Bernalillo County convened a community dialogue on a hot July evening to gather resident input on economic development priorities, with particular focus on workforce training and transparency in public incentives and financing.

County Commissioner Barbara Baca opened the meeting, saying, “Thank you all for being here. From the bottom of my heart on this very hot July evening,” and framed the session as an early step in a larger, countywide process to shape incentives and programs that help local businesses and residents thrive.

Marcos Gonzalez, executive development officer for Bernalillo County’s economic development department, told attendees the county organized the dialogues at the commission’s request to inform strategy and possible amendments to financing policies. “The goal of economic development at Bernalillo County is to create an environment for businesses to thrive and improve the quality of life of all county residents,” Gonzalez said.

Why it matters: County staff said input from these meetings will be used by a community steering committee and incorporated into a final report the county expects to publish in October. Steering-committee recommendations will be presented to the Bernalillo County Commission in the fall or early winter for potential policy and program changes.

What participants discussed: Residents worked at tables on two 20–30 minute discussion blocks—first on workforce training and then on transparency. A staff facilitator asked attendees to record responses on half-sheets that county staff collected for thematic analysis.

- Workforce training: Multiple table spokespersons emphasized expanding apprenticeships and trade pathways, and improving access to certification and soft-skills training. A Table 2 spokesperson said the group “weighed a little heavy with Union Construction Trades and apprenticeship,” and described interest in registered pre-apprenticeship programs and digital literacy.

- Small-business supports: Several tables urged incentives tailored to smaller, local employers rather than programs that mainly benefit large firms. A Table 6 spokesperson suggested exploring equipment grants or modest abatements for businesses with only a handful of employees to help them hire and scale.

- Education and pathways: Participants recommended earlier exposure in high school to industry-specific skills and stronger connections between community programs and employers. Central New Mexico Community College (CNM) was cited by a speaker as a local partner that already offers industry-linked training.

- Transparency and accountability: A Table 1 spokesperson summarized the group’s view as “transparency is accountability.” Ideas from multiple tables included clearer community outreach about incentives, plain-language economic education for residents, and public-facing performance metrics. One table proposed a key-performance-indicator dashboard that would show where public investments go and the outcomes they produce.

What county staff said they will do: Facilitators described a theming analysis of the collected responses using staff review and computer-aided tools. County staff asked attendees to complete an online survey (QR code provided) to supplement the table feedback. Antonio Nomai and other staff collected the written responses at tables.

Process and timeline: County staff and steering-committee members present said they will analyze the input, integrate it into their research, and return recommendations to the steering committee and the commission. The county expects to bundle research and community input into a report in October; steering-committee recommendations will follow for commission consideration in the fall or early winter.

Meeting context: The event included a facilitator-led, small-group format attended by multiple tables of residents and community stakeholders. County staff acknowledged a prior conversation on community benefits and sustainability and described this session as one of several countywide dialogues.

Limits and outstanding questions: Participants and staff noted that precise financing amounts, specific incentive terms, and timelines for any policy changes were not decided at the meeting. Funding sources for potential incentives were not specified during the discussion. The session was explicitly an information-gathering and listening exercise rather than a decision-making meeting.

Next steps: County staff encouraged attendees to complete the online survey and attend other community dialogues. The county plans to publish the compiled research and community input online and share a final report in October.