020103 Clayton Meat Packing Plant Will Create New Jobs

Clayton, NM - The New Mexico Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) is set to unveil a feasibility study later this month that indicates the construction of a meat packing plant in Clayton makes economic sense for the region.

Hugo Hinojosa, director of operations for the New Mexico MEP said the event will be hosted by the City of Clayton, Clayton Planning Revitalization Committee, Union County Chamber of Commerce and Clayton Economic Development. “This is great news for the residents of Clayton,” said Hinojosa. “We are especially excited because the feasibility study indicates a 12% increase in job creation, a tremendous economic impact in a community of 2,400 people.”

Hinojosa said the feasibility study, managed by New Mexico MEP project manager Carol Sanchez, was funded by Sandia National Laboratories through its Small Business Assistance Program, which is headed up by Victor Chavez. Legislation was passed during the year 2000 session to provide assistance to New Mexico's small businesses.

“I can't say enough about the effort put forth by Victor Chavez and Carol Sanchez,” Hinojosa said. “Without their efforts, and the work done to complete the feasibility study by consultant Darien Cabral, it would not be possible to make this announcement today.”

Cabral will unveil the feasibility study during a ceremony at the New Mexico National Guard Armory in Clayton on Friday, January 11. Invited guests include USDA Under Secretary Lou Gallegos, Congressman Tom Udall and U.S. Senators Pete Domenici and Jeff Bingaman. State Senator Pat Lyons, Representative Brian Moore and Maria de Rios, board chair of the New Mexico MEP, will attend the unveiling.

“This is a project that has caught the imagination of each and every one of those people,” said Sanchez. “Each of them has pledged to help move this project forward for the betterment of Clayton, Union County and the state of New Mexico.”

According to Chavez, the feasibility study clearly indicates a regional meat packing plant will be a success in Clayton. “Union County is the number one cattle-producing county in New Mexico,” he said. “Besides ranches, the county has a large feedlot industry. Unfortunately, while New Mexico livestock are raised and fed in-state, most meat cattle are processed out of state.”

“That means New Mexico consumers are buying beef at a grocery store that was imported into the state,” Chavez continued. “There is every reason for a meat packing plant to be located right where the cattle are fed, with Clayton being the ideal location because it already has five feedlots in operation.”

The beef packing industry is currently run by three major packinghouses that process and sell more than 85% of all the beef produced in the United States. However, the dynamics of the beef industry are going through major changes. According to the feasibility study, this trend is a growing movement within the industry that has opened up the market and will now benefit Clayton.

“Of course, this project could not be possible without the right person owning and operating the packing plant,” Chavez said. “Fortunately, in Donald Martinez, we have found that person.”

Martinez, owner and operator of Zenitram Industries, Inc., of El Rito has been successfully processing and marketing prime, high quality, locally- raised beef and lamb for the past 10 years under the label 'Naturally New Mexico Beef and Lamb'. He has experienced steady growth and developed a remarkable, consistent high-quality product. “Along with the addition of 29 new jobs created in the community of Clayton, I expect to initiate two work shifts at the packing house by the end of the year,” said Martinez.

“The fact is,” Sanchez added, “Zenitram is one of the only packing houses in the country producing natural and flavorful, prime meat which has remained on the cutting-edge of industry trends.”

“I look forward to the unveiling of the feasibility study and implementation plan that will make this project a reality,” said Chavez. “If all goes well with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and its guaranteed- loan program, we hope to have the packing plant in operation during the spring of 2002.”

The New Mexico MEP is an affiliate of the NIST under the U.S. Department of Commerce. The national MEP is a network of manufacturing extension centers that provide business and technical assistance to smaller manufacturers in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Through MEP, manufacturers have access to more than 2000 manufacturing and business “coaches” whose job is to help firms make changes that lead to greater productivity, increased profits and enhanced global competitiveness. For more information on the New Mexico MEP program call 505-262-0921

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