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Mesilla Valley Economic Development Alliance reports midyear wins, urges county support for site readiness and workforce certifications
Summary
The Mesilla Valley Economic Development Alliance told commissioners on Jan. 28 that county funding helps leverage private dollars and programs that have supported job creation, training and site development; the alliance pushed for county collaboration on site readiness and workforce micro‑credentials.
The Mesilla Valley Economic Development Alliance updated the County Commission on Jan. 28 about midyear activity including marketing, lead generation and workforce training designed to attract and retain employers to the region.
MVEDA staff told commissioners that the county’s $300,000 annual contract supports a broader program that leverages private membership and other funding sources to create what the alliance described as an approximately $1.1 million annual economic‑development effort. The alliance said its projects generate a large return on investment: using an economic impact model, staff described an average five‑year new tax base associated with completed projects and said the county investment has historically produced millions in predicted new tax revenue and hundreds of jobs.
The alliance highlighted three tools: a private Borderplex Closing Fund (a philanthropic incentive pool) that has raised roughly $1.5 million since inception and has about $450,000 remaining to help projects close; an "automation up" micro‑credential program that helps current employees gain certifications tied to advanced manufacturing and other targeted sectors (the program trained 69 people in the first year and is expanding); and efforts to attract developers and spec industrial buildings to reduce a regional shortage of industrial real estate.
Commissioners asked for clearer, visual process maps of how an interested company moves from initial outreach to site selection, permitting and incentive negotiations, and they urged MVEDA and county staff to coordinate on site readiness activities beyond Santa Teresa, including Chaparral and parts of the Vado area. Commissioner Reynolds, noting prior fiber and infrastructure initiatives and ribbon cuttings, asked for an update from Comcast and other ISPs on how earlier infrastructure commitments are being realized.
Ending: MVEDA said it will continue to pursue private‑sector capital and state incentives, expand the certification program and work with county staff on site‑readiness strategies. Commissioners asked staff to bring a flowchart of the project‑management process to improve communications with prospective investors and the public.
