Clear skies, mild weather, world-renowned research, a growing pool of investors, and an expanding aerospace industry make New Mexico an ideal location for the next generation of aerospace entrepreneurs. The past few months have brought new entrepreneurs and new acclaim to New Mexico as a location for the aerospace companies in the 21st Century. In December, Virgin Galactic announced its intentions to make New Mexico its world headquarters at the proposed New Mexico Spaceport. In January 2006, the Rocket Racing League announced Las Cruces would be its world headquarters for its unique spectator sport centering on the racing of rocket-powered planes. The same month, Albuquerque-based Eclipse Aviation broke ground on a manufacturing facility for its much-anticipated low-cost, lightweight jets after years of research and development.

These are just some of the firms attracted to New Mexico for its flying weather, altitude, open airspace, business-friendly programs and attitudes, and talented workforce. At the same time, New Mexico offers the infrastructure that aerospace firms need with Albuquerque International Sunport, White Sands Missile Range, two Air Force bases, an Air Force research lab, two national laboratories, and many community airports.

October 2005 marked the first annual X-Prize Cup public spaceflight exhibition in Las Cruces, and more than 15,000 spectators convened under the wild blue yonder to celebrate personal spaceflight and the advent of the New Space Race.

New Mexico has a business environment and a forward-thinking community that is open to new visions in aerospace. To that end, our state offers several incentives specifically for aerospace firms in addition to its principal business and job-training incentives.