Moriarty - Governor Susana Martinez has announced a $1 million infrastructure investment in Moriarty. In a press release, the state Economic Development Department says the subsidies will help create more than 200 aviation and aerospace-related jobs at the Moriarty Municipal Airport and the nearby industrial park. The funds will improve water and sewer connections needed to retain and expand existing businesses, as well as to recruit new ones. Economic Development Department (EDD) Cabinet Secretary Jon Barela and local leaders joined Governor Martinez for the announcement.
"Aviation and its related industries are a key sector of New Mexico's economy," said Governor Martinez. "With important infrastructure investments like these, we will continue to grow this important industry in our state, creating jobs and diversifying our economy while decreasing our reliance on a dysfunctional federal government."
In April, Google announced it was purchasing Titan Aerospace, a New Mexico manufacturer of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV). Founded in 2012, the Moriarty plant designs, develops, and manufactures UAV to provide world-wide data communications, natural disaster monitoring, and atmospheric and optical observations. Google will invest $15 million dollars in building, research, equipment and jobs at the airport. The Google development will be a 60,000 square-foot combined research and development, light manufacturing, and office facility for administration, engineering, and test personnel. It is estimated that this infrastructure development will generate approximately 200 to 300 new jobs. More than half of these will be high-wage jobs, including technicians, as well as aerospace, mechanical, electronic, and software engineers, and administrative positions.
Since Google's announcement, the airport and industrial park have seen dramatic increase in interest from aviation and aerospace industry companies looking to do business in Moriarty.
"The airport serves as a vital foundation to the area's economic development," said Moriarty Mayor Ted Hart. "By strategically investing in infrastructure between the City of Moriarty and the State, we expect to see great economic development take place."
EDD will invest nearly $1 million through the Local Economic Development Act (LEDA) for infrastructure upgrades that will provide sewer and water services to all businesses, a water loop that will provide the required fire suppression, and the pavement repair required on Applebay Way after the installation of the sewer.
"We are pleased to be contributing to the development of the Moriarty Airport to help spur further job creation," said Secretary Jon Barela. "New Mexico has many strategic advantages when it comes to the aviation and aerospace industry, and Moriarty is a perfect example."
The City of Moriarty has invested over $450,000 for their part in over a $4 million expansion and renovation within the Capital Improvement Plan for the airport. This investment provided a crosswind runway, taxi rehabilitation, a pilots' lounge, a manager's office, runway lighting, and a maintenance shop and equipment.
Information from NM Department of Economic Development