Five firms will locate manufacturing facilities at Santa Teresa, New Mexico, as a result of legislation eliminating Gross Receipts Tax on maintenance services and parts on aircraft. State officials also eliminated sales tax on purchases of aircraft weighing more than 10,000 pounds.

According to Governor Susana Martinez’s Office, Santa Fe Aero Services will relocate it to Santa Teresa Airport, in New Mexico, creating 20 new jobs over the next three years.

This is a very good day for the New Mexico aviation industry as we can now directly compete with our neighboring states, which will swiftly bring more work and new jobs to our industry,” said Ron Tarrson, Owner Santa Fe Aero Services.

“For our company, we are immediately establishing a new aircraft avionics and maintenance center at the Santa Teresa Airport and expect to hire some 20 new technicians in the next few of years--all new good paying jobs that are in addition to the 20 folks we already employee in Santa Fe and Albuquerque,” he added.

Previously, pilots traveled to places like Colorado to have their aircraft serviced because it was cheaper than doing it in New Mexico, the Governor’s Office said. “This legislation makes it possible for companies like Santa Fe Aero to create jobs in New Mexico,” Governor said. “That’s our continuing mission: to level the playing field so that we can compete with the states that surround us.”

Earlier this week, Governor Susana Martinez also signed into law legislation that will eliminate the sales tax on the purchase of aircraft over 10,000 pounds, a move that can spur growth in New Mexico's aviation industry.

Making New Mexico competitive has proven to be an effective strategy in growing our aviation industry and helping attract new businesses to our state, said the Governor. Another factor attracting business to Santa Teresa Intermodal Terminal Park is Union Pacific’s new, state-of-the-art rail facility in southern New Mexico. For the first time ever, New Mexico can boast of having a key inland port, positioning the Santa Teresa/El Paso area as a strategic focal point for shipments in the southwestern U.S.

Governor Martinez said five additional companies plan to establish operational hubs in southern New Mexico;

ERO Resources, a firm that provides container storage, as well as mechanical services for rail-related business, purchased six acres in Santa Teresa Intermodal Park, where it will establish a terminal for business. The company will hire up to 50 employees within the next three years.

Transmaritime, a third party logistics organization, purchased 25 acres in the Santa Teresa Intermodal Park where it will construct a terminal that handles ocean freight containers for its clients in the El Paso area. The company plans to hire 15 people for its operations.

Stagecoach Cartage and Distribution, a company that provides trucking and logistical services to clients throughout the United States and Mexico, purchased 10 acres in the Santa Teresa Intermodal Park where it will establish a logistics yard.

Kalisch Chatarra, a metals recycling company, is in search of 30 acres to establish a metals recycling/compacting operation. Company will build a 10,000 square foot building and hire up to 20 employees.