WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich announced that the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has awarded $547,000 to support a Regional Innovation Cluster in Southeastern New Mexico.
The award to Emerging Technology Ventures (ETV), a New Mexico company, supports work to create an unmanned systems research center that provides specialized tech transfer assistance, which both Udall and Heinrich have championed. ETV, in partnership with state and local partners, will establish an 85,000 square-foot innovation hub that includes 3D tools to develop prototypes and help with manufacturing, as well as co-working space to provide support for startups. The new cluster will capitalize on existing federal resources, including White Sands Missile Range and Holloman Air Force Base, as it builds public-private partnerships to support sustainable economic growth.
"On the Appropriations Committee, I've been a strong advocate for the SBA, and these dollars will help make Southern New Mexico a high-tech research and manufacturing hub, attracting new businesses and helping existing companies grow," Udall said. "This partnership will support local businesses as they move innovation to the marketplace and create good-paying technology jobs here in New Mexico, and it provides yet another example of the immense value our bases and labs provide the state."
"The selection of Southeastern New Mexico for this award is national recognition of the tremendous value and unique advantages that the region has to offer," Heinrich said. "In collaboration with our nation's premier defense installations, the creation of this new Regional Innovation Cluster will help fuel New Mexico's economy, and propel the state into one of the fastest growing industries in the country."
The Southeastern New Mexico cluster is the first such research innovation cluster in New Mexico and was one of four selected for an award from more than 40 applicants across the country. In July, Udall and Heinrich wrote to the director of the Office of Management and Budget in support of funding for the operations of the New Mexico cluster.
