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QUARTERLY REFLECTIONS
CHAD MATHESON, CECD
Interim President & CEO
As the summer winds down and we transition into cooler temperatures, we’ve been reflecting on the tremendous momentum shaping AREA and the greater Albuquerque region This season has brought a wave of exciting announcements that reinforce the strength of our community and the power of partnership
In September, Pacific Fusion announced their decision to establish a $1 billion research and manufacturing campus in Mesa del Sol This is a transformational win that puts Greater Albuquerque on the global stage for next generation energy research and development In addition, Redwire continues to expand its footprint here, showcasing the depth of our aerospace and defense cluster Quantinuum showcased its brand-new facility with an open house that ran alongside the IEEE Quantum Conference, hosted in downtown Albuquerque These achievements are not isolated and are the result of the collective leadership you, our partners, and contributors, bring to AREA’s mission every day
We also gathered recently for an energizing Town Hall and Board Retreat Your insights, questions, and bold ideas are helping to guide the important work we’re undertaking to shape the future of long-term competitiveness of our region
In September, we proudly announced the recipients of our 505 Awards These honorees represent the best of our business and community leadership Please take a moment to view the full list and join us as we celebrate them in person at AREA’s Annual Dinner on November 13, a night I promise will inspire and energize us all.
October brought another Site Consultant Familiarization Tour, a unique opportunity to showcase Greater Albuquerque to national decision-makers.
As AREA charts its path toward 2026 initiatives, I encourage you to keep leaning in Step up, speak out, and stay engaged Together, we’re not just talking about growth, we’re creating it Thank you for being a part of this momentum and for helping us build a stronger, more dynamic regional economy
With Gratitude,
Did you know? AREA is 65 years young!
Formerly known as Albuquerque Industrial Development Service, Inc. (AIDS), then Albuquerque Economic Development, Inc. (AED), Albuquerque Regional Economic Alliance (AREA) has been a key player in the greater Albuquerque business community since 1960. Founded by Gene Hinkle and local business leaders, it was created as a standalone economic development organization to focus fully on attracting and growing business to the region. Early funding included $75,000 annual pledges for five years and a successful capital campaign raising $1.3 million from 1967–1970. Land donations and strategic real estate transactions further contributed to AREA's financial stability and growth. This would not have happened without Gene!
AREA WINS NM IDEA EXCELLENCE AWARD FOR MARKETING PROGRAM
Thank you to New Mexico Idea for selecting our team for the Marketing Program award (which recognizes a comprehensive or targeted marketing program to market a local community or region) for our collaborative video with Comcast NM: “The Evolution and Future and Future Path of Albuquerque’s Economy” at the Governor’s Conference in September!
Special thanks to Kyle Biederwolf, MPA, the whole Creative Services team at Comcast, our partners, and the AREA team who helped bring this project to life!
The New Mexico IDEA Economic Development Excellence Awards were launched last year to recognize and celebrate economic development projects and initiatives for their impact in creating a diverse and robust economy that engages local talent, cultivates innovation, and delivers prosperity for all New Mexicans.
505 AWARD RECIPIENTS ANNOUNCED
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Thisyear’sthemewillbeincelebrationof our65 yearof operation!SomuchhashappenedinAlbuquerquesince 1960andwewanttosharethatprogess-aswellasour futureplans-withyouall!
Ifyouareinterestedinsponsoringoureventorpurchasing indivisualticketsora tableoftickets,pleasevisit: https://www.abq.org/505awards/
AREA INTERIM PRESIDENT & CEO CHAD MATHESON EARNS CECD
Interim President & CEO Chad Matheson has earned the Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) credential from the International Economic Development Council, a top recognition in the profession.
“Becoming a Certified Economic Developer isn’t just a credential, it’s a career-defining milestone that demonstrates a professional’s dedication to elevating their expertise and their community impact,” said IEDC President and CEO Nathan Ohle. “Certified Economic Developers possess deep technical knowledge and bring trust and credibility to stakeholders, investors, and peers. We are thrilled to celebrate Chad Matheson on achieving this accomplishment and joining our network of professionals driving economic progress around the world.”
Matheson joined AREA in February 2022 and has since played a pivotal role in advancing the organization’s strategic initiatives.
EVENTS UPDATES
AUGUST ED PROS RETREAT
On August 28, 2025, our Economic Development Professional Retreat brought together an engaging discussion on how we can better align strategies with partners across counties. Representatives from NM EDD, Valencia and Sandoval Counties, AREA staff, and community partners gathered to share updates and initiatives.
A special thank you to Los Lunas Fire Department for use of their facilities, to Victoria Archuleta for providing some key updates in Los Lunas, and to Meta for providing an in-depth tour of their facilities!
SEPTEMBER TOWN HALL/BOARD RETREAT
We had an engaging and insightful Town Hall and Board Retreat on Thursday, September 18th Guest facilitators Alex Pearlstein and Matt DeVeau of Broad Ripple Strategies shared lessons from cities such as Des Moines, IA, and Spartanburg, SC, highlighting how they have built thriving downtown communities and aligned regional economic development efforts
A big thank you goes out to everyone who spoke, participated, and contributed during the breakout discussions The energy and commitment in the room reflected the passion our region brings to shaping a stronger future The conversations underscored not only the challenges we face, but also the opportunities before us, ranging from new investment strategies to creative approaches for enhancing the vitality of our urban core
The insights gathered during these sessions will serve as a foundation for action-oriented strategies that AREA and our partners can begin advancing in the months ahead We look forward to continuing this important work with you and to turning ideas into lasting outcomes for the Greater Albuquerque region.
GOAL 1: ESTABLISH NATIONAL IDENTITY AS A LEADING LOCATION FOR BUSINESS
Build the national profile of the greater Albuquerque region by strategically marketing the area’s advantages as a business location; aggressively pursue high impact business investors and aid their entrance into the region; build strength through diversity of industries
ChicagoConsultantConnect
Market the Region to Recruit Growth Businesses
AREA traveled to Chicago for the Consultant Connection event where 22 site consultants and 15 economic developers gathered to discuss current industry trends. Conversations focused on global investment, with many noting increased hesitancy to locate in the United States. Participants also discussed higher rail activity, ongoing challenges with power availability and project timelines, and the growingroleofautomationinmanufacturing.
IEDCAnnualConference
The 2025 IEDC Annual Conference in Detroit brought together economic development leaders from across the globe to explore innovation, infrastructure, talent, and place-based transformation. A highlight of the event was the unveiling of the State of the Field Data Dashboard by IEDC’s Economic Development Research Partners (EDRP). This new member-exclusive tool aggregates global practitioner data to deliver real-time insights, benchmark performance, and track emerging trends shaping the future of economic development.AREA’sInterimPresidentandCEOistheViceChairforEDRP.
Governor’sConference
AREA attended the 2025 Governor’s Conference on Economic Development, which brought together statewide leaders to discuss key topics shaping New Mexico’s economic future, including workforce development, infrastructure and energy readiness, site selection competitiveness, technology and innovation, and rural and urban collaboration. The conference highlighted how communities can strengthen their positions for new investment through strategic planning, datadriven marketing, and strong partnerships. AREA and Comcast were awarded the Marketing Program Award for The Evolution & Future Path of Greater Albuquerque’sEconomy.Participatedinasiteconsultantdinnerattheevent.
2. Supporting Existing Business Retention & Expansion
Business Retention and Expansion visits continue to reveal the business community’s need for solutions driven partnerships with our talent and workforce providers. The program has re-connected two employers to the Department of Workforce Solutions for hiring and retention strategy assistance. From the employers visited in Q3, 40% were added into the project pipeline due to currently undergoing expansion - or- demonstrating expansion potential in the next 6-12 months.
Check out KRQE interviews, podcasts and all videos on the AREA YouTube Channel
KRQE Morning Show Appearances 3 SocialMediaImpressions (Linked In, Facebook, Instagram, Youtube) 43,943
2 Paid LinkedIn Ads Avg. Click-Through Rate (CTR) 1.01% (industry avg .39%-.65%)
2 Paid LinkedIn Ads Impressions
109,811
AREA IN THE NEWS
July: August : September: DanielleCaseytoDepartAlbuquerqueRegionalEconomicAllianceAfterNearlyFiveYearsof TransformativeLeadership PacificFusionpursueslocating$1BresearchfacilityinAlbuquerque Certified for Success: AREA Interim President & CEO Chad Matheson Earns CEcD, Strengthening Mission for Regional Growth New Mexico is Candidate for Cutting-Edge Hypersonic Rocket Motor Facility AREA Announces Recipients for the 2025 505 Awards
REGIONAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
Pacific Fusion announces $1B research facility in Albuquerque
In September, Pacific Fusion announced a $1 billion research and manufacturing campus at Mesa del Sol in Albuquerque, marking a major clean energy investment in New Mexico The project will create hundreds of jobs, support construction activity, and position the state as a leader in advanced fusion technology
Backed by $900M+ in private capital and supported by performance-based state incentives, the facility will house the company’s demonstration system aiming for net energy gain by 2030. The initiative builds on New Mexico’s scientific assets and is expected to spur supply chain growth and broader economic benefits, though the ambitious timeline and technical challenges of fusion remain significant
Redwire Establishes Rapid Capabilities Facility in Albuquerque to Advance Space-Based Defense Systems
In September, Redwire, a global leader in space and defense technology solutions, announced it has opened a new rapid capabilities facility in Albuquerque, New Mexico to advance the development of space-based defense systems.
This new 15,000 square-foot facility is Redwire’s latest investment in the Albuquerque region, with the company maintaining a long-standing footprint in the area as a key partner for Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL). Redwire’s new facility, better known as Firestone Rapid Capabilities Facility (FRCF), will support a wide range of capabilities for space, missile defense, and other emerging warfighting domains
Quantinuum hosts open house for New Quantum
R&D Center in New Mexico, Anchoring the State’s Quantum Technology Revolution
During the IEEE Quantum Conference, Quantinuum hosted an open house, showcasing their new center of excellence in quantum computing
In 2025, Quantinuum, announced plans to open a new location in New Mexico. This site will support ongoing collaborative efforts to advance the photonics technologies critical to furthering Quantinuum’s product development Photonics, the science and technology of light, is essential to the advancement of Quantinuum’s trapped ion quantum computing technologies, which use light to control and manipulate qubits.
GOAL 2: ATTRACT, RETAIN, AND ALIGN TALENT
Convene key partners throughout the region, identify talent gaps and implement and catalyze talent attraction and retention solutions; improve connections between the jobs we do have with the talent we have
1. Promote the Region to Attract & Retain Talent
For Q3, AREA continued to leverage use of JTIP employers to capture relocated employee testimonials capturing two from Kairos Power.
For Q3, AREA had two Linked In campaigns running with 1.2K clicks
2. Identity Gaps & Forecast Needs
AREA provided key research to support business attraction, retention, and workforce development efforts. These deliverables directly informs partner initiatives and strengthens our community’s competitive positioning.
Regional Workforce Entities – Mapping and summarizing the organizations, training providers, and institutions that make up our workforce ecosystem, giving businesses clarity on available support.
Sector-Specific Employer Lists – Targeted research to help prospects and partners identify regional employers within specific industry clusters.
Talent Pipeline & Wage Analyses – Data-driven assessments of workforce availability, business and occupation competencies, education pathways, and competitive wages to inform site selection and expansion decisions.
Emerging Industry Needs Analyses – Research that anticipates growth industries and evolving business requirements, while proactively developing the talent pipeline to meet the demands of rapidly evolving technologies.
Industry Brochures – Concise, visually compelling collateral highlighting Albuquerque’s assets and advantages in key industry sectors.
3. Support Regional Talent Development
AREA’s Existing Business and Workforce Engagement Manager joined the Powerful Partnerships planning committee organized by the United Way’s integration of Ford Motor Company’s Next Generation Learning model into APS grades 9-12. This multiyear approach is forming an APS Academies model integrating real-world career pathways and workforce needs with a dual focus on academic alignment and employer skills demand.
Acquired a $25K LEADS grant from NMEDD to conduct alumni research dedicated to capturing certificate to degree level graduate retention in-market and leakage to other markets. The research project to also measure current student perceptions regarding intent to seek employment in or out of market. Research will be conducted and supported by AREA’s Fall semester UNM Anderson School of Business Intern.
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Los Lunas business visits focused on workforce expansion 2.52M in JTIP awards to AREA companies
Samantha Wang, Senior Processing Enginer, Kairos Power (Relocated to Albuquerque )
GOAL 3: BREAK DOWN BARRIERS TO REGIONAL COMPETITIVENESS
AREA will work to bring together the regional network of economic development professionals for the benefit of the region, promote the expansion of infrastructure, and support solutions to challenges affecting the business climate.
AREA worked closely with developers, brokers, and landowners representing the seven regional sites through the Global Location Strategy Site Readiness initiative Together with local economic development organizations, municipalities, and county representatives, AREA coordinated more than 300 technical responses through a comprehensive Request for Information, organized site visits, and led presentations during the virtual evaluations The process also strengthened collaboration with key utility partners, including PNM, New Mexico Gas Company, and the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority, to address the complex infrastructure questions companies and site selectors often raise.
Beyond data collection, this initiative built local capacity by helping partners better understand the expectations of site selectors and the technical standards that make a site competitive AREA also standardized site data and documentation across the region to ensure consistency in future submissions. Once complete, each community will receive a report outlining site strengths and opportunities for improvement, and all seven sites will be showcased in the REDI Sites database managed by the Site Selectors Guild, increasing the region’s national visibility for future investment
3.
Development of Needed Commercial Space
This initiative not only enhanced regional collaboration but also helped identify infrastructure gaps and land-use constraints that must be addressed to drive the development of needed commercial and industrial space Through these efforts, AREA is positioning the region for proactive investment in pad-ready and spec building opportunities to meet future demand. Once complete, each community will receive a report outlining site strengths and opportunities for improvement, and all seven sites will be featured in the REDI Sites database managed by the Site Selectors Guild, expanding the region’s visibility among national and international site consultants
Sites Completed in FY2026 for the Site Readiness Program
1. Collaborate with Regional Partners
2. Foster A Strong Business Climate
Drive
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
In September, AREA celebrated with the Village of Los Lunas for the groundbreaking for Los Lunas Corridor and I-25 Interchange project
This milestone marks a historic achievement not only for the Village of Los Lunas, but also for the many community members, local leaders, engineers, planners, and partner agencies who worked tirelessly to bring it to life. The new corridor and interchange will strengthen connectivity, enhance safety, and create new opportunities for growth and prosperity across the region for generations to come.
In July, AREA helped facilitate a pivotal convening of downtown property owners to advance the creation of Albuquerque’s proposed Business Improvement District (BID). The session provided an opportunity to share updates, answer questions, and gather feedback directly from those who shape the heart of our city. Following the meeting, AREA staff and partners took to the streets personally visiting and knocking on doors of property owners who had not yet signed on to build awareness, answer questions, and continue fostering the collective momentum needed to strengthen and sustain a vibrant downtown core.
To learn more about the B.I D. initiatives, visit : https://www.abq.org/downtownbid/
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