News and Media

Thursday, December 05, 2019

CARLSBAD — As Eddy County's planner drove through oil country on a recent day, he passed a makeshift RV park and let out a groan. The small gathering of trailers he saw near the side of the road wasn't permitted by the county. In fact, it wasn't there at all several weeks earlier, the last time Steve McCroskey drove through the area. Only about one-third of the estimated 180 RV parks in the county have a permit, and new ones are popping up so fast that officials don't have time to send them all violation notices. There are only two code enforcemen...

Program can boost NM’s ‘opportunity zones’

Monday, December 02, 2019

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A state addendum to a federal economic development program could help some of New Mexico’s poorest areas compete with big cities in New York and California. New Mexico Economic Development Cabinet Secretary Alicia Keyes recently announced a new program that offers an $1 million bonus to certain investments made in New Mexico’s 63 opportunity zones. Read full article.

Companies partner to bring remote healthcare to oil and gas workers

Sunday, December 01, 2019

A new clinic catering to the safety and health of employees of three of the largest oil and gas operators in Carlsbad opened in March. The clinic operated by XStremeMD was created via a partnership between Conoco Phillips, Marathon Oil and XTO Energy. Dr. Joseph Pearson, CEO of XStremeMD, said the company got its start in 2006 providing healthcare for employees working on off-shore rigs in Louisiana. The Lafayette, Louisiana-based company has four locations in the Permian Basin: Orla, Midland and Big Lake, Texas with Carlsbad as the newest location. Read full article.

Permian Basin Is Booming In Southeast New Mexico

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Logistics are being upgraded to support expanding oil and gas production, including a larger regional airport in Lea County now offering non-stop flights to Denver. The size of the Permian Basin in southeastern New Mexico represents one of the largest fields in the United States, and residents of the area are taking action to facilitate the growth of the oil and gas industry in the area. After a recently completed expansion of the regional airport, Lea County will be augmenting the existing non-stop United Express daily flight service to Houston with a new route to Denver, Colorado which began on Octobe...

New Albertson’s Market Opens in Carlsbad

Friday, November 01, 2019

Albertsons' new 60,000 square foot market opened to the public Wednesday. The market offers a salad bar, full-service meat and seafood counter, a large floral department, a drive-up pharmacy and a full-service Starbucks. Customers were treated to a more expansive selection of goods at the new location which also features in-door and outdoor seating for diners. "We've got a vastly expanded deli food service, it's restaurant food people. We've got a dining area for you to sit in, you can take it out," said United Family Executive Vice President Tony Crumpton. The store also features a Ready Meals Program, which Crumpton said is ...

Community Profiles of Carlsbad & Surrounding Communities

Monday, October 14, 2019

Site selectors and business owners looking for a location often like to have as much detailed information on the region they are looking at locating their business. Sometimes this information is very hard to get ahold of without paying. Here at the Carlsbad Department of Development, we strive to be as informational and transparent about this and we are proud to be a part of. This is why we freely offer an in-depth community profile for each of our communities, including detailed and up-to-date demographics on each. We offer community profiles on the following cities: Carlsbad, NM, Artesia, NM, Otis...

Business Assistance Resources Listed on the Carlsbad’s Department of Development Website

Monday, October 07, 2019

Here at Carlsbad’s Department of Development we strive to make the success of a business as easy as possible on business owners and entrepreneurs. This is why we have created a website full of free online resources for businesses. One of the sections that can be particularly useful for business owners is our featured business assistance section. Assistance can range from help applying for local licenses, strategic planning and support, and access to all local and state incentives. We also freely offer other contact information that can be useful to business owners such and contact information for the Carlsbad Chamber o...

Oil and gas in New Mexico waste water disposal holds the key

Wednesday, October 02, 2019

Who could argue with anyone wanting to find environmentally sustainable solutions to treating and reusing the produced water associated with oil and gas development? It is a PR-must for the industry powerhouses who have trillion-dollar stakes in the Permian Basin and need to be seen as responsible corporate citizens. It is also PR straw-to-gold for certain politicians whose playbook depends on vilifying oil and gas while simultaneously playing a cash-and-spend game with the billion-dollar royalty checks. Fortunately, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has embraced a more independent and transparent position, as reflected in her recent remarks at the Carlsbad Mayor’s Energy Summit...

Feature: How Lubbock’s Aero Care is dispatched and how they work

Tuesday, October 01, 2019

LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) - Aero Care has been around for 30 years here in the hub city, but unless you need them, you would barely know they’re there. The crew is only called when someone is in critical condition and needs to be transported to a hospital quickly. “When there is a patient that is in critical condition, and they don’t have the bandwidth to provide medical attention to this individual, they rely on us to get those folks to the appropriate facilities,” said Joe Morgan, business development manager for Aero Care. Not only do they those in the hub city, bu...

Carlsbad’s Local Events Are Drawing in Visitors to the City!

Monday, September 30, 2019

Carlsbad is known for its plentiful and awe dropping natural wonders such as Carlsbad Cavern and Sitting Bull Falls. But it also has a historic and eclectic life aside from just our natural wonders that many enjoy. The Carlsbad Museum and Art Center is home to the local and regional history of the area. Here you can view Native American art and artifacts as well as enjoy Southwestern contemporary art exhibits. Aside from the historical side of Carlsbad, the town is also known for its widely popular community events. Downtown farmers markets, live music, and local races are a regula...

Workforce secured for nuclear waste facility near Carlsbad and Hobbs

Thursday, September 26, 2019

A potential supply of manpower for a proposed nuclear waste storage site near Carlsbad and Hobbs was provided as the company intending to build the facility signed an agreement with a consortium of 15 New Mexico construction and craft unions. Holtec International proposed building a temporary storage facility for high-level spent nuclear fuel rods on a 1,000-acre property near the Eddy-Lea county line. Read full article.

Lots of Fun to Be Had Outdoors in Carlsbad!

Monday, September 23, 2019

Carlsbad is known for its thriving business sector and high quality of life for its residents. But one thing that is lesser known is that Carlsbad is home to some amazing outdoor sights and activities. The Carlsbad Caverns National Park features over 100 caves in which visitors can explore and tour. Rattlesnake Springs is a desert wetland area that attracts local reptiles and hundreds of different bird species. There are hiking trails open for use around the majestic Sitting Bull Falls. Downtown Carlsbad has a lot to offer as well. Lake Carlsbad Beach Park has picnic areas and a beac...

Governor proposes free college for New Mexico students

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced a plan that would make New Mexico the second state to offer full college tuition to state residents. The governor announced her plan at the state's Higher Education Summit at Central New Mexico Community College in Albuquerque. The proposal is for a "last dollar" program covering 100 percent of undergraduate tuition and fees not paid for by federal grants or the New Mexico Lottery Scholarship. Read full article.

Carlsbad Has Natural Outdoor Adventures for Everyone to Enjoy!

Monday, September 16, 2019

Carlsbad, New Mexico, is known for many things. One of the most unique things about this town is all of the natural landmarks and resources. Local residents and tourists alike enjoy these amazing natural wonders year-round in Carlsbad! One such unique natural wonder if the Carlsbad National Park, which is located in the Chihuahuan Desert of Southern Mexico, this National Park is filled with amazing natural marvels that will have anyone in awe! The park features the Carlsbad Caverns, which have over 100 caves for visitors to explore. There are also trails for hiking around Sitting Bull Falls, another amazin...

Carlsbad’s Department of Development’s Revolving Loan Fund is Available to Businesses in Need!

Monday, September 09, 2019

Businesses in need of capital should contact our economic development department to learn about our revolving loan fund. The US Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration’s (The EDA) mission is to help facilitate economic growth on a national scale. This federal government agency’s focus is exclusively on economic development. One of the ways they do this is to promote innovation and competitiveness to create sustainable economic growth and success. In 1999 the EDA teamed up with Carlsbad’s Department of Development (CDOD) to create the Revolving Loan Fund. This Revolving Loan Fund is a long program they created to help businesses an...

Permian Strategic Partnership Announces Grant Assistance for Two New Mexico Counties

Monday, September 09, 2019

PSP Grants Announcement FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: media@permianpartnership.org bobreid@jfmaddox.org cdca.llc.nm@gmail.com terry@thegrantscollective.org Partners Plan Sept. 11 Events to Discuss New Programs Hobbs and Carlsbad, New Mexico – The Permian Strategic Partnership (PSP) today announced a partnership with the JF Maddox Foundation and The Grants Collective and Community Development Consulting Associates LLC to provide professional grant writing, management and training expertise to local governments, school districts and non-profits in Lea and Eddy Counties to strengthen their ability to successfully compete for state, federal and private grant programs. “PSP recognizes that putting together competitive grant applications for federal, state, and private sources and their subsequent management, monitorin...

Incentives for Developers in Carlsbad, New Mexico

Monday, September 02, 2019

Site selectors and developers looking for property should consider the Carlsbad region. Carlsbad, New Mexico, is a growing area that is ripe for development. Carlsbad also offers amazing incentives which makes it the ideal place for any business to thrive! The New Mexico Tax Incentives are offered by the state and have many incentives to offer depending on the type of business it is. The state of New Mexico divides incentives into categories: Energy, General, Local Incentives, Manufacturing and Technology, and State Incentives. The Carlsbad Department of Development has also compiled local incentives for developers, along with critical information developers need t...

New Mexico Offers $1 Million Bonus to Opportunity Zone Projects

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

The State of New Mexico has unveiled an incentive program for Opportunity Zone (OZ) projects and is offering a $1 million bonus to investments that meet certain benchmarks, Economic Development Cabinet Secretary Alicia J. Keyes said. Keyes said the $1-million OZ Jobs Bonus shows that Opportunity Zone investments are a key strategy for Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham as the state diversifies its economy. The federal tax initiative to stimulate development in lower-income neighborhoods can be a huge catalyst in New Mexico where it can be difficult to attract outside financing. Read full article.

Licensing Through UNM Tech Transfer Office in High Demand

Monday, August 26, 2019

New Mexico has been a hotbed of scientific development for decades. In the past few years, UNM has churned out some incredible inventions, and the business world is taking notice. Eleven companies were formed to take advantage of UNM-developed technologies last year. In addition to licensing, UNM staff and students have made dozens of companies to bring newly developed tech to market themselves. UNM’s Science and Technology Corp. (STC) provides licenses for UNM-developed technologies to interested businesses. Read full article.

Visit Carlsbad’s Department of Development’s New Website for Up-to-Date News!

Monday, August 26, 2019

Here at the Carlsbad Department of Development we strive to help the local community stay in touch with all that is happening here in Carlsbad. Our website keeps local residents and business owners alike up-to-date on happening around the community. This includes both local and national news attention. For example, the University of New Mexico was included in a U.S. News & World Report recently in a list of the best Graduate Schools. Local news includes things like what local businesses are doing and local political information for the area. It is our goal that through this news and medi...

Carlsbad’s New Website Provides an Online Portal for Employers to Post Job Opportunities in the Region!

Monday, August 19, 2019

The Carlsbad Department of Development has a new website with lots of useful tools and resources, one of which is their new employment opportunities portal. This tool helps employers find skilled workers in several industries that are thriving in the area. This tool can also be used by people seeking employment within the Carlsbad area. Employers are now using this tool to regularly post job openings. We here at Carlsbad Department of Development encourage job seekers and employers alike to utilize this free, online tool. People can search by featured jobs, publishing date of job listing, title of the job, compan...

Become a Member of the Carlsbad Department of Development Today!

Monday, August 12, 2019

Are you a community member or a local business owner looking to help support the economic growth of the Carlsbad region? Through the Carlsbad Department of Development, you can now help our region grow and make connections of your own through our membership program! When you become a member of the Carlsbad Department of Development you are also able to participate in important strategic planning efforts, represent the region nationally, and promote your own business through networking opportunities. There are 5 levels of membership of which people can choose to participate in. These different levels allow members to choose ...

Meow Wolf One of New Mexico’s Strongest Startup Success Stories

Monday, August 12, 2019

Meow Wolf is a well-known name in New Mexico, and increasingly throughout the rest of the country. What started as a popular art installation in Santa Fe quickly became one of the biggest startup business stories to come out of New Mexico. The company disclosed in May that it had raised $158 million in funding. Meow Wolf has raised the largest fundraising round in the last decade than any other startup New Mexico-based company. The next leading contender has raised $30 million and is more than five times below the total amount of Meow Wolf’s raised funds. And a report prepare...

Chevron Contribution Will Support Creation of Bomb Squad

Tuesday, August 06, 2019

For Immediate Release: Contact: Kyle Marksteiner (575) 706-2324 kmarksteiner@cityofcarlsbadnm.com A $50,000 social investment from Chevron will allow the Carlsbad Police Department to form a Bomb Squad, Carlsbad Mayor Janway has announced. Donations from the Mosaic Company, ConocoPhillips and the local COPS organization (Citizens Offering Police Support) will also ensure that the necessary funding for the project is available. “Chevron and all of our sponsors on this project are assisting the community with making improvements that will protect the lives of our citizens,” Janway said. “We very sincerely appreciate this generous contribution.” Shane Skinner, Carlsbad Police Chief, said the mission of the Bomb Squad will be t...

Production for Netflix’s “Army of the Dead” Begins in New Mexico

Tuesday, August 06, 2019

After months of pre-production, Zack Snyder’s “Army of the Dead” has begun principal photography in Albuquerque. The Netflix-produced film will continue production through October. In “Army of the Dead,” Snyder returns to his directorial roots, offering this zombie-adventure film. The film follows a group of mercenaries who, following a zombie outbreak in Las Vegas, take the ultimate gamble, venturing into the quarantine zone to pull off the greatest heist ever attempted. Read full article.

Lea County Regional Airport to Expand Daily United Service to Denver

Monday, August 05, 2019

Air travelers may soon have a choice to fly to either Denver or Houston from the Lea County Regional Airport, instead of just Houston. Economic Development Corporation of Lea County board of directors chairman Finn Smith presented a proposal at Hobbs City Commission meeting to add Denver to the United Airlines contract. Read full article.

New Mexico: Opportunity Zones are Knocking

Monday, August 05, 2019

SANTA FE, N.M. - The New Mexico Economic Development Department (NMEDD) has unveiled a new website so local governments, investors, businesses, and property owners can take advantage and connect with Opportunity Zone resources. The state, along with NMEDD, designated 63 Opportunity Zones in 22 counties as part of the U.S. Government’s Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. The purpose of the tax law is to attract capital investment into economically distressed areas in exchange for a reduced tax obligation. Read full article.

What’s new in Carlsbad? Follow Us and Keep in Touch!

Monday, August 05, 2019

Here Carlsbad Department of Development, we want to keep in touch with our community members! That’s why, along with our highly interactive and resourceful website, we are also expanding to social media platforms! This will allow us to communicate with community members and business owners and allow us to keep everyone in the area up-to-date on local news and events. We are also focused on making sure local business owners and business owners or entrepreneurs looking for a location will have easy access to invaluable resources. These resources include in-depth community profiles and demographics, interactive visual maps for site selection...

Four New Mexico Cities Named “Boomtowns” in National Survey

Friday, August 02, 2019

Santa Fe is the biggest “boomtown” in the state of New Mexico, according to a self-described “money lifestyle website.” But cities like Rio Rancho, Carlsbad and Hobbs may be more deserving. GOBankingRates released its list of the fastest-growing cities in each state, using five- and 10-year U.S. Census data to measure population growth, as well as increases in occupied housing units and per capita income. But the study doesn’t factor in Santa Fe’s annexation of 4,100 acres of land in 2014, which resulted in a population increase of 13,250 and more than 4,400 new housing units. Read full article.

$100,000 Approved in Solo Worker Grants (Carlsbad Included!)

Thursday, August 01, 2019

SANTA FE, N.M. – The state Economic Development Department has approved $100,000 in Solo Worker grants to four entities whose programs train and support workers to run their businesses from home. These programs help make remote work a viable option for people, allowing them to continue to work in their own community. The EDD has also approved $250,000 in Local Economic Assistance & Job Development Support (LEADS) grants. “The grants are part of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s focus of building more economic development expertise across New Mexico,” said Cabinet Secretary Alicia J. Keyes of the Economic Development Department. “We have strong partners i...

Carlsbad

Thursday, August 01, 2019

Carlsbad is a city in and the county seat of Eddy County, New Mexico. Carlsbad is located in the Chihuahuan Desert on the beautiful Pecos River at an elevation of 3,295 feet. The city, with its tree-lined streets, numerous public parks and recreation areas, including the municipal beach and greenway along Lake Carlsbad; originated as an oasis - "The Pearl on the Pecos." Read full article.

How to Be a Space Tourist

Thursday, August 01, 2019

Beth Moses, the chief astronaut instructor at Virgin Galactic, will train the people who want to fly on SpaceShipTwo. On February 22, 2019, Beth Moses embarked on her first test flight aboard SpaceShipTwo, which was flown by David Mackay, Virgin Galactic’s chief test pilot, and Mike Masucci, the company’s lead trainer pilot. The successful launch gave Moses the distinction of becoming the first female commercial astronaut. “It happened because I dared to dream big,” says Moses. As Virgin Galactic’s chief astronaut instructor, Moses is responsible for designing the training program, equipment, and facilities at New Mexico’s Spaceport America to prepare space tourist...

Small town becomes booming petroleum powerhouse

Wednesday, July 24, 2019

An oil boom in southeastern New Mexico is bringing thousands of people to Lea and Eddy Counties, causing the city of Carlsbad's population to more than double in less than a decade. New data from the US Geological Survey shows billions of barrels-worth of oil and natural gas underground in southeastern New Mexico. The area is part of the Permian Basin, an oil-rich part of west Texas and southeastern New Mexico spanning nearly 80,000 square miles. Improved technologies in drilling and fracturing allowed the USGS to discover how plentiful New Mexico's oil supply is. "The Permian Basin of which about half i...

Another Hurdle Cleared for Eddy-Lea Energy Alliance Facility

Tuesday, May 07, 2019

NRC Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Denies Evidentiary Hearing on Holtec International’s Proposed Spent Fuel Storage Facility in New Mexico A Nuclear Regulatory Commission Atomic Safety and Licensing Board has denied requests by several petitioners to hold an evidentiary hearing challenging Holtec International’s license application to construct and operate a consolidated interim storage facility for spent nuclear fuel in southeastern New Mexico. The three-judge board held oral arguments in Albuquerque in January on the standing of the various petitioners and the admissibility of their proposed contentions under NRC regulations. While the judges agreed that some of the six petitioners met the qualification...

News and Media

We are an active community with immediate access to beautiful natural resources, hiking, boating, swimming, fishing, and more.

Carlsbad residents enjoy a low cost of living. At only 93% of the national average, our residents have more money to spend doing things they love.

Our population is growing. Developers can benefit from an increased demand in housing, retail, and other amenities.

Carlsbad is the best emerging economy in New Mexico thanks to our diverse group of businesses and forward-thinking residents.

News and Media

Fast Facts

We are an active community with immediate access to beautiful natural resources, hiking, boating, swimming, fishing, and more.

Carlsbad residents enjoy a low cost of living. At only 93% of the national average, our residents have more money to spend doing things they love.

Our population is growing. Developers can benefit from an increased demand in housing, retail, and other amenities.

Carlsbad is the best emerging economy in New Mexico thanks to our diverse group of businesses and forward-thinking residents.