Sandoval County Commissioners on Sept. 11 finalized an agreement that will allow continued multibillion-dollar investments in Intel’s Rio Rancho facility and local economic development through 2030. An initial amendment to a long-standing Industrial Revenue Bond agreement with Intel was approved at the Aug. 14 meeting. Afterward, it was sent to the county and Intel to […]
Jobs, Workers & Economy
New Mexico State Fair announces opening-day discounts
The New Mexico State Fair kicks off tomorrow and officials have announced opening-day discounts on admission, food and rides. Admission and rides on Thursday will be $2, and there will be $5 food specials, according to a New Mexico State Fair press release. The discounts are only for those paying in cash and are available […]
Sandoval County Unemployment Rate Inches Up
In July, Sandoval County’s unemployment rate increased to 5.3%, up from 4.5% in July of the previous year and from 4.7% in June. The rate matches the statewide average, according to the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions. Compared to neighboring counties, Sandoval County’s unemployment rate is higher than Bernalillo County’s 4.9% and Santa Fe […]
Commission Extends Intel Bond Agreement for $1 Billion
Sandoval County Commissioners voted at the Aug. 14 meeting to amend an Industrial Revenue Bond (IRB) agreement with Intel, aiming to support the ongoing upgrades at the company’s Rio Rancho facility. The commission approved the resolution to finalize the agreement before the current one expires in October. The amendment, which is the second requested by […]
Pharmacy deserts may grow as independent stores struggle with Medicare reimbursements
By Daniel Montaño A change meant to save patients money has community pharmacies shutting their doors and turning people away across the country. Pharmacies in rural or disadvantaged areas face the highest costs, and pharmacy deserts might start spreading. First Walmart closed early last year, then the Walgreens a couple blocks away, and now only three […]
‘Cuba is a Bit of an Island’
Many members of Cuba’s business community attended an economic growth-focused event at the Eichwald Center on Aug. 5. Business owners and officials explored opportunities to boost the village’s economy and support local businesses. The event was organized by Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernandez’s office in collaboration with the Rural Development Corporation (RDC), a nonprofit dedicated to […]
New sponsorship has ExxonMobil lending its name to Balloon Fiesta
ExxonMobil will get top billing at next year’s Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, thanks to a five-year sponsorship deal with the oil and gas giant. The new deal — which includes changing the name of the event to the ExxonMobil Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta — will start in 2025 and last through 2029. This new partnership […]
Former city councilor on the still-closed visitors center: ‘It’s a boondoggle and a money pit’
Editor’s note: To read the first in our series — A visitors center with no visitors: When will the taxpayer-funded project open? — click here. There’s still no opening date for the decades-in-the-making West Central Route 66 Visitors Center, though construction was completed years ago. Even so, one former city councilor thinks the long delay […]
Fueling the Future
Sandoval County Commissioners were presented with a proposal to purchase a nearly zero-emissions plant that converts plastic waste into high-quality fuels at the July 24 commission meeting, offering an alternative solution to combat plastic waste. A representative from PlastikGas, a global company headquartered in Dallas, Texas, presented the commissioners with a proposal to purchase a […]
Mountain West Brew Fest Returns
As the leaves change and the fall air is a little cooler, it’s time for beer festival season in New Mexico. Bernalillo’s flagship event, the Mountain West Brew Fest, is back for its ninth year. The outdoor festival, held this year on Saturday, Aug. 24, will take over Loretto Park and features New Mexico craft […]