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Sandoval Economic Alliance reports business retention gains; urges state site‑readiness funding
Summary
The Sandoval Economic Alliance told commissioners it has visited 30 local businesses year‑to‑date, half in rural areas, and emphasized programs to scale stage‑2 firms, site‑readiness work on government‑owned sites and coordination with county staff to ready parcels for development.
Fred Shepherd, president and CEO of the Sandoval Economic Alliance (SEA), updated the commission on the organization’s business retention and expansion work and on site‑readiness assessments intended to improve the county’s competitiveness for new investment.
Shepherd said SEA’s outreach has favored local, existing firms: 30 business visits year‑to‑date, split evenly between rural locations and Rio Rancho. He said SEA’s work supports "stage‑2" companies (generally 10–99 employees) that are poised to scale, and that support includes training, connections to hiring and workforce programs, and targeted follow‑up through the economic gardening model.
Shepherd described a statewide site‑readiness study that assessed government‑owned parcels; the state originally planned 35 sites and the county successfully advocated to include an additional site (Section 36, a state land parcel referred to in the report). The assessment produced recommendations and the county has begun work on some, including a completed Phase I environmental assessment for a recommended county site. Shepherd urged commissioners to support proposed state funding for a site‑readiness program; the consultant and public statements cited a proposed $25 million governor’s fund and possible Legislative Finance Committee discussion of a larger figure.
Shepherd also briefed the commission about industry trends and why SEA focuses on retention: he cited a Harvard Business Review finding that only a small share of jobs yearly come from out‑of‑state relocations and noted that since 2020, SEA has assisted 18 companies that led to job creation; 15 of those were expansions of local firms. Shepherd said the approach aims to diversify the tax base and retain employers who already have local ties.
Commissioners asked about specific losses and transitions. Shepherd said U.S. Cotton is consolidating operations and closing or vacating four Rio Rancho buildings over an extended timeline; the company employed about 70 workers across those facilities and the county has coordinated job fairs and is marketing the vacated buildings for re‑use.
Commissioner questions also covered site readiness financing and whether the legislature is likely to fund a statewide program. Shepherd said legislators are receptive and county advocacy can help; he urged commissioners to continue outreach to state partners and to support site‑readiness funding mechanisms.
