Company set to invest $94 million in Bloomfield location, expand hiring 

BLOOMFIELD, N.M. – Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and executives from Calgon Carbon Corporation announced today that the company is expanding to New Mexico through an asset purchase of its new Bloomfield location.  

The New Mexico Economic Development Department (EDD) has finalized an agreement with Calgon Carbon. Headquartered in Pennsylvania with a parent company in Tokyo, Calgon has acquired two existing businesses, retaining all 42 current employees with plans to hire nine new employees in 2024 and a total of 16 new employees over the next several years. 

Calgon Carbon is the world's largest manufacturer of granular activated carbon, which can be processed into a highly porous material with an enormous surface area, capable of absorbing a wide range of contaminants, including PFAS.  

Calgon Carbon's customers use activated carbon to remove impurities from air and water. Their carbon plays a crucial role in purifying drinking water, treating industrial wastewater, reducing emissions from power plants, and even improving the quality of pharmaceutical products. 

"Calgon brings new investment and technology to Northwest New Mexico. I look forward to a continuing partnership with this innovative business as we build a jobs-rich sustainable economy for all New Mexicans," Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said. 

The State has pledged $150,000 from its Local Economic Development (LEDA) job-creation fund to assist in the expansion. Calgon is also set to benefit from the State's Job Training Incentive Program (JTIP) which reimburses companies for a portion of job training as well as other incentives for hiring high-wage workers. The average salary will be $60,000 to $90,000. The company plans to invest $94 million in New Mexico over the next 10 years. 

With the State assistance, Calgon Carbon will make the Bloomfield facility at 326 N. Bergin Lane the primary manufacturer of activated carbon vessels supporting customers in the Western and Southwestern United States.  

"This investment will expand a skilled workforce and increase wages in a part of the state that has seen a lot of job displacement," Acting EDD Cabinet Secretary Mark Roper, said. "It also puts Bloomfield at the center of a future-driven technology that helps diversify New Mexico's economy." 

"The State assistance through LEDA and JTIP will help Calgon Carbon leverage this talented New Mexico workforce as we expand our manufacturing to help our customers in the Southwest meet their critical water quality and safety needs," Steve Schott, Calgon Carbon's president and chief executive officer, said. 

"We are certainly excited to have Calgon Carbon in our community and look forward to their expansion and stand ready to assist them in any manner we can. Bloomfield has long been a hub for industry in San Juan County and this will encourage other manufacturers to look at our community," said Bloomfield City Manager George Duncan. 

"This is an important project for Northwest New Mexico because it shows we can grow and diversify our economy and still invest in our existing workers," Scott Bird, interim executive director at 4Corners Economic Development LLC, said. "We look forward to working with Calgon Carbon to meet their business needs so they can find success in the Four Corners Region of New Mexico." 

Calgon Carbon finalized its acquisition of New Mexico-based Benchmark Tank and Bloomfield Machine and Welding in October. The 80-year-old company has approximately 1,700 employees across the globe and 20 manufacturing centers.