NMC Meets Job Creation Goals On LEDA Grant

NMC has created 32 new jobs in Los Alamos since receiving a LEDA award from Los Alamos County in March of 2012. Courtesy/LANL

NMC News:

  • Research facility creates jobs and economic advantage to Los Alamos County.

The New Mexico Consortium (NMC) has created 32 new jobs in Los Alamos since receiving a LEDA award from Los Alamos County in March of 2012. NMC Executive Director Katharine Chartrand reported to the Los Alamos County Council the progress of NMC’s LEDA award Tuesday night.

“The NMC met the job creation goals of the LEDA grant in three years,” Chartrand said. “We need to sustain those jobs for 10 years to realize the impact the County intended, but the NMC is on track to do that.” 

Council Vice Chair David Izraelevitz noted that LEDA grants are a risk and they have not always been successful. “It’s great to see an Economic Development investment of this size be so successful.”

The $2.6 million grant supported the development of a $9 million biological research facility in the Entrada Business Park. Los Alamos National Bank financed the construction of the facility with a $6 million loan.  Researchers from the NMC, universities, Los Alamos National Laboratory, and two private companies currently pursue research and development in plant biology, biomedical engineering and materials in the facility.

The New Mexico Consortium is a non-profit research and educational institution formed by the University of New Mexico, New Mexico State University and New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology. The NMC partners with LANL to pursue research and education programs in a broad range of areas include space science, advanced computing and modeling and analysis.

Chartrand noted the broad impact of the award on the county and the local research community. NMC maintains an active service program that has provided opportunities for 13 interns and retirees to work on NMC programs. The Biolab supports industry partnerships that are bringing new companies to Los Alamos.

“The County grant and the LANB loan allowed us to leverage the strengths of the County to develop a new R&D business in Los Alamos,” Chartrand said. “We have accomplished much in three years, but this investment by LANB and the County is only just beginning to pay off.”

Chartrand credited LANL for the success of the LEDA grant, “LANL has a clear strategy to increase its engagement with universities in New Mexico and nationwide, and a long term, sustained commitment to this effort.”

About the New Mexico Consortium

The New Mexico Consortium is a non-profit research and educational institution formed by the University of New Mexico, New Mexico State University and New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology.

The NMC is currently one of the largest technology-based businesses in the County. The NMC supports a university-type research environment in Los Alamos County. The NMC. To learn more about the NMC see their webpage at www.newmexicoconsortium.org.

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