Southwest New Mexico: opportunities flourish

New Mexico Business Journal, Oct, 1992 by Jan Hurley

Potential investors are looking to the four counties of Catron, Grant, Luna and Hidalgo as a potential Mother Lode for new business, commerce and industry in ways undreamed of only a few decades ago.

Under the guiding hand and clearinghouse of the Four County Economic Development Committee, the counties have banded together to share resources to attract more investors to the area.

"I'm really excited about where we're going," says Don White, president of the four-county committee and also the chief executive of the Silver City-Grant Economic Development Corporation (SIGRED).

"This area is wonderful because we have such a diversity of talented people from different cultures," says Betty Vega, a financial specialist and SIGRED member who is also president of the board of directors of the Cooperative Ownership Development Corporation in Silver City.

Pulling representatives from each of the four counties, the economic development committee is working together to purchase advertising, seek matching development funds from the state and the feds and direct potential investors to the most suitable locations.

"We're taking care of one another," says Ralph Carkin, Luna County's director for the Columbus Industrial Park. "We each have to keep in the back of our minds the special needs of the other counties."

Is it working?

Luna County

Luna County reports over 200 inquiries in the past six months as a result of the four-county promotional effort; five of the inquiries have developed into solid leads.

While the results vary by county, the combined power of promotion and coordination among the counties is producing greater results than any individual county could do on its own.

Deming, the seat of Luna County, with its slogan of "Home of Pure Water and Fast Ducks," is less than 40 miles north of the Mexican border and the town of Columbus, the only 24-hour port of entry in the state of New Mexico just across from the sister city of Palomas, Mexico.

The Columbus Industrial Park, a centerpiece of Luna County's economic development program straddling the Mexican border, offers a unique advantage to companies that can benefit from the expanding Mexican markets when the free trade agreement with Mexico is ratified.

One recent example of international marketing is the cattle industry. The industrial park's stockyard location means cattle can walk across the border, reaching their destination with minimal stress and weight loss compared to long-distance trucking.

On the Palomas side, a company that manufactures fiberglass speedboats plans to relocate and take advantage of the cross-border conveniences.

The Columbus Industrial Park has filled leases for 160 out of 288 acres; and is in the process of formulating plans, for the remaining acreage, to upgrade the sewer and water systems and provide pavement and lighting for the airport's 5,000-foot runway.

"The 24-hour border crossing is a tremendous asset," says Carkin, "but it doesn't just belong to Luna County. It can benefit the whole state."

While no one can say at this point exactly how the free trade agreement will change the way business is done in the four-county area, the outlook for the future is bright.

Deming's railroading history locates the town on the transportation corridor formed by Interstate 10, and the Southern Pacific and Santa Fe railroads.

The county seat features an airport that will accommodate corporate jets. Luna County's agricultural region, centered in the town of Hatch to the north of Deming, is the leading producer of New Mexico's famous hot chile.

Luna County boasts a pleasant climate; good schools, a hospital, golf course, civic center, a modern senior citizen center, library and museum; hunting, hiking, rock-hounding and other outdoor activities abound.

Deming is also home to the Great American Duck Race, begun in 1982. The hilarious event, held each August, draws thousands, including such old-fashioned competitions as horseshoe pitching, pie-eating contests and the duck races themselves.

The nearest metropolitan center, Las Cruces, is an hour away.

Hidalgo County

Hidalgo County, the hub of copper processing for southwest New Mexico and eastern Arizona, is also taking a hard look at its industrial and business potential with the coming of the free trade agreement.

The county has its own international port of entry, located at Antelope Wells on the Mexican border.

An industrial park at Antelope Wells could be an opportune site for international development which would be environmentally acceptable, according to county manager Tom Anderson.

Agriculture may also make a comeback in Hidalgo County, says Anderson.

"Of the 40,000 acres available, only 8,000 are under cultivation at this time," says Anderson, "but next year we should see a significant increase." The leading crop likely will be chile.

Meanwhile the county is also looking to develop untapped geothermal resources for processing and greenhouse applications.

Lordsburg, the county seat, is a prime stop on the major transportation corridor created by Interstate 10 and Southern Pacific Railroad.