Rio Rancho Chamber urges MOU, says capturing daytime jobs will reduce $3.1B payroll "leakage"

Jerry Shalom, chief executive of the Rio Rancho Regional Chamber of Commerce, told the council the chamber serves as a regional business hub and makes active efforts to market Rio Rancho through programs such as Discover Sandoval, Leadership Sandoval and Shop on Southern.

Shalom said Sandoval County has roughly 47,000 residents who commute out of the county for work each day and estimated $3.1 billion in payroll leaves the region annually. "That's the impact of outbound," he said, urging the governing body to consider targeted investments and coordination to retain more jobs and increase daytime population.

Shalom described the chamber's use of geofencing and data-driven marketing to attract relocating workers, and he asked the council to consider a modest city membership or MOU to sustain collaboration. "If the chamber was granted $20,000, could we look at city membership?" he said, and he emphasized that any funds would be directed to specific economic-development activities rather than operational expenses.

Councilors discussed options including an MOU, midyear budget consideration, seat on the chamber board and reporting metrics similar to other partners. No appropriation or formal agreement was approved at the session; councilors asked staff and the chamber to return with draft terms and measurable metrics.