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

NMSS - Communities: Los Lunas Main