Local 49 Business Manager Highlights Jobs, Training and Long-Term Opportunity for New Mexico Workers

SMART Sheet Metal Workers Local 49 Business Manager Isaiah Zemke recently shared his Local 49’s support for Project Jupiter in an article published by the Santa Fe New Mexican.

Zemke’s message centers on what a project of this scale can mean for New Mexico’s skilled trades workforce. Project Jupiter is already putting union members and other New Mexico residents to work while creating opportunities for thousands of construction jobs as development continues.

More importantly, these jobs can serve as a foundation for long-term careers. Workers gain hands-on experience and skills they can carry to future projects, along with the wages, healthcare, retirement benefits, and stability that come with a union career.

Large projects close to home also allow skilled tradespeople to earn a good living without spending extended periods away from their families. They can work in New Mexico, support their families, and spend their paychecks in the communities they call home.

The opportunity extends beyond those already working on the project. Project Jupiter is helping create new training opportunities that prepare apprentices and other workers for the skills this project and future projects will require.

The economic impact also reaches beyond the jobsite. Local businesses benefit when workers spend their earnings in New Mexico, contractors gain new opportunities, and communities benefit from additional economic activity.

For Local 49, Project Jupiter represents more than the construction of a data center. It represents an opportunity to build skills, create careers, and strengthen economic opportunity for New Mexicans right here at home.

Original Article: Project Jupiter Provides Good Jobs, Long-term Careers
Written by: Isaiah Zemke, Business Manager, SMART Sheet Metal Workers Local 49
Published by: Santa Fe New Mexican, August 31, 2026
Image Credit: Project Jupiter Media Gallery