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County economic-development staff and AREA outline pipeline: 414 new units, film permits and $179M legislative ask
Summary
Economic development director Marcos Gonzalez and AREA director Danielle Casey reported on the department’s pipeline and programs, citing six housing projects that together represent 414 new units plus 714 rehab units, more than 60 film permits processed in 2024, and a $179 million state funding request for housing and behavioral health.
Marcos Gonzalez, executive development officer for Bernalillo County, and Danielle Casey of the Albuquerque Regional Economic Alliance (AREA) presented the county’s annual economic-development summary on Feb. 11, highlighting housing activity, film permitting and regional site-readiness work.
Why it matters: Commissioners heard details of current housing projects, regional business-attraction efforts, and grant applications that shape county priorities for 2025, including a major legislative funding request to the state.
Key takeaways: Gonzalez said the county worked on six housing projects that will produce 414 new units plus 714 rehabbed units; staff processed more than 60 film permits and location agreements in 2024 despite strike-related disruptions; and the county closed a Brownfields grant and applied for an EPA grant of about $1.2 million for additional site testing with an emphasis on affordable-housing sites.
Legislative priorities and pipeline: Gonzalez and Casey said the county’s legislative package asks for $179 million from the state—$100 million for affordable family and senior housing and $79 million for behavioral-health funding—plus federal planning funds for a trade-port project that recently secured about $40 million in USDOT funding with private match.
Regional cooperation and site readiness: Casey described AREA’s public-private partnerships, site-readiness advocacy (including work that informed a proposed state site-readiness program discussed in SB 169), and downtown revitalization facilitation. Casey noted AREA’s national accreditation and local awards as evidence of regional collaboration.
Commissioner response: Commissioners praised staff for housing pipeline work and regional coordination; they asked staff to continue work with city and state partners on the legislative funding request and to bring project updates as they move toward financial close.
Ending: Staff said they will return with specifics on projects moving into construction and continue to pursue grants and partnerships to advance affordable housing and economic development in the county.
