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Monday Mar 4, 2002

Governor Signs Film Production Tax Incentives

Seven New Mexico communities are working with the New Mexico Economic Development Department to build an industry cluster in Aviation. Business Recruiter Art Peralez organized the communities to jointly participate in a trade show in Orlando, Florida in mid-September, and that show is already producing results.

"There is already interest in New Mexico because of what Eclipse is doing," says Peralez. "Now aviation suppliers are beginning to take a hard look at New Mexico as a possible place to do business." One company that does detailing of private aircraft is seriously looking at locating an operation at the Santa Fe Airport. This was only one of several leads generated at the trade show. The communities who attended are now in the process of responding to other potential leads.

The New Mexico economic developers took 350 aviation maps of the state, which were snapped up immediately by convention goers. The group found private pilots attending the convention showed great interest in visiting New Mexico as tourists. Peralez says, "We weren't thinking about this as a show that might product tourism interest, but that's certainly what we found."

Albuquerque, Alamogordo, Carlsbad, Roswell, Hobbs, Clovis, and Rio Rancho have all declared aviation and aerospace suppliers as strategic targets. Albuquerque Economic Development Inc. President Gary Tonjes says, "This is an important trade show for an industry we would all like to see thrive throughout New Mexico. I appreciate the effort of the state Economic Development Department to organize this coordinated presence with so many communities." This show was the first effort of the group to work together as several communities targeting a single industry. Any community interesting in joining the cluster is welcome to contact Art Peralez, Business Recruiter for the New Mexico Economic Development Department at (505) 827-0271 or email him at Arthur.Peralez@edd.state.nm.us.