On the west side of the valley, tenants are settling into the West Mesa Industrial Park, which is owned by the city. In 1998, the city sold 68 acres of land at the industrial park. About 325 people are employed at the park and that number is expected to rise to about 500 by the end of this year. Do a Ana County is in a hurry to increase private enterprise and border trade, and the time is now. As the maquila industry continues its tremendous expansion at the border, Do a Ana County must put its best foot forward and establish pro-business policies to participate in the growth.
People have to be aware of that.
This is an opportunity to diversify the economy, but in order to create an environment where people invest in your economy, you have to do things that make the area conducive to investors' needs. To make the area safer and more appealing to potential and existing residents and businesses, the county has put 20 new sheriff's deputies on the road in the last 18 months and has added 31 patrol cars. In addition, we are initiating flood control projects that will protect large areas of potential commercial development and residential neighborhoods. A potential development that would have a huge impact, should it ever occur, is the spaceport. The locations submitted to Lockheed Martin are Orogrande, near White Sands Missile Range and U.S. 54, and the Upham site, about 35 miles north of Las Cruces.