Commentary: It has come to the attention of our organization that the Hunt Institute has published what it refers to as “a report providing the first-ever comprehensive market analysis of the Santa Teresa region.” The “report” is simply a series of secondary information obtained from sources such as the U.S. Bureau of the Census and the websites of state and local entities. The charts/graphs appear one after the other without a single sentence anywhere in the document providing analysis. In many cases, information is incomplete (i.e. years are missing) or outdated (some information is only provided until 2012).
The private sector players in the Santa Teresa industrial base, including the Border Industrial Association, were not made aware that this “report” was being developed nor were they asked for their collaboration in this effort. The purpose of report is unclear and serves to cause confusion that a group effort was involved in its production, which is not true.
The Border Industrial Association wants to make clear that it does not support nor endorse any content of this report. There have been previous reports that provide insightful analysis on the Santa Teresa region, such as The Harvard Study, a Report on the Urban and Land Development Studios. Publications such as these provide analysis based on primary information obtained by the major organizations that comprise the Santa Teresa industrial base, something the Hunt Institute failed to do.
The Border Industrial Association will continue to bring economic development opportunities to New Mexico’s border with Mexico and to create good-paying jobs for citizens of the region. Our efforts have resulted in the Santa Teresa region accounting for 53 percent of New Mexico’s total global exports. Our bright future is made possible through the support of our partners and the strength of each of our members in the Santa Teresa industrial base.
Formed in 2009, the Border Industrial Association is a non-profit industrial advocacy group comprised of 122 industrial members that account for more than 5,000 employees, approximately $1 billion of private investment, and billions of value-added production in the Santa Teresa-Las Cruces Corridor. It is the largest industrial association in New Mexico.