By Gabriel Vasquez

Las Cruces Bulletin

Las Cruces can add another top-10 designation to its list of national accolades.

Last week the Milken Institute, a nonpartisan, nonprofit independent think tank that is nationally recognized for its annual economic performance ratings, named Las Cruces No. 8 on its list of best-performing 179 small metros. Last year, the institute ranked Las Cruces No. 9 on the same list.

The institute ranks metropolitan areas by how well they create and sustain jobs and economic growth. Study criteria include jobs, wagesand salaries and technology sector growth.

The study reports of Las Cruces: “New Mexico State University, White Sands Missile Range and NASA’s White Sands Test Facility continue to be the region’s economic engine. A New Mexico State University impact study projected that within five years of operations, Spaceport America will employ 2,300 people with a payroll of $300 million. With the growing aerospace engineering programs at NMSU, a growing number of aerospace firms, and the low cost of doing business, Las Cruces is poised to become a top location for aerospace and space-related technology R&D firms.”

Moreover, the study cites the city’s technology and health care sectors among the strongest in the nation.

“Professional, scientific and technical services created more than 1,000 jobs in 2004-09, followed by ambulatory health-care services and special assistance, with 840 and 770 new positions, respectively.”

Hispano Chamber of Commerce de Las Cruces Executive Director Amanda Cruz said she’s not surprised that Las Cruces made the list for two years in a row, considering the city’s “recession-proof bubble” and the presence of major, stable employers such as NMSU and WSMR.

“As long as we’ve got those two assets in our city and region and they continue to thrive, we’ll keep outperforming many other small metros in the country,” she said. “But we’ve got more than just that going for us. I think our dedicated workforce and excellent business community help attract new business. Once the spaceport is built and fully operational, the economy will only get better.”

Joel Courtney, communications director for the Greater Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce, shared a similar upbeat outlook for Las Cruces’ economy.

“Las Cruces has always had a strong economy because of our government base, which has shielded us from the recession, but I think the success also comes because we have such a tight-knit community that is business friendly and offers a beautiful place to live,” he said. “In terms of the spaceport, our Commercial Space Committee is constantly keeping abreast of news that the commercial space industry is going toexplode in this area.

“All reports say that in the next few months following the (Spaceport America) runway dedication, a large number of these companies will be looking to set up operations in this area or flat-out move to this area. They want to be close to the Spaceport, and this is where that industry will expand in the U.S.”

Las Cruces’ high-tech sector growth was the strongest of economic indicators identified in the Milken Study, followed by five-year wage and salary growth and fiveyear job growth.

Christine Logan, economic development administrator for the city, said because of the city’s focus on economic growth rather than many other small metros’ “survivalist” planning and budgeting, it has benefited from new companies relocating or expanding into the area.

“Another aspect of our staying well-ranked is that we are continuing to look for new businesses, opportunities in the renewable energy area and aerospace,” she said. “So assome communities have pulled back so far that they’re not even thinking of serving their existing businesses, we continue to grow our programs and are still working toward our economic goals.”

She said the national ranking makes Las Cruces even more attractive to big business.

“This ranking matters. We’re finding ourselves being looked at by those people who are doing national searches because if they’re cutting back and doing one or two expansions instead of tree or four, they need to make sure that they’re putting those jobs in a community that is growing,” she said.

Other New Mexico cities that made the list include Farmington and Santa Fe, No. 106 and No. 110, respectively. In the top-100 largest metro categories, Albuquerque ranked No. 64 and El Paso moved up five spots from 2009’s list, coming in at No. 9.

For more information, visit bestcities.milkeninstitute.org.