Intel made 172 hires in Rio Rancho last year, which boosted its New Mexico workforce to more than 1,900. The figure comes as part of an annual report on hiring, sustainability and corporate responsibility from the Santa Clara, California-based company.
The report provides a bit of insight into the semiconductor giant’s operations. Aside from the total number of hires, which represents an increase of more than 100% over 2020's 82 hires, Intel’s report notes that 63% of the people it hired in Rio Rancho last year were New Mexico residents.
The company's Rio Rancho plant received a boost last year when the company announced a $3.5 billion investment and plans to add hundreds of jobs. Intel’s expansion plans came after years of downturn in hiring at the fab in Rio Rancho. In 2014, the company hired only three people there.
Nowadays, things are looking a bit brighter.
A letter from Intel New Mexico site plant manager Katie Prouty, included in Intel's report, says the will "enable the New Mexico site to remain an important part of Intel’s global manufacturing processes." Construction for the expansion started late last year, according to Intel spokeswoman Linda Qian.
In terms of local spending, Intel says it spent $270 million with New Mexico-based organizations in 2021 and paid $778,999 in property taxes to Sandoval County for 2021. That’s in addition to a $100,000 payment to the county for not meeting its goal of at least 60% of its hires being New Mexico residents in 2020, per an industrial revenue bond agreement.
The company is also undertaking environmental efforts, and announced its intent to have net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040 worldwide. On the topic of water, Intel’s report says it is also funding a water restoration project led by the National Forest Foundation, for helping restore water to the upper Rio Grande.
Aside from Rio Rancho and California, Intel has a presence in Oregon and Arizona with plans for two chip factories in Ohio.
