Publications

In October 2025, The University of New Mexico-Taos (UNM-Taos) commissioned UNM’s Bureau of Business & Economic Research to evaluate the social, financial, and environmental impacts of the proposed Cielo Centro Observatory. The observatory – which will house the powerful 36-inch diameter, 12-foot, 6-inch tall Dobsonian telescope gifted by the King and Oglesbee Families – will provide students, community members, and visitors the unique opportunity to form a personal connection with the universe by allowing individuals to observe celestial objects millions of light years away. As part of the broader Cielo Centro (Sky Center) project, the observatory will support workforce development and fuel community prosperity by preparing students for meaningful careers through internships, partnerships, and hands-on research. The observatory will also allow UNM-Taos to capitalize on the fast-growing and emerging industry of astrotourism. Altogether, the construction of a dedicated roll-off roof observatory can position UNM-Taos to expand educational programming, diversify the local economy, and promote environmental stewardship through dark sky preservation.

This study was initiated by the City of Albuquerque’s Arts and Culture Department in 2024. Working with the University of New Mexico’s Bureau of Business and Economic Research, the City sought to update previous research on Albuquerque’s creative economy and better understand current opportunities, challenges, and trends in the creative professions both locally and nationally

The Town of Bernalillo received a tourism grant from the Federal Economic Development Administration in 2022. In Fall 2023, BBER began work on the project offering the Town technical assistance in the development of a more comprehensive tourism plan. We focused on three primary topics to guide a tourism plan: visitor experiences at local events, business owner and event planner experiences with tourism and navigating Town regulations, and local desires for a larger tourist impact on the Town without the loss of its unique character.

The New Mexico Governors Office needed detailed information regarding programs and services available to individuals experiencing homelessness across New Mexico. The focus of this report and the survey was to find out how services to the unhoused population cover the state of New Mexico and identify gaps or needs.

BBER has been tasked with completing an independent, third-party assessment of the impacts of the planned Santolina development. Funding facilitated a high-level, preliminary analysis that begins by reviewing the number of anticipated housing units and jobs residing within the boundaries of the new development, as set forth by the developers. Because the Santolina development must meet the “no new net cost” requirement, the developers have specified target employment, population, and housing targets. These targets set forth serve as the key assumptions and inputs used for previous fiscal and economic impact estimates used to substantiate the Santolina Master Planned Community.