We’ve trained over 8,000 workers through the Job Training Incentive Program, also known as JTIP.
Through LEDA, we have added over 7,000 jobs and brought billions in investment with nearly 40 percent of those projects in rural New Mexico. For every $1 million of LEDA we spend, private businesses invest $16 million. And, when you take into account the construction, wages, taxes and other economic activity around new businesses, every LEDA dollar we spend brings back 20 and 30 times that.
Now is not the time to gut those reforms; not at a time when we are diversifying our economy.
We are seeing home-grown companies expand, like Wildflower, Ideum and Skorpios
We are also bringing in amazing new companies too: like Safelite, Keter, PCM and yes, Facebook.
Facebook was a year in the making. It started with a trip to California to tell New Mexico’s story and ended with a massive data center that will bring thousands of construction jobs, 50 high-paying jobs and $1.5 billion in private investment - with the potential for multiple phases creating more jobs and more investment.
This project will generate billions in economic activity for our state.
And we have some more to announce very shortly – stay tuned.
I am so proud to be joined today by executives from companies that call New Mexico home.
Like Barbara Baldwin of Dean Baldwin Aircraft Painting. Barbara and her husband Larry took over the Miami company in 1978. Larry ran the paint crews. Barbara did the books. In 1999, they expanded to Roswell where they now employ 130 people. Just last week, I joined them to celebrate an expansion of 70 new employees. LEDA is paying off for Roswell and helping Barbara grow her business.
Thank you, Barbara.
Clay Bush from Valley Cold Storage, who’s moving to Santa Teresa where development is booming. Businesses are taking advantage of our border, where our state’s investment has resulted in one of the country’s largest inland ports. Valley Cold Storage recently broke ground on a massive facility - a $14 million investment.
Clay, thank you for your investment in New Mexico.
Zach Daigle is the president of Pre-Check. This was a company that moved to New Mexico from Texas. They found two things when they got here: a great workforce and programs that helped them grow from seven employees to 188. Their annual payroll grew from $0 to $5.2 million. They have invested $9.7 million into New Mexico.
LEDA, JTIP and our tax reforms. These programs are why Pre-Check is still here.
You see, whether companies are expanding or relocating here, the word is out: New Mexico is open for business.
I talk to CEOs choosing New Mexico. They tell me they could have gone anywhere in the country, but they chose New Mexico.
Great people, fair tax environment and a state willing to put its money where its mouth is.
They see a state bursting with opportunity.