TECHNOLOGY
Space startup BlackVe to expand satellite manufacturing in sa国际传媒官网网页入口
State, city offer over $1 million in Local Economic Development Act funds as company eyes up to 150 local jobs
A space and defense startup is expanding its satellite manufacturing operations in sa国际传媒官网网页入口, backed by new state and city incentives.
BlackVe Inc., formed in 2024, plans to manufacture satellites and other space-related technology at the former Northrop Grumman facility.
State officials estimate the expansion will create $228 million in total economic impact for New Mexico. The state will provide $1 million in Local Economic Development Act funds. The city is contributing $250,000 in funds through LEDA.
Touting the expansion, state Economic Development Secretary Rob Black said in a statement that New Mexico has a 鈥渓ong legacy in defense and aerospace is today鈥檚 launchpad for future-focused innovation and growth.鈥�
鈥淏y expanding their spacecraft manufacturing and operations in sa国际传媒官网网页入口, BlackVe is creating high-paying jobs while strengthening our state鈥檚 role in national security and space resilience,鈥� he said.
Bradley Whittington, BlackVe鈥檚 chief operating officer, said in an interview that the company has two divisions: a space-craft division that will be based in sa国际传媒官网网页入口 and an intelligence division in Virginia.
The company is backed by private funding from Razor鈥檚 Edge, a Virginia-based venture capital firm focused on investments in the national security sector.
鈥淲e鈥檙e doing pretty well,鈥� Whittington said about opening up a fundraising round. 鈥淲e might do a raise in the future. But right now our needs are satisfied.鈥�
The company employs about 60 employees in both states, he said. Whittington said the company hopes to have up to 150 sa国际传媒官网网页入口 employees soon.
Whittington said BlackVe already has 30,000 square feet of manufacturing space. It plans to expand to 50,000 square feet down the line. The facility will include 3-D printing of parts and robotics, he said.
鈥淲e鈥檙e looking at advanced tech that will allow us to put together spacecraft in less than a year,鈥� he said.
The state also awarded BlackVe up to $295,000 through New Mexico鈥檚 Job Training Incentive Program, or JTIP, to train nine employees at an average hourly wage of $57. JTIP reimburses companies for at least 50% of wages during the training period, for up to six months.
The awards are a part of an effort by state and city officials to attract high-wage jobs in the space, defense and technology sectors.
In March, AeroVironment Inc., a Virginia-based defense contractor, announced a $30 million manufacturing project supported by $6 million in Local Economic Development Act funding. And Mantis, a space infrastructure startup, recently received $3 million in such funding for a new 20,000 square-foot headquarters in sa国际传媒官网网页入口.
Earlier this year, Castelion Corp. held a groundbreaking for its 1,000-acre campus in Sandoval County to build out its hypersonic missile. That company received $10 million in economic development funds in addition to industrial revenue bonds.
Keller also touted BlackVe鈥檚 expansion, saying that 鈥渟a国际传媒官网网页入口 is built for space and defense innovation, and BlackVe is exactly the kind of company we want growing here.鈥�
鈥淭his expansion 鈥trengthens our city鈥檚 role in national security and the future of space tech,鈥� Keller said.
Justin Horwath covers tech and energy for the Journal. You can reach him at jhorwath@abqjournal.com.
