Economy & Employment   The good news! Las Cruces is thriving! Our economic climate and job opportunities have made our community nationally recognized; Las Cruces has ranked in the top 5 for the last several years on Forbes' list of "Best Small Metro Area for Business and Careers," including a #1 ranking in 2002 and #2 ranking in 2005 and 2006. The rankings were based on "job growth, earned income, and "a measure of activity in critical technologies that foster future growth. As recently as April 2007 Forbes Rated Las Cruces as 8th in its ratings of the  10 Best Smaller Metros For Business and Careers See the Article -  and click here to see - Las Cruces' National Recognitions    The even better news! Las Cruces continues to grow not only in population, but also in terms of employment prospects and unique opportunities for businesses. The first commercial spaceport is slated to open just an hour outside of the city in 2011. Growth has resulted in increasing gross receipts tax revenue, and our city has experienced multiple years of budget surpluses.  This enables our city to improve services and quality of life. One of the major draws to Las Cruces is the temperate, desert climate, and one of the reasons our area is so coveted is due to the assurance of sufficient, high quality water supply. Two aquifers, and a steady supply from the Rio Grande, keep our farms and wildlife lush, as well as our residents hydrated.   CLICK HERE  FORspecific information about the Las Cruces economy FOR resources and services available to evaluate the business environment, and those that may need help with their current business, and anyone thinking about relocating a business to Las Cruces AND FOR a listing of employers and websites with job postings online