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State economic development reps outline site-readiness and grant programs for Torrance County
Summary
Regional staff from the New Mexico Economic Development Department described site-readiness efforts, job training incentives, and new fund allocations for creative industries, healthy food financing and outdoor recreation that county officials could pursue for local projects such as the Moriarty business park and SCEYE operations.
State Economic Development officials briefed the Commission on programs and funding that could support local site development and small-business growth.
Regional representatives Yuriria Morales and Beth Walter described recent legislative changes (senate bills and appropriations) to support utility infrastructure to make private and public sites 'site-ready' for industry, and outlined the state's site-advisory process. Job Training Incentive Program staff (Patrick Gavin and Avelina Borrego) highlighted that J-TIP reimburses eligible employers for trainee wages and cited local manufacturing hires supported through the program.
Walter noted private-site submissions for a new RFP requiring at least 50 usable acres for site-readiness consideration and identified public funding streams for creative industries, outdoor recreation, healthy food financing and advanced energy pilots. She pointed to a local example — SCEYE in Moriarty — as a growing private employer that has used training support.
Commissioners indicated interest in leveraging county-owned parcels for potential site-readiness funding and signaled intent to coordinate with state representatives as the county develops an internal economic-development capacity.
