Laboratory will showcase economic development efforts at Rotunda

Contact: James Rickman, elvis@lanl.gov, (505) 665-9203

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LOS ALAMOS, N.M., Jan. 22, 2001 -- Officials with the U.S. Department of Energy's Los Alamos National Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratories on Tuesday will showcase the Laboratory's economic development efforts with a poster display on the first floor of the New Mexico State Capitol Building.

In addition, New Mexico legislators on Tuesday are expected to read a joint House-Senate memorial recognizing the contributions of Los Alamos National Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratories to the state.

"For the last three 60-day legislative sessions, Los Alamos and Sandia have promoted a national laboratories day at the Legislature," said Rick Ulibarri, the Laboratory's legislative liaison. "We are extremely pleased this year to showcase the laboratories' economic development contributions statewide and to receive recognition for our efforts from the legislature. Economic development is clearly the Laboratory issue of greatest interest to New Mexico legislators according to a survey done by the Lab's Government Relations Office in the fall of 2000."

A recent report showed Los Alamos National Laboratory alone has an approximate $4.9 billion annual economic impact statewide. About $3.8 billion of that goes to the Rio Arriba, Santa Fe and Los Alamos counties region. In addition, Los Alamos accounts for about 30 percent of the employment in the tri-county region and 4 percent statewide. Los Alamos procurement in Northern New Mexico last year accounted for the purchase of $346 million in goods and services; Los Alamos' statewide procurement contribution was about $460 million.

Los Alamos encourages the formation of high-tech businesses and companies, and has helped facilitate the successful start up of 46 new New Mexico businesses since 1997. Those businesses accounted for about 200 new jobs in the state.

"We are very proud of our economic record here in the state," said Albert Jiron of the Laboratory's Community Relations Office. "We intend to continue our commitment to economic development and to focus on initiatives that will create further economic and business opportunities for the region."

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