Economic Development

Positive impact on New Mexico's economy, communities

Through our relations and partnerships across government agencies, laboratories, universities, and industry, Los Alamos National Laboratory delivers the best possible science and technology results for the nation while making a positive impact on our New Mexico communities and economy.

Check out the Economic Impact on New Mexico webpage for the latest information and data on our efforts in

• economic development, including investment and technical assistance
• small business procurement
• employment

Regional Development Corporation

Our primary economic development partner in Northern New Mexico is the Regional Development Corporation (RDC), a nonprofit organization with a mission to create and retain jobs, which receives investment from Laboratory operator Triad National Security, LLC. The RDC provides private investment opportunities and technical assistance to facilitate job growth and diversify the economies of communities in the following seven counties: Los Alamos, Mora, Rio Arriba, Sandoval, San Miguel, Santa Fe, and Taos.

The RDC supports economic development in Northern New Mexico through two main program areas. The Business Retention & Expansion Program provides small businesses, regional startups, and tribal communities funding opportunities and one-on-one technical assistance to help build and sustain a vibrant local economy. The Workforce Training & Education Program is a partnership between the RDC and six Northern New Mexico higher education institutions to identify training needs and develop a well-educated workforce in the region.  

New Mexico Small Business Assistance Program (NMSBA)

Administered through the Feynman Center for Innovation (FCI) at Los Alamos, the New Mexico Small Business Assistance Program (NMSBA) helps for-profit small businesses in New Mexico access cutting-edge technologies, solve technical issues and gain knowledge from technical experts at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) and Sandia National Laboratories (SNL). The assistance is provided at no cost to the small businesses.

Technology Readiness Gross Receipts Initiative (TRGR)

Also administered through the Feynman Center for Innovation (FCI) at Los Alamos, the Technology Readiness Gross Receipts Initiative provides New Mexico businesses the opportunity to work directly with scientists and engineers at Los Alamos or Sandia National laboratories to advance technologies licensed from or developed in a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement with Los Alamos or Sandia National laboratories past the invention stage to market ready technology. The program is in partnership with the State of New Mexico.

Doing business with the Laboratory

The Laboratory seeks to do business with qualified companies offering value and high-quality products and services, and offers business opportunities to many suppliers and partners, putting money back into the community by working with local small businesses. Our suppliers meet specific quality, safety and security standards, including International Organization for Standardization and New Mexico quality standards and security clearances.
> Learn more about doing business with the Laboratory here

Community Technical Assistance

The Community Technical Assistance (CTA) program at LANL makes available the assistance of lab scientists and engineers that can work on short-term, limited assistance to entities facing technical hurdles that overlap with LANL capabilities provided that the assistance does not duplicate services or compete with the private sector. This assistance is provided at no cost to the organization seeking assistance and the scope of work provided varies based on individual project needs.

Economic and business development partnerships

The Laboratory is involved with the Northern New Mexico business community through economic development and business service partners. We participate in the following organizations and programs:

• American Indian Chamber of Commerce of New Mexico
• Chama Valley Chamber of Commerce
• endeavOR Outdoor Business Alliance
• Española Valley Chamber of Commerce
• Greater Espanola Valley Community Development Corporation
• Las Vegas First Independent Business Alliance
• Los Alamos Chamber of Commerce
• Mora Valley Economic Development Corporation
• NM IDEA
• New Mexico Economic Development Department
• North Central New Mexico Economic Development District
• Regional Development Corporation
• Santa Fe Chamber of Commerce
• Santa Fe Entrepreneurial Ecosystem
• Santa Fe Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
• Taos Entrepreneurial Network (TEN)
• Taos County Chamber of Commerce
• Questa Business Entrepreneurial Network (QBEN)