Governor Susana Martinez Announces Gallup Energy Logistics Park Earns Nationally Recognized Certification for Development Potential

Category: Non-Local News Releases Non-Local News Releases
Published: 09 February 2017 09 February 2017

Santa Fe, NM - Today, Governor Susana Martinez announced that Gallup Energy Logistics Park has earned BNSF Railway's nationally recognized site certification - one of two in New Mexico and only ten nationwide. This certification shows the potential of Gallup to contribute to New Mexico's growth in commerce, trade and logistics.

"Helping New Mexico grow as a leader in commerce and trade is one of our top priorities for recruiting jobs and investment to our state," Governor Martinez said. "That's why we work so hard to invest in infrastructure and pursue bold reforms that make our state more competitive. This certification is a valuable tool to help the Gallup area contribute to New Mexico's growing role as a leader in national and international business, commerce and trade."

BNSF's certification recognizes a select few industrial sites around the country with top potential for development - the ability to quickly and efficiently offer the space, resources and infrastructure companies across a wide spectrum of industries need to grow along the national rail network. A variety of public and private investments in infrastructure improvements in the region helped the Gallup Energy Logistics Park secure this certification.

Governor Martinez and her administration worked to leverage state and federal funds to invest $78 million in the U.S. 491 highway project, which is critical to allowing for increased commercial traffic the Gallup Energy Logistics Park will need to succeed. In 2016, Gallup Land Partners added 11,000 feet of new rail to the existing 9,000 foot rail spur in the park, investing $5 million, as a result of the increased commercial access that the expansion of U.S. 491 provides to the San Juan Basin.

"The expansion of our regional transportation infrastructure helps open Northwestern New Mexico to more growth," said Tommy Haws, President of the Greater Gallup Economic Development Corporation. "These improvements and the BNSF certification bring continued opportunities to the region and help open our energy market to the word."

A customer who builds a new rail-served facility on a BNSF Certified Site is expected to save between six to nine months of construction time as a result of the site's advanced level of preparedness for development.

"Thanks to the considerable infrastructure investment in our region, potential for Gallup and Northwestern New Mexico are greater than ever," said Representative Patty Lundstrom. "This certification will give us the edge in competing for new investment and brings incredible opportunities to Northwestern New Mexico."

The BNSF program allows the certified sites to use the "BNSF Certified Sites" distinction in marketing materials to attract new businesses. BNSF actively markets the sites on its website and promotes the sites to the economic development industry across the country.

"We look forward to continued development at the Gallup Energy Logistics Park, and throughout the region, as opportunities are made possible by our certification," said Andrew Johnsen, BNSF Associate Vice President of Community Affairs. "By doing the proactive leg work to confirm a site is rail-served and shovel-ready, BNSF's Site Certification Program creates significant value for customers by accelerating the process needed to support customer growth and development."

Under Governor Martinez, transportation infrastructure projects have been a priority. The New Mexico Department of Transportation is currently working on 1,390 projects valued at over $1.4 Billion.

"The improvements we are making in the region are opening up enormous opportunities for our state," said Economic Development Secretary Matt Geisel. "In combination with our powerful incentives, improvements to our existing transportation infrastructure help make New Mexico even more attractive to companies looking at New Mexico as a business location."

Content on the Beat

WARNING: All articles and photos with a byline or photo credit are copyrighted to the author or photographer. You may not use any information found within the articles without asking permission AND giving attribution to the source. Photos can be requested and may incur a nominal fee for use personally or commercially.

Disclaimer: If you find errors in articles not written by the Beat team but sent to us from other content providers, please contact the writer, not the Beat. For example, obituaries are always provided by the funeral home or a family member. We can fix errors, but please give details on where the error is so we can find it. News releases from government and non-profit entities are posted generally without change, except for legal notices, which incur a small charge.

NOTE: If an article does not have a byline, it was written by someone not affiliated with the Beat and then sent to the Beat for posting.

Images: We have received complaints about large images blocking parts of other articles. If you encounter this problem, click on the title of the article you want to read and it will take you to that article's page, which shows only that article without any intruders. 

New Columnists: The Beat continues to bring you new columnists. And check out the old faithfuls who continue to provide content.

Newsletter: If you opt in to the Join GCB Three Times Weekly Updates option above this to the right, you will be subscribed to email notifications with links to recently posted articles.

Submitting to the Beat

Those new to providing news releases to the Beat are asked to please check out submission guidelines at https://www.grantcountybeat.com/about/submissions. They are for your information to make life easier on the readers, as well as for the editor.

Advertising: Don't forget to tell advertisers that you saw their ads on the Beat.

Classifieds: We have changed Classifieds to a simpler option. Check periodically to see if any new ones have popped up. Send your information to editor@grantcountybeat.com and we will post it as soon as we can. Instructions and prices are on the page.

Editor's Notes

It has come to this editor's attention that people are sending information to the Grant County Beat Facebook page. Please be aware that the editor does not regularly monitor the page. If you have items you want to send to the editor, please send them to editor@grantcountybeat.com. Thanks!

Here for YOU: Consider the Beat your DAILY newspaper for up-to-date information about Grant County. It's at your fingertips! One Click to Local News. Thanks for your support for and your readership of Grant County's online news source—www.grantcountybeat.com

Feel free to notify editor@grantcountybeat.com if you notice any technical problems on the site. Your convenience is my desire for the Beat.  The Beat totally appreciates its readers and subscribers!  

Compliance: Because you are an esteemed member of The Grant County Beat readership, be assured that we at the Beat continue to do everything we can to be in full compliance with GDPR and pertinent US law, so that the information you have chosen to give to us cannot be compromised.