Round Rio Rancho

    We came across this video today and just had to share… In May of 2007, Sony opened its Imageworks Animation Studio in Albuquerque to take advantage of state offered tax incentives and to participate in the burgeoning local film production industry. (Probably as a recruiting tool), this video was created to tell the story of the first 40 employees, who for the most part were moving to an unknown community.  The sentiments shared by the relocated animators, production staff and technicians mirror those of most people I meet who have moved here from out of state – they are pleasantly surprised and newly enthusiastic about their new home once they experience it. 

The film is 25 minutes long, but if you are considering relocating to the Albuquerque area, what’s 25 minutes of research vs the good information to be received?

(To play the clip full screen, click on the icon just to the right of the volume control.)

This is just an update to a previous blog reporting on Green2V’s new manufacturing facility to be built in Rio Rancho, New Mexico.  Some people did not know where the plant would be located, so we have obtained a photo/map showing the exact location, courtesy of the Rio Rancho Economic Development Corporation.

New Mexico State and Rio Rancho City leaders announced today that Green2V will construct a one million sq foot manufacturing facility in the City of Vision. The company plans to break ground within the month on a 124 acre site to be acquired from the State Land Office.  As with all such transactions, the process is a little complicated – The City of Rio Rancho will buy the land from the State for $6.9 Million. Green2v will supply the land purchase money to the city.  Rio Rancho will speed the project through permitting and approval processes, and will be installing $7.2 Million worth of roads, sewers and other infrastructure.  Part of the facility’s contruction costs will be financed by $500 Million in Industrial Revenue Bonds issued by the city, to be paid off by Green2V over time.  Certain taxes on property and capital equipment will probably be waived for a period of time, as is common to entice a project of this size to locate here.

The construction will be done in phases over a 5 year period. The first phase will hopefully be completed in time to make and ship product by Summer, 2011.  Eventually the plant may employ 1500 workers.

Green2V’s CEO, Bill Sheppard was formerly a Vice President at Intel, and was partly responsible for much of the expansion of that plant in the early 2000’s. The company’s slogan –  “Sand to Kilowatts” refers to the fact that they intend to control all aspects of their product creation, from the raw materials to distribution and installation.