The landscape of Sandoval County is about to change, and with it, the future of our region’s economy.

We are thrilled to share monumental news: Castelion, a trailblazing defense technology company, has officially chosen Sandoval County as the home for Project Ranger, its new 1,000-acre solid rocket motor manufacturing campus.

This isn’t just another business announcement. This is a seismic shift, a $100 million+ investment that plants a flag for Sandoval County and the City of Rio Rancho, declaring us a national hub for the next generation of defense and aerospace technology.

Over the next decade, this single project is projected to create more than 300 high-paying, permanent jobs and inject over $650 million in economic output into our community.

Let’s break down what this historic win means for all of us.

What is Project Ranger?

Headquartered in California, Castelion is a company with a critical mission: to restore and advance the U.S. industrial base for defense. They specialize in creating next-generation hypersonic systems at scale, technology that is vital for national security and deterring global threats.

Project Ranger is the vehicle for that mission. This 1,000-acre campus is a massive, ground-up development designed for one purpose: the rapid, scalable production of advanced long-range systems. The facility will be a complete, end-to-end solution, handling the production of solid rocket motors, conducting static tests, and assembling components to produce finished rounds.

This is advanced manufacturing of the highest order. And Castelion’s $100 million investment in just the first four years proves their deep commitment to New Mexico.

The Ripple Effect: What This Really Means for Sandoval County & Rio Rancho

The numbers—300 jobs, $650 million—are massive, but they only tell part of the story. The true impact is deeper and will be felt for generations.

1. Careers, Not Just Jobs

The “300+ high-paying jobs” line is the most important takeaway. These are not temporary construction gigs (though there will be plenty of those, too); these are permanent, high-skill, high-wage careers in engineering, advanced manufacturing, and technology.

This creates a powerful new career pathway for our residents. It means that graduates from Rio Rancho High School, CNM, and UNM can find world-class, high-paying jobs right here at home, without having to move out of state. It also makes Sandoval County a magnet for top-tier technical talent from across the country, bringing new families, new ideas, and new energy into our community. These new residents will buy homes, shop at our local businesses, and enroll their children in our schools, creating a virtuous cycle of growth.

2. Fueling the Entire Economic Engine

That $650 million in economic output is the “ripple effect” in action. A massive, 1,000-acre campus doesn’t operate in a vacuum. It needs supplies, services, and support.

This means new contracts for construction firms to build the campus (slated to break ground in early 2026). It means new business for local machine shops, logistics companies, IT services, material suppliers, and maintenance crews. Every major employer—from Intel to Presbyterian—knows that for every job created inside the plant, several more are supported outside of it.

Furthermore, this broadens and diversifies our tax base, providing new revenue to fund our schools, improve our roads, and support our first responders, enhancing the quality of life for every resident.

Not sure what an economic development organization does? Watch this video.

3. Building the “Hypersonic Hub”

Perhaps the most profound implication is the “cluster effect.” This is how an economy builds long-term, resilient wealth. Castelion’s decision to plant its flag here sends an unmistakable signal to the entire global defense and aerospace industry.

Sandoval County, with its history of advanced manufacturing and its proximity to the research and defense ecosystem of Kirtland Air Force Base and Sandia National Labs, is now officially a key player in the hypersonic race.

This investment will attract other companies. We anticipate seeing suppliers, R&D partners, and other high-tech firms move to our area to be close to Castelion. This creates an “innovation cluster”—a synergistic ecosystem where industry, research, and a skilled workforce feed off each other, driving more innovation and more investment.

Why Sandoval County? A Legacy of Innovation

After a “highly competitive nationwide search,” why did Castelion choose New Mexico?

Andrew Kreitz, co-founder and CFO of Castelion, said it best: “We chose New Mexico for its technical talent, regional infrastructure, and history of scientific achievement. Project Ranger represents a critical step in restoring America’s capacity to produce the advanced systems our country needs. We’re proud to partner with a community with a long history of innovation that has powered some of our nation’s greatest leaps forward.”

This decision was not a coincidence. It was a clear-eyed recognition of our state’s unique DNA. Our region is home to a deep well of technical and scientific talent, and our infrastructure is built to support large-scale industrial and research operations.

As Rob Black, cabinet secretary of the New Mexico Economic Development Department, put it, “From the Manhattan Project to modern hypersonics, New Mexico has defined what innovation in defense technology looks like. Securing this investment propels our innovation economy forward, creating high-tech careers and reinforcing our position as a hub for advanced manufacturing and national security.”

Castelion isn’t just building a factory; they are plugging into a proven, century-long legacy of scientific achievement.

The Next Frontier is Here

New Mexico has always been at the “front and center in shaping the frontiers of American defense and innovation,” as Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham said. From the dawn of the atomic age to this new era of hypersonics, our legacy is one of bold ideas.

Project Ranger is the next chapter in that story. It reinforces our identity as a hub for advanced manufacturing and national security, ensuring that the technology of tomorrow is built right here in Sandoval County.

The team at Castelion is embarking on a mission to “restore America’s capacity to produce the advanced systems our country needs.”

We are honored, proud, and ready to be their partner in that mission. Welcome to Sandoval County, Castelion. Let’s get to work.

Source: EDD