Rob Black, Cabinet Secretary-Designate | New Mexico Economic Development Department
A new economic impact study conducted by the New Mexico State University (NMSU) Arrowhead Center and the Center for Border Economic Development (C-BED) examines Spaceport America’s contributions to New Mexico’s economy over a six-year period from 2019 to 2024. The analysis focused on activities at Spaceport America that were not funded by the state, specifically looking at tenant operations and spending by out-of-state visitors.
“Our impact study of Spaceport America utilized a standard methodology for economic impact analysis and is based on existing operations and activities that took place over a period of six years,” explained Arrowhead Center program director and co-author of the report, Dr. Kramer Winingham. “The results are significant, showing that Spaceport America in 2024 supported 313 direct jobs and 790 total jobs in New Mexico, up from 242 direct jobs and 396 total jobs in 2019, while contributing nearly $240 million to economic output, up from $72 million in 2019. Most recently, our estimates indicate Spaceport America has totaled $110.8 million in value-added production and $73.1 million in labor income for our state in 2024,” continued Winingham.
This marks the second such study released by the New Mexico Spaceport Authority (NMSA) together with NMSU’s Arrowhead Center/C-BED team. A previous report was published in August 2023 focusing on the spaceport’s economic effects during calendar year 2022. The latest study provides annual data across multiple years to give a more comprehensive view of Spaceport America's overall impact.
“We are excited to see these numbers and the growing contribution the spaceport is making to the region,” said Scott McLaughlin, Executive Director of the NMSA, which oversees Spaceport America. “Besides bringing jobs and new money to New Mexico, Spaceport America is also helping Space Valley to grow and get noticed by the national aerospace community.”
“New Mexico continues to be a trailblazer in aerospace and space innovation, and having Spaceport America right here in the heart of our state ensures that legacy will only grow,” said New Mexico Economic Development Department (EDD) Cabinet Secretary Rob Black. “Spaceport’s impact over the last 6 years reverberates on so many levels, from moving this key industry forward to bringing the state millions in economic impact and hundreds of high-paying jobs”.
The report covers various aspects including employment among tenants, private construction projects at the site, spending by visitors from outside New Mexico, revenues generated by spaceport operations, tax impacts, as well as overall economic benefits attributed to its presence.
“After meeting with tenants, we found Spaceport America has significant competitive advantages with regards to restricted airspace access, weather, and elevation that draws tenants to New Mexico who would not be here but for Spaceport America,” continued Winingham. “These are important attributes which can support further growth at Spaceport America even with the continued development of competing spaceports.”
Spaceport America is recognized as one of the first purpose-built commercial spaceports globally. It operates under an FAA license on an 18,000-acre site near White Sands Missile Range in southern New Mexico.
The Arrowhead Center at NMSU supports innovators and entrepreneurs throughout New Mexico through resources such as mentorship programs and technology transfer services designed to help move inventions into broader markets.
