LOS ALAMOS, N.M., Feb. 8, 2021—New numbers for fiscal year 2020 show Los Alamos National Laboratory’s big impact on New Mexico’s economy, as the Laboratory employed 12,367 people for a total of $1.24 billion in salaries and contracted with small businesses statewide for $413 million.
“Los Alamos National Laboratory is a major economic driver in the region, and we are committed to strengthening local companies and growing the local workforce,” said Thom Mason, Laboratory director. “Perhaps the most admirable gain in FY20 was our contracts with New Mexico small businesses, which were up 43 percent. I am confident we will build on these efforts in 2021.”
The Laboratory increased its procurement contracts with New Mexico small businesses by 43 percent in FY 2020 to $413 million. Among its contractors is Española-based Performance Maintenance Incorporated, which also won the U.S. Department of Energy Award for HUB-Zone Small Business of the Year.
Buying from New Mexico businesses
In FY 2020, which ended September 30, the Laboratory spent $413 million in procurement contracts with New Mexico small businesses, a record for the Laboratory. Many of which are categorized as disadvantaged, women-owned, veteran owned, and HUB-zone located.
Specifically:
- Disadvantaged: $143,490,437
- Women-owned: $140,089,376
- HUB zone-located: $49,616,022
- Veteran-owned: $17,152,756
In the coming years, the Laboratory intends to expand on the above categories as it works toward aggressive goals in collaborating with more small businesses.
Employment
With 57 percent of Laboratory employees living outside of Los Alamos County, they spend much of their salaries—a collective $608.7 million—in their home communities.
Employee salaries by county:
- Los Alamos County: $631 million
- Santa Fe County: $301 million
- Rio Arriba County: $140.5 million
- Bernalillo County: $43 million
- Sandoval County: $40.6 million
- Taos County: $14 million
- Other: $69.6 million
In FY 2020, the number of Laboratory employees reached 12,367, up from 12,041 in FY 2019. As of the end of FY 2020, 40 percent of Laboratory employees were native New Mexicans.
Economic development
Each year, the Laboratory invests and partners in economic development initiatives that stimulate business growth, create jobs, and strengthen communities—particularly those in the seven counties surrounding the Laboratory. In particular, the New Mexico Small Business Assistance Program enables small businesses to solve technical challenges by pairing them with free subject-matter experts and cutting-edge technologies at Los Alamos and Sandia national laboratories.
Since the start of economic development programs in 2001, NMSBA has:
- Conducted 7,315 projects with New Mexico small businesses
- Attracted $353.6 million in new financing
- Created or retained 12,199 non-Laboratory jobs with salaries totaling $465.3 million