Why Are Roswell Companies Thriving?

Bountiful water, low costs and talented bilingual workforce are among the key reasons companies find success in this New Mexico city.

By Bill Lewis on December 8, 2023

iStock.com/Extreme-Photographer

With a firm foundation built on water – abundant supplies of it in arid New Mexico – and advantages including one of the nation’s longest runways and a job-ready workforce, Roswell-Chaves County is a destination for companies and talent ready to build their future.

“The biggest advantage for a lot of companies is we have plenty of water. Thanks to two naturally charged aquifers, we can serve a population twice the size of the state of New Mexico,” says Mike Espiritu, president and CEO of the Roswell-Chaves County Economic Development Corporation. 

Other value propositions include city and county governments that work together to get things done without bureaucratic delays, the low cost of doing business and the bilingual workforce. 

Innovation in the Air 

Those amenities include the Roswell Air Center, where the 13,001-foot runway is used for flight testing by aircraft manufacturers including Boeing and Honda, and where American Airlines provides regular airline service. In addition, the Air Center is the site of one of the country’s largest storage facilities for retired airliners, Espiritu points out. 

Businesses continue to grow their presence at the Roswell Air Center. CAVU Aerospace and AerSale are two of several maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) companies that serve aviation clients. 

Aircraft painter Dean Baldwin Painting is capable of processing 120 to 150 aircraft each year. The facility serves sectors of the aviation industry including commercial, military and VIP corporate aircraft. 

Sceye, a manufacturer of high-altitude platform stations (HAPS), also has operations at the Air Center. The company has reached the stratosphere with its HAPS design in the form of an enhanced balloon that can lift payloads for internet connectivity, Earth observation and scientific research. 

Nathan Lambrecht

Businesses of All Sizes, Industries 

Abundant water makes Roswell-Chaves County ideal for food and beverage manufacturers, including dairy companies in the area. They include the world’s largest mozzarella cheese maker, Leprino Foods. Their Roswell plant, which employs nearly 600 team members, recycles all of the water it uses for irrigation of adjacent cropland to grow feed for local livestock. 

Roswell and Chaves County are home to industrial parks and shovel-ready sites where permits can be issued within a week. Plus, the region offers Opportunity Zones and other tax advantages. A consistent talent pipeline is also key to the region’s healthy business climate. Eastern New Mexico University – Roswell (ENMU-R) and the four school districts in the county prepare students for the workplace. 

Early College High School in Roswell offers dual credit, and students graduate with both a diploma and a two-year degree. 

ENMU-R has one of only two aircraft maintenance technician programs in the state, regularly leading to a degree or mechanic certification, Espiritu notes. “There is such a shortage of mechanics, so having a school in Roswell is a big deal. Our schools are very engaged with developing our talent pipeline.” 

Tourism is another major contributor to the economy. Visitors come for outdoor activities, cultural events, and “the aliens,” Espiritu says. 

Roswell, of course, is where a UFO reportedly crashed in 1947. The U.S. Air Force at first confirmed the crash of a flying saucer but then claimed it was a balloon. “We have a diverse economy. We’re not reliant on one thing,” he says. 

From major companies to small businesses, aviation and manufacturing to hospitality and tourism, Roswell is attractive to businesses of all sizes. 

The Roswell-Chaves County EDC is supportive of entrepreneurs ready to launch a new business, says Saul Aguilar, founder of several businesses in the region. 

“The business community supports each other,” Aguilar says. “Even though we are in the restaurant business, many other restaurateurs open up their doors and share ideas with each other. There are many great retired business leaders that still stay involved in the community and are happy to lend a hand to any of us learning the ropes.”