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Cielo Centro Observatory poised to boost education, workforce development and local economy

**Taos, N.M.** — A new impact study commissioned by The University of New Mexico-Taos highlights the significant educational, economic, and community benefits of the proposed Cielo Centro Observatory, a cornerstone of the college’s broader Cielo Centro (Sky Center) project. Conducted by Alexis P. Amodio-Cardwell, Research Scientist at UNM’s Bureau of Business & Economic Research (BBER), the October 2025 study evaluates the social, financial, and environmental impacts of constructing a dedicated roll-off roof observatory at UNM-Taos. The facility will house a powerful 36-inch Dobsonian telescope, generously gifted by the King and Oglesbee families, offering students, residents, and visitors a rare opportunity to observe celestial objects millions of light-years away. According to the report, the observatory has the potential to transform STEM education in Northern New Mexico while positioning UNM-Taos as a regional hub for astrotourism, workforce development, and community engagement. **Klauer Campus, an ideal observatory location** Located at nearly 7,000 feet in New Mexico’s high desert, Taos offers exceptional conditions for stargazing. Surrounded by natural mountain barriers near the historic Taos Pueblo, the area is naturally shielded from significant light pollution, preserving clear, dark night skies. Studies show that light pollution levels in Taos and Taos County remain well below harmful thresholds, even near urban areas. Taos also benefits from consistently clean air and clear weather. Over the past seven years, air quality has been rated “good” for most of the year, and skies have been clear or mostly clear more than 80 percent of the time. Together, these conditions make UNM Taos an ideal location for the Cielo Centro Observatory and position the region as a leader in dark sky conservation and astrotourism in New Mexico. **Expanding access to hands-on STEM learning** The study emphasizes the observatory’s role in expanding access to immersive, hands-on science education—particularly for rural and underserved communities. UNM-Taos serves Taos and Colfax counties, which together include 23 PreK-12 schools serving more than 3,400 students. Many students in these areas have limited access to advanced scientific equipment and experiential STEM learning. By turning the night sky into a classroom, the Cielo Centro Observatory would support students at every level—from guided sky tours for younger learners to advanced research, data collection, and mentorship opportunities for middle school, high school, and college students. **Supporting career pathways and workforce development** In addition to academic enrichment, the observatory would strengthen workforce development by helping students build technical skills in astronomy, instrumentation, and data analysis. The study notes opportunities for internships, mentored research, and collaboration with STEM professionals—experiences that prepare students for careers in science, technology, and the growing space economy. The report also points to the potential development of a Southwest Regional Space-STEM Consortium, which would connect underserved students with professional and technical opportunities while sharing resources among regional institution. This News Release is also at [https://news.unm.edu/news/cielo-centro-observatory-poised-to-boost-education-workforce-development-and-local-economy ](https://news.unm.edu/news/cielo-centro-observatory-poised-to-boost-education-workforce-development-and-local-economy)

Date Published: 04/09/2026

Collaborative creative economy impact report released

Over the past 18 months, The University of New Mexico’s Bureau of Business and Economic Research (UNM BBER), commissioned by and working in partnership with the City of Albuquerque’s Department of Arts & Culture, has completed a comprehensive study of Albuquerque’s creative economy.

Date Published: 01/12/2026

Government shutdown impacts New Mexico federal workers

According to federal government estimates, there are about 22,000 federal workers in New Mexico, including many essential personnel and military personnel, so fewer are expected to be affected by furloughs or layoffs.

Date Published: 10/02/2025

How Trump’s Cuts Hit NM

Correspondent Gwyneth Doland asks Michael O’Donnell, director of UNM’s Bureau of Business and Economic Research, how President Trump’s cuts to federal programs will make their mark in our state.

Date Published: 04/25/2025

NM Data Users Conference Slated for November 19

Mark your calendars now for the 27th annual New Mexico Data Users Conference. This premier forum for beginning and professional data users is scheduled for Wednesday, November 19, 2025 at CNM WORKforce Training Center.

Date Published: 04/15/2025

Nonprofit breaks ground on unprecedented project that will lower energy bills for thousands of homes: 'We are ecstatic'

Our 2021 report, available at the Publications tab under Research, outlines potential economic and fiscal impacts of implementing community solar projects in New Mexico, showing the facilities could substantially contribute to New Mexico’s economy in several ways.

Date Published: 04/14/2025

New Mexico economists give their takes on a possible recession

The Journal asked three experts — Kelly O'Donnell of O'Donnell Economics and Strategy, University of New Mexico Bureau of Business and Economic Research Director Michael O'Donnell (no relation to Kelly O'Donnell) and New Mexico State University Center for Border Economic Development Director Christopher Erickson — for their takes on a possible recession and what that would look like in the state.

Date Published: 04/13/2025

Vacant Manufacturing Facility to be Restored

A fiscal impact analysis by the University of New Mexico’s Bureau of Business and Economic Research estimates the project will generate roughly $9 million in tax revenue by 2043. The IRBs carry no financial risk to the City; they are self-funded by the company and do not require public dollars.

Date Published: 04/07/2025

Let's talk about a federal workforce reduction in New Mexico

Director Michael O'Donnell joined KUNM Radio Let's Talk New Mexico host Kaveh Mowahed and guests Rep. Melanie Stansbury and Association of National Park Rangers President Rick Mossman this morning.

Date Published: 02/25/2025

Alumnus donates gift for economic impact analysis

Economics alumnus Charles Lehman (B.A. 1963) has donated $30,000 to the University of New Mexico for a campus-wide license of IMPLAN, the leading software for assessing economic impact. Lehman’s gift covers one-third of the license cost over three years. The Office of the Vice President for Research, the Department of Economics and the UNM Bureau for Business and Economic Research (BBER) will cover the remaining costs.

Date Published: 02/03/2025

They Are Basking in America’s Oil Boom—and Preparing for the Big Bust

HOBBS, N.M.—Chip Low’s drive through one of the richest corners of America’s hottest oil field takes him past all the telltale signs of an economic boom. His mind is on the next bust—and whether it could be the big one....

Date Published: 10/20/2024

What the low unemployment rates for months means for NM’s economy

“Typically, when you have a very low unemployment rate, that I think would be a positive sign for the economy,” University of New Mexico Bureau of Business and Economic Research director Michael “Mo” O’Donnell told the NM Political Report. “The problem this time is I think, there are a few other elements kind of dragging things down.”

Date Published: 04/12/2024

UNM BBER report analyzes potential impacts of Santolina development; offers alternative data-informed scenario

An impartial analysis from The University of New Mexico’s Bureau of Business and Economic Research (BBER) evaluating the economic and fiscal impacts of the proposed Santolina development finds that buildout targets are likely too high, which could generate lower tax revenues than initially expected.

Date Published: 12/14/2023

A recession in New Mexico? Economists give their views on what a downturn would look like

Some economists predict a recession can happen in the next year. Others see more of a soft landing — or, in other words, a moderate slowdown in the economy. There are others who aren’t talking recession at all.

Date Published: 05/12/2023

New BBER report examines legislators' opinions, financial impact of legislature modernization in N.M.

A report on legislative modernization from the Bureau of Business and Economic Research was recently made public and includes new information not included in preliminary results shared late last year. It explores legislators’ feelings on topics of payment, staffing and session length.

Date Published: 03/23/2023

Most NM workers would get paid time off under plans headed to Senate

Suzan Reagan, senior program manager of the Data Bank at the Bureau of Business and Economic Research at the University of New Mexico, estimates only 4% of eligible workers would file claims.

Date Published: 02/24/2023

UNM research explores N.M. State Legislature modernization

Last spring, the state legislature appropriated funds for the Bureau of Business and Economic Research (BBER) to investigate topics that have, in previous years, stirred controversy at the Roundhouse. Specifically, BBER was charged with surveying and interviewing members of the legislature to determine how often legislators were working without compensation if they felt they needed more staff, how they felt about session length and structure and whether or not they thought legislators should be paid.

Date Published: 01/17/2023

Lawmakers push proposal to provide Legislature a salary, full-time staff

Rose Elizabeth Rohrer, a research scientist with the University of New Mexico Bureau of Business and Economic Research, which conducted the survey of legislators, said during a recent meeting of the interim Courts, Corrections and Justice Committee that some lawmakers reported losses of $10,000 to $20,000 a year to serve in the Legislature.

Date Published: 12/25/2022

UNM examines unpaid work by legislators

Rose Rohrer, a research scientist at the Bureau of Business and Economic Research at UNM, said roughly nine out of 10 legislators who participated in a survey reported working at least 30 days a year when they didn’t claim per diem.

Date Published: 11/21/2022

Some New Mexico legislators push for changes and pay in the Roundhouse

Rose Rohrer, a research scientist from the Bureau of Business and Economic Research at the University of New Mexico, presented a survey of current legislators that shows some think key aspects of the state’s legislature need to change. Among the ideas: paying legislators, extending how long legislators have to get work done, and giving legislators more power to tackle a broad range of topics.

Date Published: 11/21/2022

New Mexico needs every worker it can get

Dr. Michael O’Donnell, director of the University of New Mexico’s Bureau of Business and Economic Research, or BBER, said the migration of working-age adults from New Mexico may not necessarily be driven by economics. It could be that some New Mexicans “are just more willing to fly the nest and leave home in a way that, historically, people from the state had not been willing to do,” he said.

Date Published: 08/06/2022

The Long Poison

In a legislative presentation last year, bureau researcher Rose Rohrer estimated cleanup projects could create 1,000 jobs for every $1 billion spent on cleanup over 10 years, with an average salary of $54,633 per year. Jobs would include general labor, trucking, environmental science, architecture and engineering.

Date Published: 04/17/2022

Money for abandoned uranium mine cleanup spurs questions about design, jobs

Date Published: 04/05/2022

Home prices in Santa Fe remain high as houses on market keep declining

“Barring another Great Depression or even Great Recession, I don’t see home prices going back to what they were in 2019,” said Michael O’Donnell, acting director of the Bureau of Business and Economic Research at the University of New Mexico.

Date Published: 04/04/2022

Women lead effort to modernize state Legislature

A core group of 10 women state representatives recognizes it is time to modernize the Legislature. Drawing on their collective experience as legislators, past legislative task force recommendations and a body of research on good governance, they dedicated $100,000 of their junior money to the Bureau of Business and Economic Research to research the costs and benefits of moving the state legislature into the 21st century.

Date Published: 04/04/2022

New Mexico had highest unemployment rate of any state in January

Taos unemployment

Date Published: 03/24/2022

Employment Ebb

Santa Fe employment ebb and flow

Date Published: 03/23/2022

The core debate: A multi-billion-dollar project to make plutonium cores at LANL

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Date Published: 03/23/2022

Why have gas prices risen so quickly?

Michael O'Donnell, UNM Bureau of Business and Economic Research Interim Director said there are several factors at play, including geopolitical uncertainty, and “It could be hoarding behavior by consumers and by businesses and by countries or just in general, the concern that in the future there's going to be less oil.”

Date Published: 03/17/2022

Albuquerque’s food truck scene is on a roll

Michael “Mo” O’Donnell, interim director of the Bureau of Business & Economic Research at the University of New Mexico, said that, since the beginning of the pandemic, there has been a national trend of people starting their own businesses. He said people start businesses for a variety of reasons, but, lately, many have largely reevaluated their relationship to work and have sought nontraditional employment opportunities.

Date Published: 03/05/2022

Senator Jeff Steinborn, Co-Sponsors Introduce Bill to Address Abandoned Uranium Mines

According to latest estimates from the Bureau of Business and Economic Research at the University of New Mexico, there are approximately 1,100 uranium mining, milling, and exploratory drilling sites in New Mexico. Additionally, the BBER found extensive groundwater contamination surrounding many of these extraction sites, most on or adjacent to tribal communities. At the industry’s peak, New Mexico accounted for nearly half of all uranium ore extracted in the United States. There are currently no active uranium extraction sites in New Mexico, with the last shipment of uranium departing the state in 2002. Hundreds of these mines now sit abandoned, with little or no way to identify and hold accountable the parties responsible for the environmental damage.

Date Published: 02/01/2022

Many in N.M. land on their feet after quitting jobs

“People from all industries are using what is happening now to reevaluate where they are now,” said Michael O’Donnell, acting director of the Bureau of Business & Economic Research at the University of New Mexico. “This is happening throughout the economy.”

Date Published: 01/17/2022

The road to recovery: New Mexico's economic rebound remains on the horizon according to University of New Mexico forecast

In his role with the University of New Mexico’s Bureau of Business and Economic Research, Michael O’Donnell spends a lot of time considering New Mexico’s economy and the various data points used to demonstrate its health. But with another year of inputs and figures available, O’Donnell, who is BBER’s acting director and holds a Ph.D. in economics from UNM, finds the output to be about the same as a year ago: New Mexico’s economic recovery will come slower than the rest of the nation and employment levels in the state will surpass pre-pandemic levels sometime in 2024.

Date Published: 01/13/2022

Fast food shifts: Here to stay?

Most of the changes facing fast food and casual restaurants are the result of a shifting labor force that has allowed some workers to have the upper hand, according to Michael “Mo” O’Donnell, acting director of University of New Mexico’s Bureau of Business and Economic Research.

Date Published: 01/09/2022

Santa Feans grapple with cost of living that continues to outpace minimum wages, with no citywide rule change on the horizon

Others—namely those working in industries that generally pay low wages, like leisure and hospitality—are being priced out of the city entirely and incurring additional costs stemming mostly from transportation and childcare, says Michael O’Donnell, acting director of the University of New Mexico’s Bureau of Business and Economic Research.

Date Published: 10/13/2021

Jobless Rates From 15 U.S. Cities Show Racial Gap Is Widening

Phoenix’s and San Antonio’s broad recoveries have been helped by recent population growth and improved economic diversity. It’s a different story in Albuquerque, where Hispanic workers are concentrated in low-wage industries and face limited opportunities for advancement, said Michael O’Donnell, acting director of The University of New Mexico’s Bureau of Business and Economic Research.

Date Published: 09/22/2021

NM unemployment drops, but still higher than nation

Michael O’Donnell, acting director of the University of New Mexico’s Bureau of Business and Economic Research, said single-month unemployment numbers, which are based on a survey of households, can be unreliable and prone to revision. However, O’Donnell added that the overall trend is encouraging for New Mexico after several months of limited movement.

Date Published: 09/17/2021

New Mexico's rural-urban divide grows

Out of New Mexico’s 33 counties, 20 of them saw more people leave than move in. Why are rural areas losing population? “It might be because there are relatively better opportunities elsewhere, as you can imagine; maybe more opportunities in some of the bigger cities in the state or potentially out of state,” Michael O'Donnell, acting director at the University of New Mexico's Bureau of Business and Economic Research, told The Center Square. “We’ve seen population losses to places like Texas and Arizona.”

Date Published: 08/26/2021

UNM's O'Donnell: Outdoor recreation alone probably won't be enough to save many rural places

“New Mexico has everything from mountains to deserts and everything in between,” Michael O'Donnell, acting director for the University of New Mexico’s Bureau of Business and Economic Research told The Center Square. “The opportunities available to people to engage in outdoor activities is really broad. I know that that is a particular industry or sector that the economic development organizations are really interested in trying to market the state as being a really good place to engage in those activities. I definitely think that’s a thing that these communities could pursue.”

Date Published: 08/23/2021

Hot housing market edges out would-be buyers, tightens rentals

Michael “Mo” O’Donnell, acting director of the University of New Mexico Bureau of Business and Economic Research, said the increase in rental prices in Albuquerque began at roughly the same time as the demand for and cost of housing began to rise, although rental prices had been rising before the pandemic. He said rising housing costs push people out of the housing market and force them into the rental market – which in turn causes rent to increase as the demand for rentals rises.

Date Published: 06/28/2021

A new labor dynamic

University of New Mexico economist Michael “Mo” O’Donnell said that nationally there is a shortage of skilled and unskilled labor in the construction industry and the coronavirus has only exacerbated these concerns even as hiring levels start to return to pre-pandemic levels.

Date Published: 05/31/2021

COVID-19 by the numbers

“It’s not uncommon, at least in recent history, for this state to have a relatively high unemployment rate,” Michael O’Donnell, acting director of UNM’s Bureau of Business and Economic Research, said. The state’s workforce composition, along with its reliance on public sector jobs, may play roles in that slower recovery rate, O’Donnell said, though he also acknowledged that expanded unemployment rates also may be a factor.

Date Published: 05/24/2021

NM ties for third-highest unemployment rate in nation

“It’s not uncommon, at least in recent history, for this state to have a relatively high unemployment rate,” said Michael O’Donnell, acting director of UNM’s Bureau of Business and Economic Research.

Date Published: 05/22/2021

How New Mexico’s economy can bounce back after pandemic

BBER Director Michael "Mo" O'Donnell reminds us that the state has always been slow to recover from economic lows but believes our state is headed in the right direction.

Date Published: 05/21/2021

New Mexico's work search requirement reinstated for those receiving unemployment benefits

“I think bringing back the search requirement will probably help at least somewhat to bring that rate down,” said O’Donnell. "The question is are those people going to go back to work or are they going to drop out of the labor force."

Date Published: 05/11/2021

New Mexico reinstates work search requirement for recipients of unemployment benefits

Michael O'Donnell, acting director of the Bureau of Business and Economic Research at the University of New Mexico, said forecasts for New Mexico estimate employment levels could approach pre-pandemic figures sometime in 2023 or 2024.

Date Published: 05/10/2021

Many people choosing to stay on unemployment rather than work, business owners and analysts say

Director Mo O’Donnell says, compared to other states, we’re more reliant on the leisure and hospitality industry, which is obviously one of the areas the pandemic hit the hardest.

Date Published: 05/06/2021

Is an extra $300 a week enough to keep workers out of the workforce? A UNM researcher says it's

Data show unemployment benefits generally totaled 128% of a worker's pre-pandemic wage, according to a BBER analysis. That's because — essentially — the bulk of the pandemic layoffs and job losses during the pandemic affected those working lower-paying jobs, the analysis said.

Date Published: 05/06/2021

Worker shortage causes problems for New Mexico businesses

The University of New Mexico Bureau of Business and Economic Research team (UNM BBER) says the state is lagging behind the recovery process of most of the rest of the country, and a full recovery may not arrive until late 2023.

Date Published: 05/05/2021

Pandemic changed the ‘calculus’ for state’s workers

“If you’re a worker and you don’t know for sure that you’re going to be able to work next week, or your hours might get cut because the demand for whatever is being sold at your establishment is relatively low, then you have to put that uncertainty in your calculation,” he said.

Date Published: 05/03/2021

How New Mexico’s unemployment crisis fares in the U.S.

“People have gotten used to doing things in a new way,” BBER director Mo O’Donnell explained. “There’s no guarantee that people are going to go back to the way that things were exactly, and there’s no timetable for how long that recovery is going to take.”

Date Published: 04/30/2021

University of New Mexico director: State's economy needs a boost

No summary is available for this news item yet.

Date Published: 03/09/2021

New Mexico's post-pandemic economic recovery could take years

Data show that the body blow to New Mexico's economy came in the second quarter of 2020. By the time the calendar turned to April, Covid-19-related restrictions had upended New Mexico businesses for about two weeks.

Date Published: 01/25/2021

Fresh signs of life point to resiliency of Permian Basin

The lack of improvement in the job numbers could be because oil companies are shifting away from labor-intensive production, meaning fewer workers may be needed to produce the same amount of oil, said Michael O’Donnell, acting director of the University of New Mexico’s Bureau of Business and Economic Research.

Date Published: 01/03/2021

Working 4 the Future: Training New Mexico’s Workforce

No summary is available for this news item yet.

Date Published: 12/07/2020

Council to vote on paid leave proposal

No summary is available for this news item yet.

Date Published: 12/04/2020

Report: Uranium waste cleanup could spur new industry

A new report from the University of New Mexico Bureau of Business and Economic Research says the state could use money from a nearly $1 billion federal mining settlement awarded to the Environmental Protection Agency to jump-start a new industry focused on environmental cleanup.

Date Published: 10/26/2020

Unemployment claims climb in New Mexico while dropping across nation

“Continuing claims offer a more accurate and balanced account of the labor market, as it reflects not only persons seeking unemployment insurance but also persons who have found work and are no longer receiving unemployment insurance,” said BBER Director Jeff Mitchell.

Date Published: 08/14/2020

New Mexico jobless claims increase 27 percent

No summary is available for this news item yet.

Date Published: 07/29/2020

UNM financial expert says state could see 165,000 new unemployment claims

No summary is available for this news item yet.

Date Published: 07/16/2020

Experts: NM to face long-lasting economic pain

SANTA FE — The economic damage inflicted by the coronavirus pandemic is likely to reshape New Mexico’s economy for years, killing smaller companies and expanding the gap between high- and low-wage earners, university researchers told lawmakers Wednesday.

Date Published: 07/15/2020