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City staff formalize internal MRA committee, publish resource guide and expand pilot safety grants
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Summary
Economic development staff reported progress formalizing an internal Metropolitan Redevelopment Area committee, launching an MRA resource guide and a $100,000 pilot safety grant (about $30,000 expended to seven businesses), and said the city adopted a 75% TIF increment for El Paseo while coordinating baselines with Dona Ana County.
Blair Flores of the city’s economic development department briefed the council on progress toward formalizing an internal Metropolitan Redevelopment Area (MRA) committee and related implementation tools.
Flores said the internal MRA committee will be facilitated by economic development, include leadership representatives from key departments, and will set priorities, recommend funding and track implementation through a project-management platform called Inviso. Staff completed an initial Inviso training and scheduled a second training for May 2026 to improve reporting and staff familiarity.
The department published an MRA Resource Guide that explains what MRAs are, describes programs and contact points and compiles existing project information for the two adopted MRAs; Flores said the guide was developed from business outreach and will be available on the MRA web pages and the internal MRA SharePoint.
Flores described a Safety Improvement Grant pilot launched 11/03/2025 that reimburses up to $5,000 for security-related improvements (cameras, locks, lighting and fencing). Of the $100,000 awarded for the pilot, staff reported approximately $30,000 has been expended and seven businesses have been assisted; the pilot will expand to the West Picacho Motel MRA in fiscal year 2027.
On incentives and financing, Flores said the MRA code now allows a property-tax abatement program of up to 14 years (up from 7). Staff are building an intake process, a community-benefit matrix and an internal review with the MRA committee; approvals would come to council as formal recommendations. Flores also said the city approved a 75% tax-increment financing (TIF) increment for El Paseo and city staff are working with Dona Ana County on GRT and property-tax baselines for that site.
Councilors asked about common business concerns (public safety in El Paseo, motel issues in Picacho, illegal dumping in Apodaca), the need for local hiring and benefits to be emphasized in the community-benefit matrix, and outreach to Las Cruces Public Schools and nonprofit partners such as the Boys & Girls Club. Flores said staff are coordinating across departments, collecting existing projects and preparing materials for consultants and stakeholders.
Next steps: further Inviso training, continued development of incentive policy frameworks and stakeholder working groups, expanded pilot grant rollout and continued county coordination on TIF baselines.
