A stirring in Luna County: A new education complex and a power plant under construction are giving the economy a boost - Economics Profiles: Deming and Lordsburg - Brief Article

New Mexico Business Journal, Jan-Feb, 2002 by Debbra O'Hara

WHAT DO THE WORDS SNOWBIRDS, BUFFALO SOLDIERS, railroads, Mimbres, power, and chile bring to mind? The newly vibrant town of Deming would be glad to remind you that they all apply to their Luna County community.

Luna County is a haven for snowbirds from October through March. At times during its "season," Deming's 1,200 RV slots are completely filled. The average RVer stays for three months, most arriving after Thanksgiving. "It's about a $22 million economic impact. Mom and pop operations here really live for that particular period of time," said George Pintar, executive director of the Deming and Luna County Chamber of Commerce.

The chamber's tourism development committee is tracking the point of origin of its snowbird population. Surprisingly, many are coming from Oregon, Washington, and even Alaska. They return home and make a favorable report about their stay in Deming to their friends. Because of the numbers, the tourism development committee is now considering marketing campaigns in the far northwest.

"We work hard at it 356 days a year. That's our bread and butter," Pintar said.

Other tourism efforts focus on developing local attractions for visitors. In the Florida mountains will be established a memorial to the battle between Warm Springs Apaches and Buffalo Soldiers at which Buffalo Soldier Corporal Clinton Greaves earned a Medal of Honor. And a nationwide promotion of southern New Mexico's "whistle stops" is in the planning stages.

Pintar explained that in the days of steam engines, trains had to fill up with water every 50 miles or so. A water tower and small place for people to work that section of the line marked a whistle stop. Sometimes a community would spring up around it. Railroad buffs just may want to visit the historic sites.

For those who live in the community year-round, 2001 brought new education and employment opportunities.

The Mimbres Learning Center opened in August in a building that had been vacant for several years. In 1999 Luna County purchased the building with a $700,000 Federal Economic Development Administration grant. Legislative grants added $650,000. Then state community development block grants of $325,000 and a Mimbres Valley Authority grant of $200,000 supplemented remodeling and purchased computers.

The center offers general education diploma (GED), English as a second language (ESL), New Mexico Works, and life skills classes as well as traditional college courses. The center partners with Western New Mexico University and Dona Ana Branch Community College to provide instruction. Interactive television education broadcasts from WNMU's main and Gallup campuses supplement the one-on-one instruction from visiting professors.

Dona Ana Branch Community College will administer vocational classes of various types: computer, plumbing, and electrical classes. Also planned are automotive classes that will utilize the building's automotive bays from its days as a Kmart store. "It's really been a community effort to get this thing done," Larry Truax, Projects Coordinator for Luna County, said.

Truax is already looking for additional funds to expand the center. "It's going to be too small in the near future because of Western New Mexico University's commitment to the center and the enthusiasm and need of our community for higher education."

Also making headway in 2001 was the much talked about Duke Energy power plant. Construction on the $358 million project began in September. Up to 350 workers will be needed during the next three years. Because some aspects of the job require special skills, Pintar expects that only about 50 percent of the workers will be local residents. About 25 to 40 full-time employees will be needed to operate the plant upon completion.

And finally we come to chile on our word list. Border Foods, Inc., the world's largest processor of green chile and the largest U.S. processor of jalapenos, is increasing its green and red enchilada sauce production. The company has expanded three times in the last 10 years but will now add a 7,000 sq. ft. building at a cost of $2 million. To 300 Deming and 50 Las Cruces employees will be added 35 to 40 year-around jobs.

These days it's the economy, not just the chile, that's hot in Deming.

DEBBRA O'HARA IS A FREELANCE WRITER BASED IN LAS CRUCES AND A FREQUENT CONTRIBUTOR TO THE NEW MEXICO BUSINESS JOURNAL.