1st qtr. 2006)
Avg.manufacturing wage: $15.74 (Albuquerque MSA, 2005)
Weekly average wage: $471 (Valencia County, 2005)
Average monthly earnings: $3,068 (2nd qtr. 2005)
Average new hire earnings: $1,943

Comparison Wage Table

2004	Per Capita Personal Income	Average Wage Per Job
Valencia County (Los Lunas)	22,968	24,506
Bernalillo Co. (Albq.)	31,160	34,640
State of New Mexico	26,184	31,640

*Data From Census of Employment for Central New Mexico

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 will start service for the public between Albuquerque and Bernalillo. Rail service will extend to the Los Lunas and Belen stations in September/October of 2006.

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

Estancia Valley/East Mountain Region Population: 1970 to 2000
Year	Population	Average Annual Rate of Growth
1970	9,641	NA
1980	16,036	5.22
1990	26,465	5.14
2000	43,533	5.10

Source: U.S. Census

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

The Connection Call Center

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

Average weekly wage

(Q3 2003, Private Sector)

Torrance County - $412.00 per week
Bernalillo County - $618.00 per week
Santa Fe County - $558.00 per week

Source: NM Department of Labor

Unemployment Rate by County (April 2004)

Santa Fe - 3.3%
Torrance - 4.1%
Bernalillo - 4.3%

Source: NM Department of Labor

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

Located 30 miles south of Albuquerque but still within Metro New Mexico, 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.

Housing

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

More than 62% of homes were built after 1970; fewer than 3.6% of homes were built before 1939. (Bureau of Business and Economic Research).
The median sales price for a single-family home in 2005 was $108,000.
Three new subdivisions are 80 percent built out.
Average rent is $490 for a one bedroom apartment.

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 Christmas Festival and the annual 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 % College Graduates, 2000 = 6.5%

Belen Resources

City of Belen -Tourism, economic development, Chamber members, city information, relocation
Valencia County -Community information, government
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: 31,065 (Valencia County, 2005.)
Unemployment rate: 5.4 % (annual average, 2005)
Median age: 35.9
Weekly average wages: $471 (Valencia County, 2005)

Employer	# of Employees
Belen Public Schools	740
Wal-Mart Super Center	500
Ambercare Home Health Services	450
BNSF Rail Road	352
Solo Cup	250
Sud Chemie Performance Packaging	200
Artistech Acrylics, Inc	135
Belen Care & Rehab. Center	120
City of Belen	110
UNM - Valencia Campus	101
Adelante Development	96
Wells Fargo Bank	85
Ranchers State Bank	80
PNM Electric & Gas Services	70
Best Western - Belen	55
Sisneros Bros Mfg.	50

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

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).

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. By September 2006, Belen will be connected by the RailRunner commuter train to Albuquerque. By 2008 the line will extend to Santa Fe.

Communities: Santa Fe Community Overview

shawna — Tue, 09 May 2006 10:58:09 -0600

Santa Fe Community Overview

In this new century, quality of life is more important than ever in making a choice about where to live and work. Although usually measured in affordable housing, scenic beauty, sports and recreation, public school system achievement, and arts and culture, quality of life encompasses some things that cannot be measured: the energy of the population; the purity of the air and luminosity of the sky at 7000 feet; multi-cultural stories that seep between the blocks of centuries-old adobe dwellings.

Cost of Living

As its reputation for art, tourism amenities and luxury living implies, the cost of living in Santa Fe is higher than elsewhere in New Mexico. While housing costs are significantly above the national average, they are still below that of large coastal cities. Wages hover around the national average, but above average for the state of New Mexico. ACCRA data has not been collected for Santa Fe County since first quarter 2004.

Cost of Living Index	2nd Quarter 2003	3rd Quarter 2003	4th Quarter 2003	1st Quarter 2004	2nd Quarter 2004
Composite Index	114.2	119.8	118.3	116.6	111.6
Housing	146.1	152.4	146.4	141.5	128.7
Groceries	103.3	115.7	103.2	110.6	111.5
Utilities	84.4	109.2	108.5	101.3	86.9
Transportation	99.4	100.4	107.1	104.4	108.0
Health Care	104.7	126.8	122.1	130.0	118.5
Misc. Goods/ Services	105.5	101.1	106.1	103.1	103.6

ACCRA Report - Santa Fe County

New Dwelling Units (city and unincorporated urban area)

1990-97	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004 (est.)	2005
3,674	841	443	638	488	1,033	1000	1055

In 2005, 268 new dwelling units were built or permitted for construction in Tierra Contenta, representing 42% of all new residential construction in the city and 25% in the region.

Source: City Permit and Development Review Division ; County Land Use Department ; Tierra Contenta Corporation

Housing Growth Rates (2005): City: 2.0% Urban Area: 1.6% Regional: 2.1%

Education

Santa Fe Community College has 3000+ students in continuing education and adult basic education courses. It is accredited by yhe Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Its programs in nursing and early childhood education have received national accreditation.

Colleges/Universities 2004 enrollment

College of Santa Fe (505-473-6011) 1,600
St. John's College (505-984-6000) 400
University of NM-Santa Fe (505-428-1234) 1,000
Santa Fe Community College (505-428-1273) 5,400 (credit headcount)
Institute of American Indian Arts (505-988-6495) 133
University of Phoenix (800-881-6618) 1,677 (Albuquerque and Santa Fe combined)
Southwestern College (505-471-5756) 160
EcoVersity (505-424-9797) 150
Southwest Acupuncture College (505-438-8884) 110
Hypnotherapy Academy of America (505-983-1515) 110
University of Natural Medicine, Inc. (505-424-7800) 82

Santa Fe Public Schools 2005 enrollment*

22 Elementary schools: 7,635
4 Middleschools: 1,901
5 High schools: 3,584
Total: 13,775 students including special education programs and charter schools
Students: 66% Hispanic, 27% Anglo, 3% Native American, 3% other
Annual budget (2004): $152 million

*Source: Santa Fe Public Schools

Private Schools

83 registered private schools serving 4,930 pre-kindergarten through 12th grade students

Quality of Life

Hike/Bike Trails
Since 1990, the city has constructed 4.5 miles of paved, off-road trails. Another 12 miles of designated bike routes have been established along city streets, including Siringo, Old Pecos Trail, Don Gaspar, Galisteo, and Yucca. During 2005, 1.25 miles of paved off-road trails were created in the Nava Ada neighborhood, 2.3 miles of unpaved trails in Las Estrellas, and 5 miles along Rodeo and Airport Roads.

Park Acreage per 1,000 Residents: 4.2 (2005)
The city's goal is 5 acres per 1,000 residents.

Air Quality
Santa Fe boasts the cleanest air in the nation. The air quality is consistently ranked good to very good, with an AQI of 0.7.

Obtaining a Business License:
Visit the City of Santa Fe Inspections and Enforcement Office at City Hall, 200 Lincoln Ave., for a Certificate of Occupancy packet. For standard businesses, the cost is $35, and your license will be mailed within 5 days, after all inspections have been completed and all paper work accepted. Phone: (505) 955-6551

Communities: Santa Fe Business Overview

shawna — Tue, 09 May 2006 10:57:12 -0600

Santa Fe Business Overview

Many types of businesses thrive on the creative soil of Santa Fe. The insights of painters, artisans, designers, writers, and chefs spice up the work of engineers, mathematicians, biologists, architects, and government employees.

The Santa Fe Business Incubator, considered one of the best of its kind in the nation, assists new businesses with all aspects of start-up.

Labor Snapshot

Labor force size: 79,715 (4/06)
Unemployment rate: 3.4% (4/06)

Major Santa Fe Employers

Organization	Employs	Description
State of New Mexico	7,643	Government
Santa Fe School District	1,850	Education
US Federal Government	1,750	Government
City of Santa Fe	1,459	Government
St. Vincent's Hospital	1,250	Medical
Santa Fe Community College	717	Education
Presbyterian Medical Services	531	Medical
County of Santa Fe	490	Government
Cities of Gold Casino	470	Gaming
Camel Rock Casino	425	Gaming
Thornburg Companies	150	Financial
Santa Fe Natural Tobacco	125	Manufacturing

Transportation

The Santa Fe Municipal Airport (505-955-2908) serves commercial airlines, corporate jets, and small private planes. The Santa Fe Airport will begin offering daily non-stop flights to Dallas-Fort Worth, Salt Lake City and LA in mid December 2007. The Albuquerque International Sunport (505-842-4366) is located about an hour south of Santa Fe on Interstate 25. Sandia Shuttle Service (505-474-5696) provides transportation between both airports and Santa Fe.
Greyhound Lines (505-471-0008) has routes around the country.
Amtrak's Southwest Chief (800-872-7245) provides service through historic Lamy, 20 miles east of Santa Fe.
Average Commute Time*: 21.1 minutes
Santa Fe is number one in the nation for telecommuters, with 4.9% of the population of workers telecommuting.

Development Project -To attract businesses that rely on high-speed technology, Santa Fe is constructing a 'Santa Fe Light Trail' system of digital microwave and fiber facilities; it will be a hybrid network available to the business community as well as educational facilities and local and state government agencies. See Santa Fe Railyard map.

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, sewer and soild waste services are provided by the City of Santa Fe.
Fiber services provided by Qwest and Comcast
Other telecommunication services provided by Qwest and major mobile vendors - Verizon, Cricket, Qwest, AllTel etc.