More than 200 business, education, and civic leaders learned firsthand Jan. 22 about Sandia’s impact on the state of New Mexico’s economy during the Labs’ first-ever Economic Impact Summit held at the Albuquerque Convention Center.
“The purpose of the summit was to make the greater Albuquerque business and civic communities aware of the economic impact Sandia has on the state, which is believed to be about three times the total amount it spends on purchases and salaries,” says Don Devoti, manager of Sandia’s Small Business Utilization Dept. 10222. “Most people attending the event already knew that Sandia plays a key role in New Mexico’s economy. They just didn’t know the extent.”
At the event Labs officials — including Matt O’Brien, chief financial officer and VP of Business Operations Div. 10000, and Carol Yarnall, Supply Chain Management Center 10200 director — rolled out the new Sandia Economic Impact brochure, which outlined the full scope of the Labs’ impact on the state’s economy last year.
Carol informed the gathering of the importance of New Mexico community and business groups to Sandia’s future.
“Sandia’s suppliers are considered strategic partners, and this is the first of many venues the supply chain center will be sponsoring,” she said.
Also on hand to provide insight to Sandia’s economic effects on the community, all outlined in the brochure, were Karen Gillings, acting director of Human Resources Center 3500; Jackie Kerby Moore, manager of Sandia’s Technology & Economic Development Dept. 1033; George Friberg, senior director of Technology Ventures Corp. (TVC); and Bruce McClure, manager of Sandia’s Community Involvement Dept. 3652.
Among the information discussed at the summit and in the brochure are:
- Last fiscal year Sandia employed 9,137 regular and temporary employees including 8,158 at the New Mexico site.
- Sandia maintains a diverse workforce. At the New Mexico site, the FY08 workforce comprised 68 percent men, 32 percent women, and 30 percent minorities.
- Last year Sandia spent nearly $1.02 billion on labor and noncontract-related payments, nearly $71 million on procurement card purchases, more than $54 million on the New Mexico corporate tax, and nearly $987 million on contract-related payments. New Mexico businesses received 35 percent of Sandia’s contract-related payments.
- Last year 57 percent of Sandia’s payments on contracts went to small businesses, significantly exceeding Sandia’s negotiated goal with NNSA of 48 percent. Here is a breakdown of Sandia’s FY08 contract-related payments made to specific socioeconomic business categories in New Mexico: – $59.7 million to women-owned small businesses – $32.2 million to small disadvantaged businesses – $12.1 million to veteran-owned small businesses – $2.2 million to service disabled veteran-owned small businesses
- As of Oct.1, 28 organizations made the Sandia Science & Technology Park their home, employing 2,284 people in direct jobs. Total investment in the park exceeds $306 million. The average wage in the park is $70,400, compared to the Albuquerque metropolitan area average of $37,300 for a full-time job.
- In 2007 there were 315 small businesses participating in the New Mexico Small Business Assistance Program (NMSBA). The NMSBA program helps small businesses throughout the state. All participants receive technical support from Sandia.
- Sandia is the largest corporate contributor to the United Way of Central New Mexico, contributing more than $3.7 million in 2008. Also, Lockheed Martin, on behalf of Sandia, donated more than $1 million to nonprofit organizations in the community during FY08.
To obtain a copy of the brochure and for more information about Sandia’s economic impact on the economy call 1-800-765-1678 or email supplier@sandia.gov.