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| Intel at Rio Rancho |
Amid an epic worldwide boom in semiconductor demand, Intel announced a $3.5 billion expansion of its Sandoval County facility today, an expansion that will provide a shot of adrenaline to the struggling ABQ metro economy just as it begins to ease out of the pandemic induced slowdown.
Chipmaker Intel will make the announcement at 10 a.m today with Gov. Lujan Grisham on hand. A live stream can be seen here.
The politicos will be quick to grab credit for the important economic news but supply and demand is the reason for the sweeping upgrade at Rio Rancho. The NM announcement follows the company's $20 billion spending spree in Arizona and more overseas investments to keep up with sizzling demand.
Employment at the Intel plant, once over 7,000, has drifted down to around 1,800 as Intel decided not to modernize the facility.
The size of this expansion indicates several thousand high-paying jobs will result, recapturing much of the facilities glory days. But in the past enviros have scored the company over its water usage and policies.
(Intel announced that the upgrade will generate 700 new permanent positions over three years and about 1,000 construction jobs.)
While MLG can't take direct credit for the expansion, it is happening on her watch and as she inches closer to her 2022 re-election bid. The development for her is as welcome as a shot of vaccine.
GLOOMY OUTLOOK
The data holds no surprises but does put in stark relief the critical issues that have developed in the past ten years and that we reported on extensively throughout the period.
The Legislative Finance Committee (LFC) summation of the population stats and more is a must read. The takeaways are as insightful as they are depressing.
--For example, New Mexico has not only experienced population stagnation but in ten years the Land of Enchantment is likely to actually lose population.
--A major restructuring of public education is needed as there are fewer births and as more youth leave the state in search of jobs.
--The flight from the rural to the urban counties accelerated and will continue (which will likely reinforce continued Dem Party dominance.)
--Those 65 and older comprised the only significant growth demographic in the decade, signaling that issues such as property taxes and health care will be in the forefront.
--New Mexico has lousy education outcomes, a too high mortality rate and stubbornly high poverty. One glimmer of hope for change--teenagers bore fewer children during the past 10 years.
The state remans a natural wonder but the historic loss of momentum in categories across the board means policy makers will need to look inward--not outward--for solutions.
It's not the lack of population growth per se that is so damning but the loss of the quality of life for so many New Mexicans. The needed agenda going forward includes a sustained and massive education effort, drug abuse intervention and broadband expansion.
For the entire decade the descent of the state into a permanent cellar dweller was mostly ignored. The good news is that with a repositioning of federal policy and recent election results here, the state is finally awakening to the consequences of its long slumber.
The bottom line? New Mexico's destiny is in its own hands. No cavalry is coming.
A CONSERVATIVE MAYOR
In a recent missive to the party faithful NMGOP Chairman Steve Pearce had this to say about the Nov. 2 ABQ mayor election:
We will work hard to get a conservative mayor into Albuquerque City Hall this fall.
Does Dem BernCo Sheriff Manny Gonzales qualify as a "conservative" for Pearce?" Gonzales is getting early support from the GOP whose members are contributing the majority of his $5 contributions to qualify him for public financing.
ABQ elections are officially nonpartisan so don't expect a public Pearce endorsement of Gonzales.
Meantime, the chair of the Dona Ana County GOP is treating the possible entrance of former Lt. Gov. John Sanchez into the race for the party's 2022 Guv nomination as a done deal:
John Sanchez was hosted at the Grapevine and we look forward to his formal declaration for the Governor’s race. It looks as if we had approximately 90 people attend and the event was a success.
Sanchez has made no public statements about his Guv intentions but he's obviously looking at a '22 run.
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(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2021
(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2021