By Brook Stockberger Sun-News Business Editor Article Launched: 09/22/2008 12:00:00 AM MDT
LAS CRUCES — Nearly a million dollars in funding was given to New Mexico State University by the federal government on Monday to help with the construction of a mile-long extension of an access road at the school's Arrowhead Research Park. "This is the best part of my job: coming out and bringing taxpayer money back to the taxpayer," said Matthew Crow, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development. Crow was on hand at NMSU to present the school with a check for $900,000.
Last year, the university broke ground for the research park, situated just off Sam Steel Way, between Interstates 10 and 25. The first building on what is planned to be a 257-acre research park is under construction and is expected to be completed early next year.
Once fully developed, the entire research park could contain as much as 2.5 million square feet of office and lab space where a projected 5,000 to 6,000 people would work. NMSU President Waded Cruzado said the road, which will connect Sam Steel Way with Payne Street, is needed for the research park to succeed.
"This road (is) literally opening avenues for success," she said. "This is the type of project that, 20 years from now, people will look back and markthis as a transformation for New Mexico State."
Garrey Carruthers, dean of the College of Business, said bids will go out soon for the roadwork and he expects the project to cost about $2 million to $2.2 million. He said construction will take 12 to 18 months and the road could be widened in the future.
"It'll be designed as a four-lane road but we only have money for two lanes," he said.
Carruthers said the university will try to expedite the project as much as possible.
"The sooner the better," he said. "Other people have interest in putting buildings out there."
Mickey Klute with Gencon Corp. in Las Cruces is the general contractor for Arrowhead's first building.
"I think Mickey would say it's crucial this road be constructed if we're going to continue to develop business at the pace we are," Carruthers said.
Klute said weather has caused some construction delays but he is pleased with work so far. The plan is to put up buildings as they are needed, but in a way to keep space available.
"We'll try to keep one building going and then, when we reach about three-quarters full, we can get another one started, that way there'll always be some space available," Klute said. Carruthers said NMSU will probably continue to apply for government grants. "We know we lack infrastructure out there and there will be a lot of infrastructure needs going forward," he said, "so this will not be the last that EDA hears from us on this particular project."
Brook Stockberger can be reached at bstockberger@lcsun-news.com; (575) 541-5457