NMBorderplex Assets

Aerospace

The NM Borderplex has a rich history of aerospace activity and has been at the forefront of aerospace advancement for over 75 years. America’s space program launched from the NM Borderplex with experimental rocket research at nearby White Sands Missile Range taking place after World War II. Today, the NM Borderplex hosts some of the nation’s top aerospace firms, including Jacobs Technology, Boeing, General Dynamics, Honeywell, Raytheon, and NASA. Additionally, multiple Federal, state, and military research centers also provide ongoing aerospace study and advancement in the region.

Spaceport America

The nation’s first purpose-built commercial space facility accommodates vertical and horizontal space-launch vehicles and hosts multiple private aerospace companies as well as scientific and engineering research projects. In fact, Virgin Galactic has established their world headquarters in Las Cruces and flew their first launch with passengers in May of 2021

Department of Defense Assets

• White Sands Missile Range

As the largest open-air land test range in the nation, White Sands Missile Range supports missile development and test programs for the US Military, NASA, and other government and private agencies.

• White Sands Test Facility

The NASA White Sands Test Facility provides crucial expertise and unmatchable infrastructure for testing and evaluating spacecraft materials, components, and rocket propulsion systems. Recently, the facility has been testing oxygen explosions in response to the space shuttle Challenger disaster in order to provide greater safety for the industry moving forward.

Testing and Research

• New Mexico State University Physical Science Laboratory (PSL)

Founded in 1946 as a response the nation’s space and rock programs, NMSU Physical Science Laboratory (PSL) supports the development and application of new and exiting technologies. This multi-disciplined organization provides expertise in sub-orbital platforms, information modeling for predictive decision making, specialized intelligence community support, advanced NASA scientific exploration and experimentation, homeland security sensing and detection technologies, and advanced weapons and countermeasures development and testing designed to strengthen our national security.

• UAS Flight Test Center

One of seven FAA approved UAS Test Sites support the integration of unmanned systems into the National Airspace System specializing in testing for all classes of UAS. The FAA Certificate of Authorization permits UAS flights in over 15,000 square miles of coordinated airspace in southwestern New Mexico with ground to space testing available in both general and restricted airspace.

Manufacturing & Logistics

The NM Borderplex is a part of the fifth-largest manufacturing center in North America and is perfectly situated between two coastal ports and a reliable transportation network. Comprised of the Las Cruces NM MSA, the El Paso TX MSA, and Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico, the NM Borderplex is the largest metropolitan area along the US-Mexico border.

Businesses find unlimited opportunities for supplying customers on both the East and West Coasts, whether by two all-weather Interstate highways, Union Pacific and Burlington Northern Santa Fe rail, or by air cargo through any of the three airports. Plus, the Borderplex offers one of the most modern US Ports of Entry at Santa Teresa, New Mexico flanked by two industrial parks and an overweight zone with intermodal facilities.

Workforce Talent

• 295,000-person manufacturing workforce
• 125,000 college students

Infrastructure

• Five infrastructure-ready industrial parks
• Free trade and opportunity zone

Superior Logistics

• Access to Interstate 10 and Interstate 25
• Two Class-One rails with BNSF and Union Pacific
• Location of Union Pacific’s largest intermodal facility in U.S.
• Equi-distant from ports in San Diego and Houston
• Foreign Trade Zone

International Port of Entry

• Easternmost dry-crossing Port of Entry on U.S./Mexico border
• Site of master-planned bi-national community
• Adjacent to over 300 Juarez maquiladora factories
• 12-mile overweight zone

Digital Media

The ever-growing presence of digital media makes it one of the hottest industries in the nation, and the NM Borderplex has much to offer for innovation, technology, research, and business development.
NMSU Creative Media Institute (CMI)

Preparing students for a new era in digital filmmaking, animation, and visual effects, New Mexico State University’s CMI is a dynamic, cross-disciplinary program that is focused on the art, craft, and business of storytelling. Students study all aspects of digital filmmaking and digital arts, whether they are aspiring writers, directors, cinematographers, or animators.

• Digital Projection System Screening Room
• Post-Production Lab
• Animation Lab
• Production Space
• Motion Capture Laboratory
• THX Sound-Mixing Theatre

Doña Ana Community College Creative Media Technology

In response to an ever-growing need for trained specialists with the visual sophistication to design printed materials, video, film, animation, web sites, and game design, Doña Ana Community College (DACC) offers a program in Creative Media Technology for Film and Digital Arts. CMT has also teamed up with the Las Cruces Film Office to develop a local Film Workforce Initiative.

• Animation
• Video Production
• Audio Production
• Game Design
• Film-Crew Training
• Digital Illustration
• Digital Imaging
• Digital Layout
• Web Design
• Photography

Learning Games Lab at NMSU

Providing a real-world, hands-on aspect to education, the Learning Lab at New Mexico State University is a development studio, a user-testing research space, and an exploratory environment for playing and evaluating games and educational tools. Working in conjunction with NMSU Media Productions, the Learning Games Lab partners with research groups, faculty, and programs nationally and internationally to create educational media in various disciplines.

• Create and test educational media
• User-testing research
• Advanced development studio