The Struggle Holding New Mexico Back | Business

Publisher’s Note: In a 5-part series, Business Outlook will take an in-depth look at New Mexico’s economy, its key drivers and obstacles. In Part 1, we focused on oil and gas, the national laboratories and the history of the state’s economy. Part 2 covered outdoor recreation, international trade and economic development challenges. In Part 3, we spoke with business leaders about what they’d like to see change in the state. This week, we dive into what economic developers say makes it difficult to recruit and retain businesses in New Mexico, and what advantages the state has over others.

In 2021, officials from the U.S. Department of the Air Force Strategic Basing Office visited Kirtland Air Force Base with a view to selecting the permanent location of the U.S. Space Command.

kAmp=3FBF6CBF6 925 >256 E96 D9@CE =:DE @7 D:I 4:E:6D 7@C E96 D:E6 — H9:49 H@F=5 3C:?8 `(___ 9:89\ A2J:?8 ;@3D 2?5 3:==:@?D @7 5@==2CD @7 8@G6C?>6?E DA6?5:?8 @G6C E:>6) p? 5 p=3FBF6CBF6 >256 D6?D6j }6H |6I:4@ 😕 D@>6 H2JD H2D E96 3:CE9 A=246 @7 p>6C:42? 26C@DA246( 😀 9@>6 E@ $A246A@CE p>6C:42 2?5 92D ?F>6C@FD DA246\C6=2E65 D4:6?E:DED 2?5 6?8: ?66CD H9@ H@C< 7@C E96 p:C u@C46 #6D62C49 {23@C2E@CJ 2?5 ?2E:@?2= =23@C2E@C:6D( 2>@?8 @E96C 2DD6ED)k^Am

kAmxE 5:5?’E 4@>6) |:=:E2CJ @77:4:2=D @C:8:?2==J D6=64E65 wF?EDG:==6( p=232> 2( 2D E96 D:E6 367@C6 C6G6CD:?8 4@FCD6 =2DE J62C 2?5 564:5:?8 E@ =62G6 E96 4@>>2?5 2E :ED E6>A@C2CJ D :E6 2E !6E6CD@? p:C u@C46 q2D6 😕 r@=@C25@ $AC:?8D)k^Am

kAmp>2?52 pC28@?( E96 6I64FE:G6 5:C64E@C @7 }6H|6I:4@z:5Drp}( H9:49 25G@42E6D 7@C 65F42E:@? A@=:4 :6D( H2D?’E DFCAC:D65 3J E96 564:D:@?) $96 D2:5 z:5D r@F?E E96 =2DE 6:89E J62CD 92D C2?<65 }6H |6I:4@ d_E9 :? E96 4@F?ECJ :? z\`a 65F42E:@?) p?5 E96 >:=:E2CJ 9@=5 😕 9:89 C682C5 49:=59@@5 H6==36:?8 2?5 65F42E:@? H96? 564:5:?8 H96C6 E@ 56A=@J >:DD:@?D) q@E9 r@=@C25@ 2?5 p=232>2 @FEA6C7@C> }6H |6I:4@ 😕 65F42E:@? 2?5 >2?J @E96C 49:=59@@5 724E@CD)k^Am

kAm“$9@F=5 H6 6G6C 8@ E9C@F89 E96 32D6 C62=:8?>6?E AC@46DD( H6 :=:E2CJ 😀 65F42E:@?2= @FE4@>6D(” pC28@? D2:5) “%92E D9@F=5 36 2=2C>:?8 7@C 2 DE2E6 E92E 92D E9C66 >2;@C >:=:E2CJ :?DE2==2E:@?D)”k^Am

kAm!@@C 65F42E:@? @FE4@>6D 7@CJ@F?8 DEF56?ED 42? 36 2 56E6CC6?E H96? 4@>A2?:6D 2C6 4@?D:56C:?8 E@ =@42E6 @C 6IA2?5 😕 }6H |6I:4@) !@@C 65F42E:@?( :?7C2DECF4EFC6( 2 =24< @7 42A:E2= 7@C DE2CEFA 3FD:?6DD6D 2?5 4@>>F?:42E :@ 2>@?8 5:776C6?E 6?E:E:6D 2C6 D@>6 @7 E96 DECF88=6D E92E 2C6 9@=5:?8 E96 DE2E6 324<( 244 @C5:?8 E@ =6256CD @7 5:776C6?E :?5FDEC:6D( 244@C5:?8 E@ 3FD:?6DD =6256CD)k^Am

k9am$>2== 3FD:?6DD 2D E96 324<3@?6k^9am

kAm%96C6 2C6 `ea(___ D>2== 3FD:?6DD E9C@F89@FE E96 DE2E6( D2:5 y@9? v2C4:2( E96 }6H |6I:4@ 5:DEC:4E 5 :C64E@C 7@C E96 &)$) $>2== qFD:?6DD p5>:?:DEC2E:@?) %96 >2;@C:EJ 42E6C E@ E@FC:D> 2 ?5 @FE5@@C C64C62E:@? :?5FDEC:6D( E9@F89 D@>6 H@C< H:E9 5:776C6?E E649?@=@8:6D)k^Am

kAmv2C4:2 D2:5 😕 D@>6 H2JD 96’D D66? }6H |6I:4@ D>2== 3FD:?6DD 492?86 A9:=@D@A9:6D D:?46 E96 r~’xs\`h A2?56>:4)k^Am

kAm“(6’C6 D66:?8 492?86D(” 96 D2:5) “!@DE\r~’xs( H6 C62=:K65 E92E H6 92G6 2 8=@32= 64@?@>J E92E H6 A2CE:4:A2E6 :?) x 5@?’E E9:?< A6@A=6 C62==J D2H E92E)”k^Am

kAm%96 $qp @776CD D>2== 3FD:?6DD6D E649?:42= 4@F?D6=:?8 2DD:DE2?46( 2446DD E@ 42A:E2= 3J 96=A: ?8 E96> D64FC6 =@2?D 2?5 65F42E:@ @?

kAm(92E 😀 9@=5:?8 E96 DE2E6 324@C6 >2?F724EFC:?8 D:E6D) tIA6CE:D6 7C@> E96 ?2E:@?2= =23@C2E@C:6D 2?5 >:=:E2CJ 32D6D D9@F=5 36 36EE6C 42A:E2=:K65( A@E6?E :2==J :?4C62D:?8 >2?F724EFC:?8( 96 D2:5)k^Am

kAmw@H6G6C( D6G6C2= AC@3=6>D D9@F=5 36 255C6DD65 367@C6 >2?F724EFC:?8 4@F=5 E2<6 @77)k^Am

kAm“x7 2 >2?F724EFC:?8 7:C> H2?ED E@ >@G6 E@ }6H |6I:4@ @C 2 4@>A2?J H2?ED E@ 6IA2?5( E96J’== =@@< 2E 5:DE2?46 E@ E96 2:CA@CE( 65F42E:@? :D 2 3:8 562= 2?5 4C:>6(” 96 D2:5) “ x7 E9@D6 E9:?8D 2C6 @FE @7 4@?EC@=( E96J 2C6 ?@E 8@:?8 E@ 3C:?8 E96:C 6> A=@J66D 96C6)”k^ Ben

kAmv2C4:2 D2:5 5FC:?8 E96 A2?56>:4( A6@A=6 3642>6 FD65 E@ H@C<:?8 C6>@E6=J E9C@F89 +@@> @ C @E96C AC@8C2>D) w6 D2:5 E96 $qp ?@H FD6D 6=64EC@?:4 >66E:?8D C68F=2C=JE@ AC@G:56 2DD:DE2?46 E@ 6?EC6AC6?6FCD 😕 E96 CFC2= A2CED @7 E96 DE2E6) %92E 92D 2==@H65 E96 $qp E@ C6249 >@C6 6?EC6AC6?6FCD) !C:@CE@ E96 A2?56>:4( $qp H@ F=5 9@=5 4@?76C6?46D E92E H6C6 2EE6?565 3J 23@FE `__ A6@A=6) xE ?@H 5@6D G:CEF2= D6>:?2CD E92E 42? C6249 >@C6 E92? `(___ A6@A=6 😕 2 >66E:?8)k^Am

kAmw@H6G6C(DF49 H@C< :D =:>:E65 3642FD6 D@>6 A2CED @7 E96 DE2E6 5@?’E 92G6 2446DD E@ C6=:23=6 :?E6C?6E)k^Am

kAm“~FC :?7C2DECF4EFC6 92D E@ 36 3F:=E(” v2C4:2 D2:5) “(6’C6 @?6 @7 E96 76H DE2E6D E92E 5@6D?’E 92G6 =2C86 3C@2532 ?5 2446DD) xE’D 92C5 7@C >6 E@ W@776C 3FD:?6DD6D C6D@FC46DX 😕 CFC2= }6H |6I:4@ @C }2G2;@ r@F?ECJ :7 E96J 42?’E 6G6? @A6? 2 =2AE@A 2?5 86E :?E6C?6E 2446DD)”k^Am

kAmv2C4:2 D2:5 E@@ @7E6? A6@A=6 H9@ H@C< :? 64@?@>:4 56G6=@A>6?E 2C6 7C24EFC65 7C@> @?6 2?@E96C( A2CE:4F=2C=J 😕 ?@CE96C? 2?5 D@FE96C? }6H |6I:4@ )k^Am

kAmu@C 6I2>A=6( E96C6’D 2? :?E6C>@52= 724:=:EJ 😕 $2?E2 %6C6D2( H9:49 >62?D :E’D 2 A=246 H96C6 4@>A2?:6D 42? EC2?D76C 8@@5D 3J C2:=( 8C@F?5 @C 2:C) v2C4:2 D2:5 E92E 4C62E6D 3FD:?6DD @AA@CEF?: E:6D 7@CD>2== 3FD:?6DD6D E9C@F89@FE E96 DE2E6) p 4@>A2?J 4@F=5 AC@5F46 H:586ED @C A2?6=D E92E 2C6 FD65 E@ >@G6 E96 8@@5D( A@E6?E:2==J 4C62E:?8 2 DF446DD7F= D>2== =@42= 3FD:?6DD E @ 4C62E6 AC@5F4ED E92E E96 DE2E6 4FCC6?E=J :>A@CED)k^Am

kAm“x7 x 42? 86E p=3FBF6CBF6 E@ =@@< D@FE9 @7 q6=6? 2?5 86E {2D rCF46D E@ =@@< ?@CE9 @7 $@4@CC@( H6 8@EE@ 9:E(” v2C4:2 D2:5) “qFE H6 5@?'E E9:?< =:<6 E92E)”k^Am

k9amp 8=2C:?8 AC@3=6>k^9am

kAmpC28@? D2:5 z:5D r@F?E 52E2 7@F?5 }6H |6I:4@ 92D C2?<65 d_E9 :? z\`een 65F42E:@? 7@C E96 =2DE 6:89E J62CD) z:5D r@F?E FD6D E96 }2E:@?2= pDD6DD>6?E 7@C t5F42E:@?2= !C@8C6DD( 2 ?2E :@?H:56 >2E9 2?5 C625:?8 2DD6DD>6?E( E@ 56E6C>:?6 E96 DE2E6 \3J\DE2E6 C2?<:?8D)k^Am

kAm}6H |6I:4@ 5@6D 92G6 D@>6 A@D:E:G6 A@=:4:6D 7@C :ED 65F42E:@? DJDE6>) %96 DE2E6’D 7F?5:?8 7@C>F=2 AC:@C:E:K6D 7F??6=:?8 >@?6J E@ D49@@=DH:E9 2E\C:D< DEF56?ED) ~E96C DE2E6D( D96 D2:5( C6=J >@C6@? E96 D49@@= 5:DEC:4E’D AC@A6CEJ E2I G2=F6D) $96 2= D@ 4C65:E65 E96 DE2E6 7@C :?4C62D:?8 E96 3F586E 7@C D49@@=D 2 ?5 @E96C 49:=542C6 2?5 49:=5 H6==36:?8 :?:E:2E:G6D)k^Am

kAmpC28@?’D @C82?:K2E:@? 25G@42E6D 7@C >@C6 62C=J 2?5 DEC6?8E96?65 :?E6CG6?E:@? AC@8C2>DH:E9 DEF56?ED( E62496CD( AC:?4:A2=D 2?5 A2C6?ED :7 2 DEF56?E 😀 72==:?8 369:?5)k^Am

kAm“$@>6 D49@@=D 2C6 5@:?8 E9@D6 :?E6CG6?E:@?D 2?5 D@>6 4=2DDC@@>D 2C6 86EE:?8 E9@ D6 :?E6CG6?E:@?D(” D96 D2:5) “qFE E96J’C6 ?@E 36:?8 DEC2E68:42==J :>A=6>6?E65 24C@DD E96 3@ 2C5 7@C 2== E96 <:5D E92E ?665 E96>)”k^Am

kAm$96 D2:5 E96 DE2E6 ?665D E@ >2<6 2 4F=EFC2= D9:7E :7 :E :D 8@:?8 E@ :>AC@G6 65F42E:@?)k^Am

kAm“x E9:?< 2? F?:?E6?565 4@?D6BF6?46 @7 FD 36:?8 d_E9 7@C 6:89E J62CD :? 2 C@H :D E92E( F?7@CEF?2E6=J( x E9:?< H6'G6 4@>6 E@ 36=:6G6 E92E E9:D ;FDE >:89E 36 E96 H2J E92E :E 😀 😕 }6H |6I:4@( D96 D2:5) “(6’C6 H@C<:?8 C62==J 92C5 2E }6H|6I:4@z:5Drp} E@ 492?86 E92E A6C46AE: @? 2?5 E92E ?2CC2E:G6)”k^Am

kAm$96 D2:5 D@>6 D49@@= 5:DEC:4ED( DF49 v25D56? x?56A6?56?E $49@@=D( q=@@>7:6=5 $49@@= s :DEC:4E 2?5 q6C?2=:==@ !F3=:4 $49@@=D( 92G6 >256 D:8?:7:42?E DEC:56D 2?5 92G6 D@>6 @7 E96 36DE DEF56?E @FE4@>6D 😕 E96 DE2E6)k^Am

kAm“(92E 2C6 WE9@D6 D49@@= 5:DEC:4EDX 5@:?8n xE’D ?@E C6G@=FE:@?2CJ) %96J D6E 8@2=D) %96J 92G6 DEC2E68 :4 A=2?D 7@C E96:C D49@@=D @C 5:DEC:4ED( H9:49 4@>6 H:E9 >62DFC23=6 8@2=D) %96J >@ ?:E@CE@H2C5D E9@D6 8@2=D) p?5 H96? E96J’C6 ?@E >2<:?8 AC@8C6DD( E9:?8D 492?86)k^Am

kAm“|@DE 3FD:?6DD =6256CD 2C6 =:<6( 'E92E'D ;FDE ?@C>2= H@C<)' xE :D 24EF2==J 72:C=JF?:BF6 :? 65F42E:@? DJDE6>D( F?7@CEF?2E6=J)”k^Am

kAm$96 H@F=5 72G@CA@=:4:6D E92E H@F=5 6?5 D@4:2= AC@>@E:@?) u@C 6I2>A=6( : 7 2 E9:C5 8C256C 42?’E C625 677:4:6?E=J( 96 @C D96 H@F=5 C6A62E E96 8C256 :?DE625 @7 >@G:?8 2=@?8) w@H6G6C( pC28@? D2:5 E96C6 D9@F=5 36 :?E6CG6?E:@?D 8@:?8 324< J62CD E@ ECJ E@ 86E E96 DEF56?E AC@7:4:6?E)k^Am

kAmx>AC@G:?8 E96 65F42E:@? DJDE6> 4@F=5 36 2?5 64@?@>:4 5C:G6C 😕 >@C6 H2JD E92? @?6( D96 D2:5)k^Am

kAm“%96C6 4@F=5 36 2 <:5 D:EE:?8 :? 2 9:89 D49@@= :? }6H |6I:4@ E92E 4@F=5 36 E96 A6CD@? E92E DE2CED E96 7:CDE 4@>A2?J E92E 364@>6D 2 h@CEF?6 d__ 4@>A2?J E92E’D 9625BF2CE6C65 😕 }6H |6I:4@(” pC28@? D2:5) “%92E <:5 :D?'E 8@:?8 E@ 36 23=6 E@ 244@>A=:D9 E92E :7 E96J’C6 ?@E C625:?8 2E 8C256 =6G6= :7 E96J 42?’E 5@ 4@==686\=6G6= >2E9)”k^Am

k9amqJ E96 ?F>36CDk^9am

kAm$@>6E:>6D :E’D ;FDE 2D D:>A=6 2D E96 ?F>36CD)k^Am

kAms@F8 r2>A36==( 2? p=3FBF6CBF6 ?2E:G6 2?5 3@2C5 >6>36C @7 E96 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 }6H |6I:4@ u@F? 52E:@?( 7@F?565 EH@ :?E6C?2E:@?2= 4@>A2?:6D 7C@> E96 s6?G6C uC@?E #2?86 2C62 E92E 96 6I:E65 27E6C E96J H6?E AF3=:4) ~?6 😀 2 6=64EC:4 G69:4=6 4@>A2?J 2?5 @?6 H@C6?E E2=6?E 😕 E96 DE2E6 4@>:?8 @FE ?2E:@?2= =23@C2E@C:6D 2?5 E96 DE2E6’D C6D62C49 F?:G6CD:E:6D)k^Am

kAmw@H6G6C( 96 D2:5 p=3FBF6CBF6 2?5 }6H |6I:4@ 5@?’E 92G6 2D >2?J 6?EC6AC6?6FCD E@ D6CG6 2D >6?E@CD @C : ?G6DE@C 5@==2CD 2D @E96C 4:E:6D 2?5 DE2E6D)k^Am

kAm“%96 492==6?86 😀 E92E E96C6 😀 ?@E 2 =2C86 64@DJDE6> @7 D62D@?65 6?EC6AC6?6FCD H:E9 2 42E496C’D >:EE @? H2:E:?8 E@ 42E49 E92E #U2>Ajs 2?5 EFC? :E :?E@ 4@>>6C4:2==JG:23=6 AC@5F4ED 2?5 C2A:5 9:89\8C@HE9 3FD:?6DD6D(” 96 D2:5) “p? 5 E92E’D H92E x’G6 K6C@65 😕 @? 96C6) w@H 5@ H6 7:I E92En”k^Am

kAmp?5 E92E =24< @7 :?G6DE@C 5@==2CD 2?5 6IA6C:6?46 42? 7@C46 2 =@42= 4@>A2?JE@ >2<6 2 E@F89 564:D:@?)k^Am

kAm“%96 492==6?86 E92E 2 =@E @7 4@>A2?:6D 😕 }6H |6I:4@ 7246 😀 E92E E96J 42? C2:D6 2 76H >:==:@? 5@==2CD 62C=J @?) p?5 E96? @?46 E96J 8@ E@H2C5 E96 3:8 3F4@C6 3FC86@?:?8 2C62D(” r2>A36== D2:5) “%96 4@>A2?:6D 6?5 FA 92G: ?8 E@ C64CF:E @FE @7 DE2E6 7@ C rt~D) p?5 8F6DD H92En x7 E96J 5@?’E 6?5 FA >@G:?8 E@ }6H |6I:4@( 8F6DD H92E’D 8@:?8 E@ 92AA6? n %92E 4@>A2?J 😀 86?6C2==J 8@:?8 E@ >@G6 E@ H96C6 E96J 2C6)”k^Am

kAms2=6 s6<6C( E96 7@F?5:?8 AC:?4:A2= 2?5 3C2?5 2>32DD25@C 2E s6<6C !6C:49 $232E:?: 2C49 :E64E 7:C>( D2:5 D:E6 C625:?6DD 2?5 E96 =@42= E2=6?EA@@= 42? 5:D4@FC286 8C@HE9)k^Am

kAms6<<6C D2:5 3FD:?6DD6D =@@<:?8 E@ 6IA2?5 @C >@G6 E@ p=3FBF6CBF6 7246 >2?JF?<6 E@ 2AAC@G6 2?5 A6C>:E 2 AC@;64E 56A6?5D @? 2 G2C:6EJ @7 724E@CD( 96 D2:5) %92E 42? 42FD6 3FD:?6DD @H?6CD E@ 49@D6 @E96C DE2E6D 2?5 4:E:6D @G6C p=3FBF6CBF6)k^Am

kAmp55:E:@?2==J( 6G6? H96? 3F:=5:?8D 2C6 4@>A=6E65( 3FD:?6DD6D E96? ?665 E@ 9:C6 E2=6?E )k ^ Ben

kAm%96 DE2E6’D A@AF=2E:@? 8C@HE9 H2D 6DD6?E:2==J 7=2E 7C@> a_`_ E@ a_a_( 244@C5:?8 E@ &)$) r6?DFD 52E2) %96 DE2E6’D A@AF =2E:@? `g J62CD 2?5 J@F?86C 564=:?65 5FC:?8 E96 D2>6 E:>6 A6C:@5( H9:=6 E96 DE2E6’D 6=56C=JA@AF=2E :@ :?4C62D65)k^Am

kAm“x7 J@F 3F:=5 W2 3FD:?6DDX 2?5 E96? 42?’E 9:C6 2?5 6>A=@J E96 C:89E D<:== =6G6= @7 A6@A=6( E92E 5@6D?'E >2EE6C(” 96 D2:5)k^Am

kAm%96 }6H |6I:4@ t4@?@>:4 s6G6=@A>6?E s6A2CE>6?E :56?E:7:65 ?:?6 E2C86E :?5FDEC:6D E@ 8C@H 2?5 5:G6CD:EJ E96 DE2E6’D 64@?@>Jik^Am

kF=mk=:mp6C@DA246k^=:mk=:mq:@D4:6?46Dk^=:mk=:mrJ36CD64FC:EJk^=:mk=:mu:=> 2?5 E6=6G:D: @?k^=:mk=:mv=@32= EC256k^=:mk=:mx?E6==:86?E >2?F724EFC:?8k^=:mk=:m~FE5@@C C64C62E :@?k^=:mk=:m$FDE2:?23=6 2?5 G2=F6\25565 28C:4F=EFC6k^=:mk=:m$FDE2:?23=6 2?5 8C66? 6?6C8Jk^=:mk^F=m

kAm|@DE @7 E9@D6 :?5FDEC:6D C6BF:C6 25G2?465 D4:6?46( E649?@=@8J( 6?8:?66C:?8 @C >2E9 568C66D)k^ Am

kAm“x E9:?< E92E H:E9 E96 AC@A6C :?G6DE>6?ED( H6 4@F=5 >@G6 W}6H |6I:4@ 9:896C 65F42E:@?X 7C@ > 8@@5 E@ 8C62E(” s6<<6C D2:5) “ |65:@4C6 65F42E:@D ?@E 8@:?8 E@ 4FE :E :?

Sign up now for the free daily email newsletter