SOURCE: Metro New Mexico Development Alliance

 

ALBUQUERQUE, NM--(Marketwire - June 4, 2009) - Thanks to New Mexico's commitment to creating jobs in the film, computer animation, 3-D, digital media and solar industries, Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine ranked the city of Albuquerque No. 2 on its Best Cities 2009 list. The magazine ranked cities on employment in the face of recession and on potential job growth. Much of that growth in Albuquerque is driven by the film and digital media industries.

"The incentives we offer have helped grow the number of film and digital media-oriented businesses in Metro New Mexico," says Marisa de Aragon, president of the Metro New Mexico Development Alliance. "Our climate and creative culture make Metro New Mexico ideal." Metro New Mexico includes the communities of Santa Fe, Albuquerque, Rio Rancho, Los Lunas, Belen, and the Estancia Valley.

Published in the magazine's July issue, Kiplinger's rankings cited Albuquerque for its "desire to bring good jobs to its citizens, represented by its budding film industry." Kiplinger's analyzed 258 metropolitan areas and visited the top ten finalists.

With its phenomenal weather, availability of large-scale, low-cost commercial property, and ready talent, Metro New Mexico has become a hotbed of digital media activity. Eight years ago, the city boasted only 100 film and media jobs. Today there are 3000. Several sound stages and post-production facilities have sprung up in the past five years.

The state offers attractive incentives to film and digital media businesses:

--  25% tax rebate for film, television, video game and other film
    production related expenditures;
--  Film investment loans for up to $15 million per project;
--  No state sales tax;
--  Film crew advancement program offers a 50% reimbursement on film crew
    job training.
    

The availability of world-class research in computer graphics, 3-D and digital design at Sandia National Laboratories supports companies working in the digital arts. The Digital Media Garage at the University of New Mexico, among other educational programs, has created a source of digital media employees with advanced skills.

The Metro New Mexico Development Alliance is a cooperative arrangement of more than half a dozen economic development organizations located in the central section of the state. For more information about corporate incentives, available commercial real estate, or affordable living in a stunning environment, call 800.226.2935 or email contact@nmsitesearch.com.