Area Development
It is estimated nearly 183 new jobs will be created in Roswell and Chaves County, New Mexico, as a result of expansion at four companies: AGPower, Leprino Foods, Stewart Industries and Dean Baldwin Painting.

Gov. Susana Martinez said the jobs will be created in Southeast New Mexico across a variety of job sectors. “We’ve improved the regulatory environment and balanced the state budget to create a sense of certainty in our state. We’ve also improved the tax environment so that job creators will invest further in New Mexico,” said Martinez. “I am happy to welcome these new opportunities for New Mexico families.”

In Chaves County, AGPower, a subsidiary of SID International, received $20 million in Industrial Revenue Bonds to help facilitate the first phase of its field procession construction, creating 20 jobs.

AGPower will provide solutions to environmental concerns related directly to manure management for agricultural units such as dairies, hog farms and chicken farms. The firm will produce biomethane from the abundance of animal waste.

In the Rosewell area Leprino Foods, a mozzarella cheese producer, plans to expand its operations. The company substantially upgraded its facilities and added production to an additional shift within the plant. The 13 new jobs the firm plans to create will ensure that Leprino can meet the increased production, as well as the demand of new technologies in its equipment.

Another Rosewell firm, Stewart Industries, an aircraft salvage and recycling operation, has been a tenant at Roswell International Air Center for many years. The company recently received FAA Check approval and completed renovations to its hangar. The improvements will allow the company to provide aircraft maintenance and repair services. This expansion includes hiring of 50 A&P mechanics with possible additional expansions in the future, according to the Governor’s Office.

Also in Rosewell, Dean Baldwin Painting will begin a $1.3 million dollar expansion to upgrade its hangar complex. A portion of the project is funded from a CDBG grant that the city of Roswell helped secure. Construction should be completed by the end of the 1st quarter of 2014. These upgrades will help Dean Baldwin Painting retain the jobs that they currently have and open the doors for new customers. The firm plans to add 60 new positions, after hiring 40 employees during the last two months.