sa国际传媒官网网页入口

Sergio Arvizu is an Army veteran, father of a 2-year-old and full-time student.

He recently completed Central New Mexico鈥檚 Quantum Technician Bootcamp and landed a paid internship with Bandelier Technologies, earning more than $30 an hour while still in school.

He didn鈥檛 have to leave New Mexico to find that opportunity.

For years, too many young New Mexicans aspiring to high-paying careers in advanced technology, aerospace or defense felt they had to leave the state to find them. That calculus is changing. Companies working in quantum, aerospace, advanced energy and defense are increasingly choosing to grow here, and New Mexico workers are ready to help.

The U.S. Census Bureau now ranks New Mexico first in the nation for family income growth and among the top three states for household income gains. These gains reflect increasing financial stability, better outcomes for children and more families that can build a future in the communities that raised them.

This progress achieved under the leadership of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham reflects years of investment in workforce development and targeted economic growth designed to connect New Mexicans to high-paying careers.

Quantum technology is one of the clearest examples. New Mexico鈥檚 national laboratories, research universities and private sector partnerships helped establish the state as a serious player in an industry that will shape the next generation of computing, communications and national security. CNM鈥檚 Quantum Technician Bootcamp is one tangible result.

The momentum extends across advanced industries. Pacific Fusion is bringing 250 new jobs and an estimated $1 billion economic impact to sa国际传媒官网网页入口. Castelion is building one of the nation鈥檚 largest hypersonic manufacturing facilities here, creating 300 jobs. AV, formerly BlueHalo, is expanding its sa国际传媒官网网页入口 campus and adding 450 new jobs. These are high-wage careers in industries that will define American competitiveness for decades.

State incentive programs like the Local Economic Development Act and the Job Training Incentive Program help make these projects possible. A recent JTIP award supported Boeing鈥檚 sa国际传媒官网网页入口 operation, where workers manufacture directed-energy laser systems. The company will hire 56 people earning an average hourly wage of $59, with up to $1.8 million in state funds to get them there. JTIP works because both sides gain: Companies get skilled workers, and New Mexicans get experience and credentials that stay with them throughout their careers.

And these jobs matter. Research consistently shows that family income matters: Children who never experience poverty graduate from high school at a rate of about 90%, compared with 62% for children who are persistently poor, according to a longitudinal analysis by the Urban Institute. New Mexico鈥檚 universal childcare program is also helping families save thousands of dollars annually while giving employers another reason to recruit talent here.

We still have a long way to go when it comes to raising family incomes and expanding opportunities across every part of New Mexico. But the trajectory has changed, and more families are beginning to reap the benefits.

Sergio Arvizu is one of them. His story has the happy ending we are trying to write for all New Mexicans.

Rob Black is the Cabinet secretary for Economic Development New Mexico.