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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The $250 million first phase of Facebook’s data center slated for construction in Los Lunas may soon attract other business ventures to the area, the president of Albuquerque Economic Development said Monday.

AED is working with developers looking to acquire 257 acres to build a residential project and another is eyeing 18 acres to build a mixed-use hotel and restaurant project near the Facebook site, Gary Tonjes said during a NAIOP-New Mexico luncheon. He did not provide any other specifics about the businesses.

Tonjes also said the mothballed Merillat cabinet-making plant in Los Lunas could be leasing up soon.

“Five companies are negotiating space in the facility to support Facebook” in the 360,000-square-foot facility, said Tonjes.

NAIOP members, who comprise a broad spectrum of the development community in the state, see big benefits to the Faceboook project, which could draw 500 to 1,000 construction workers to its 300-acre site over the next decade if the company moves forward on building other structures to run its servers, storage and networking equipment.

“It’s a big deal if the company goes to full build-out,” said Tonjes, estimating the potential construction investment of $1.5 billion over eight to 10 years. The company is advertising for 300 journeyman electricians to begin work on initial infrastructure starting in April. General contractor Fortis Construction is scheduled to break ground on the data center in October, with completion slated for late 2018.

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Los Lunas business owners, in a video played after Tonjes’ presentation, anticipate an uptick in business at area restaurants, hotels and gas stations once things get rolling.

Joining Tonjes at the program were Matt Geisel, secretary of the state Economic Development Department and Tim Nitti, president and CEO of the New Mexico Economic Development Partnership. Both commented on the value of state incentives in helping existing companies succeed and in luring out-of-state prospects.

Nitti said “a win like Facebook” can be leveraged by state economic development entities to attract similar types of businesses.

Compared to other states, “We don’t have lavish incentives, but they are helpful” in expansions and relocations, said Nitti. He referred to Local Economic Development Act incentive money like the $10 million awarded to Facebook to purchase water rights and to build an industrial water treatment facility.