Aircraft Technical Support (ATS), a Florida-based international aviation service and support company, will expand its Roswell operations and expects to hire 140 new workers in the next year.
ATS chose New Mexico for its expansion, not only because of Roswell’s climate and low humidity, but also because of the state’s improved business environment, according to the company’s president.
“As a fast-growing company, expanding from Florida, we were looking for a climate-favorable area with the space available for aviation infrastructure,” said Amer Machlah, president of ATS. “Roswell had exactly what we were looking for, and we are proud to partner with the state to create new jobs.”
Since locating to New Mexico late last year, ATS has created 14 jobs with assistance from the New Mexico Job Training Incentive Program (JTIP). The company was approved in June for more than $310,000 in funding to hire and train more New Mexico workers. ATS occupies a 62,000-square-foot building on eight acres at the Roswell International Air Center and has leased an additional seven acres. ATS plans on expanding in the near future by building a warehouse and servicing shop, and is considering a hangar for the aircraft.
In March of 2014, Governor Susana Martinez eliminated the sales tax on the purchase of aircraft over 10,000 pounds, a move that is spurring growth in New Mexico’s aviation industry. The governor also recently established hearing officers independent of the state’s tax department to give businesses a fair shake, and signed into law a bipartisan jobs package following the 2015 special legislative session. The package contains targeted incentives designed to recruit new businesses to New Mexico, making it easier for small businesses to get off the ground and grow, expands trade and commerce along the state’s southern border, and increases employment in the technology sector.
“We’re working hard to diversify our economy, and our aviation and aerospace industry is vital to these efforts,” said Gov. Martinez. “Through bipartisan efforts, we have worked to create opportunities to attract new jobs and investments to New Mexico by reducing the burden on job creators like ATS. Additionally, we have invested in programs like the Job Training Incentive Program, which helps businesses lower their costs to train workers and provides New Mexicans with skills needed to advance their careers and increase salaries.”
Earlier this month, Gov. Martinez announced that ARCA Space Corporation, which originally started in Romania and located its headquarters to New Mexico in 2014, will build a testing and manufacturing facility at the Las Cruces Airport, creating 100 new jobs. That same day, she announced that manufacturing company Solaro Energy would be expanding its operations in Socorro by doubling its production and creating 25 new jobs.
“We continue to pursue new investments and help grow our existing businesses, because economic-base jobs that export products or services help diversify our economy and bring new money into our state,” said Economic Development Secretary Jon Barela. “ATS is a great example of how we can bring in new jobs by being a conducive place to operate, which also contributes to New Mexico’s overall economic health.”
