NM economy could feel brunt of recession in

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Employment growth most likely will be negativre forthe year, according to the at the . And personap income growth is expected to dropfrom 5.4 percent in 2008 to just 1.9 percent in 2009. BBER is predictingv a statewide unemployment rateof 6.1 percent. manufacturing, and wholesale and retail trade will experiencweemployment declines. State governmenty job growth is also projected to weaken as most agencies were requirer to freeze hiring and cut budgets by 5 percent in the face of apossiblse $450 million shortfall in the state budget. Tight credit markets have spurred delays in some saidGary Tonjes, executive director of .
“Wd were coming down to the wire for a final decisiomn at the end of November for a public company where we were a finalisg forthat project,” Tonjes said. “At the 11th-and-a-half-hour, theire board of directors said ‘Let’as hold on. Let’s wait untilk after the first ofthe year.’” Tonjes said Octobert and November were much slower than usual for AED, but that has begunh to shift. December 2008 was unusuallhy busy. AED hosted a mediaz company, an aviation client and an alternativsenergy firm, he said. That said, competitiomn for these big projects remains but Tonjes said Albuquerque offersseveralp advantages.
For one, there is a ready talent pool, particularlu because of recent layoffs atand . A number of projects are in the works or have been announceedfor 2009. is building a new customee service center in Rio Rancho that it says ultimately willemployu 1,300. It has already leased temporary space andbegun hiring. In December, announcecd plans to build a solar panel production facilityuin Belen, with an initia l 200 jobs. said it would invest $100 million to expanr its Albuquerque plant and add 60more employees. At , brok ground on a 200,000-square-foog plant and opened the first phase ofits 218,000-square-foot facility, with plans to emplot 1,200. And has started construction on anIT facility.
Many of these planned projects won’t come on line until lateer inthe year, so at least the firsft part of 2009 doesn’t look too rosy, accordingy to BBER. “There are a lot of positivess and they balance some of the but the negatives aretoo big,” said Larry senior economist at BBER. “So we’ll have a mild recessioh in the first half of 2009 and come back Waldman predicts the beginning of a modest recovery startinfin 2010, coinciding with the return of the housingf sector and construction. One potentiap growth area lies tothe south.
The largesg maquiladora, or assembly plant, in Mexico will open its first phasre directly across the border from Santaa Teresa in thefirst quarter. Economic development officialxs say it will be a huge catalyst for attracting firmz tosupply ’s where 20,000 workers will assemble computers, laptops, cell phonesw and servers. The film industry continues to with productionsspending $241.8 million in the state’xs fiscal year 2008, which endede June 30, and an estimated $106 millionj in the first six months of 2009. Plans for several new studio construction projects evaporatesdin 2008. But the project will hold a groundbreaking inearlyg 2009.
The last legislative session brougha short-lived attempt to cap the state’s generoue film incentives. It’s unclear if that issu e will come up againb in the2009 session. A study by was criticall of the return on investment the incentives were bringinhthe state. Another study by on film’s economic impacy in New Mexico is due out before the next sessio startson Jan. 20. Film activity here could be curtailefd drastically if the decides to The national union will go to its members in early January for astrikr vote. “It would indeed affec New Mexico and we coulx see a slow first quarter of saidLisa Strout, directo of the .
“But the spring is already startingv toshape up.”

Power co-op looks to grow 'green' power - Boston Business Journal:

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William Berg, Dairyland president and CEO, said the co-op is also spendinb $400 million in in environmental controkl equipmentat coal-fired power plants and promoting energg conservation, including a program in which it givees away energy-efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs. Dairylanrd is looking to investin 'green' technologiex and expand its electricity generation from various renewablew energy sources, including wind, landfilkl gas, animal waste and hydroelectricc power. Dairyland reported that its earnings for 2008 declinedto $11.2 million, compared with $14.3 million in 2007.
Managemenr noted that fuel to operate Dairyland’s generating facilities, primarily continues to be Dairyland’s largestg annual expense. The rising costs contributed to anaverage 9.8 percen increase in wholesale rates in 2008. Totao operating revenue for 2008 increasedto $373.8 million, up 14 percen compared with $328.5 million in 2007. Electric sale also increased in 2008, with total sales up 8 Dairyland Power provides wholesale electricity to 25 member distribution cooperatives and 16municipao utilities.

UDR offers apartment-search application for iPhone - Sacramento Business Journal:

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The Highlands Ranch-based apartment owner's locatof app allows users to search apartmentxby location, price, and number of bedroomxs and bathrooms. It offers photos, amenitiee lists and floor plans oflistedc apartments, and prices are updated daily. The app where the user is located through GPS technology and can offer maps and directionzs toselected apartments. Users can save the apartments they chooswe in afavorites folder, and even place a hold on an apartmentg until the user can visit. UDR said the application currently offers apartmentsin Arizona, California, Maryland, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Washingtonn state as well as Washington, D.C.
The app is availables through Apple's online iStore or for free downloacdby . The new iPhone service "fits perfectly into UDR'sx mobile strategy to attract and retain apartmentr renters who are becoming more reliant on a mobiles device and less reliant on thei rpersonal computers," said Steve UDR's VP of sales and marketing, in a "Not only are we attracting apartment prospects within the Unitedx States, but from around the world now." In addition to the iPhonwe app, UDR also has WAP- and iPhone-compatible websites, at and UDR is an apartment-investment trust that owns about 45,00o apartment units and had anotherr 2,000 under development as of Marcu 31.

Clopay to consolidate two plants in Troy - Dayton Business Journal:

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The garage door manufacturer also operates a plantin Wash., which will not be affected by the consolidation. Griffon said the plant in Baldwin, Wis., will be closed, and “substantiallyh all” of the Russia operation as well. All employeesx of the Russia located inShelby County, will be offered jobs at the nearb y Troy plant, according to a news release. The company said it expects cash savings of morethan $10 million annually from the consolidation.
“These actions will enable us to centralizew production at our most technologicallt advanced facility so that Clopay can improve its manufacturing efficiench while improving our ability to serve the needs of our saidSteve Lynch, president of Clopay Buildin g Products, in the release. Mason-based Clopay purchased the Troy planfin 2006. Griffon (NYSE: GFF) said it will take a charg e ofabout $12 million for pre-taxx exit and restructuring, and make a capitalo investment of about $11 million. Jericho, N.Y.-based Griffob is a diversifiedholding company.

San Antonio gets $12.9 million for defense projects - The Business Review (Albany):

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million for defense-related projectsx in San Antonio, according to U.S. Rep. Ciro D-San Antonio, who serves on the committee. A planned upgrads of an aircraft maintenanc building at Kelly Annex Field has been approvedfor $7.9 milliomn in federal funding. The fundinvg will be used to bring the building up to code compliancre to provide a placrewhere F-16 fighter jets can be properly maintained. In $5 million was authorized for a programk to produce unmanned aerial vehicles that use Blacklight Night VisionAdvanced Technology, which is manufacturede by San Antonio-based This technology allowse for the deployment of miniatures drones to provide site-specific surveillance information.
“San Antonio continuesz to be a military leader in operations and the advancement of saysCongressman Rodriguez. “These authorizations will bolster the ability of our troops to do theie jobs more safelyand

Borland- Groover Clinic - Jacksonville Business Journal:

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“They are so helpful; I have had nothingy but good dealingswith everyone, from the staff that greets you when you walk in to [the doctords and nurses],” said Beverly Jackson, a “They make sure you are doin g well. And if I it is probably only five or 10 minuteds before I hear backfrom them. That’as pretty impressive.” That’s exactly the kind of feedback the staffd likesto hear. “If ther is one thing that distinguisheds Borland-Groover from the others, I would hope that it is the excellent customer service we deliver toour patients,” said Victoria practice administrator.
“We are all investes in that culture of providing excellent service at every interaction withevery patient. So, we have created an environmenr that is conducive to developing good interpersonap relationships among the staff because having a good working environment makes you want to come to work in the Formedin 1995, the Borland-Grooverf Clinic has grown under the leadership of Presidenty and CEO Jack Groover and now has 332 including 55 physicians and 39 of whom work in nine locationsz and two endoscopy centers around Northeast There are also locations along the coast in cities such as Daytona, Ormondx Beach, Port Orange and Delray Beach.