Saturday, September 30, 2006

Cabinet secretary sets county projects in motion

Rick Homans visits Socorro, Magdalena and Alamo, and speaks to people on their community plans

Evelyn Cronce El Defensor Chieftain Reporter

On Tuesday, New Mexico Economic Development Department Cabinet Secretary Rick Homans and his staff took a whirlwind tour of Socorro County communities and businesses to help provide ideas, contacts and encouragement.

Homans' discussions with Magdalena Mayor Jim Wolfe while touring the old abandoned Bureau of Indian Affairs complex was an illustration of the type of help offered by the department.

The project has been a concern for the village for sometime. Wolfe explained the problems with asbestos removal and getting the federal government to remove it, as agreed when the property was turned over to the village.

Wolfe said plans are currently to demolish the former manufacturing facility, and repair and rebuild the former dorm units as housing for professionals working in the Magdalena area.

Homans suggested a contact who had successfully managed a similar project in Silver City. He also suggested starting with a feasibility study and a market plan, and involvement with the department of mortgage finance.

The department staff left the site, pulled out their cell phones and started working on contacts. As of press time, a start has been made.

"Assistant Secretary Eric Griego has contacted Joseph Montoya and I have contacted USDA and H.U.D. about the BIA Dorms, and have copied Mayor Wolfe, and will be helping the mayor get on our next REAP meeting. REAP stands for Rural Economic Action Partnership. That was the same process used when we helped London Frontier Theatre," said Tim Hagaman, community development representative.

The secretary listened to other Magdalena citizens at a breakfast held at the Magdalena Café. Problems and projects were discussed including the National Radio Astronomy Observatory's desire for a new Visitor Center, the possibility of the Socorro Electric Cooperative creating a development plan, and the decline in the ranching business in the state as well as in the area.

The majority of the business people said that tourism numbers are down for the last year but, in most cases, spending is up.

"We're definitely growing," said Wolfe.

From there, the group went on to Alamo to discuss the reservation's need for a store and a gas station. Members of the Alamo Chapter government expressed their frustrations with the project, the Navajo Nation, as well as with the county and state governments.

"We want to see the award money here instead of just sitting here talking about this," said Alamo President Buddy Mexicano. "We'd like to see a ground-breaking or something. Talk is cheap."

"Is the state going to put up the money or are we going to wait between five and 60 years for the Navajo Nation?" asked Alamo Vice President Manuel Guerro.

"Let's talk to the Navajo Nation first," said Homans, "but there are other avenues. I will personally be involved in this project. Three or four years are unacceptable to me, too."

The secretary suggested changing the project name from the Alamo Minimart to the Alamo Development Project. The project would include not just a gas station and convenience store, but also a laundromat and possibly indoor mailboxes.

Homans promised get back to the Alamo government with a date for a meeting within two weeks that would involve all parties, including representatives from the Navajo Nation.

"We'll do everything we can to make that happen," said Homans.

As of press time, the meeting had been scheduled.

"We have a follow up meeting with Alamo, Oct 6, at 10 a.m. for the Alamo Development. John Largo, Allan Begay, Sandia Oil, and a representative with the H.U.D. CDBG, Representative Tripp, Valentin Anaya, Commissioner Stanley Herrera, and myself along with the (Alamo) Chapter representatives have been invited," Hagaman said.

From Alamo, the secretary and his staff held a lunch meeting with Socorro government officials and business leaders.

They discussed plans for the Socorro Industrial Park and plans for a work force development project in Socorro.

Pepita Ridgeway, economic development director for the Socorro County Chamber of Commerce reported the chamber has received a number of inquiries from people who want to start a business in Socorro, but most are engineering or retail. There are not many manufacturing inquiries.

Homans expects industries associated with the spaceport to locate in Socorro because it's only an hour away and because there is already expertise here like Tech and EMRTC.

City Clerk Pat Salome discussed the recent flood damage to the former Eagle Pitcher site.

"The land is probably a bigger asset than the building," Salome said.

He said the building has been in a state of disrepair and that recent flooding has not helped. Salome also said that even though the land met Environmental Protection Agency standards prior to the floods, there have been some lead plates that washed onto the site.

Salome is not sure what effect, if any, they have had on the quality of the land.

Griego suggested city councilors conduct a study together with the New Mexico Department of Transportation to look into rail needs for industrial growth. He suggested the possibility of having the spur that services the Industrial Park recommissioned as an incentive to attracting new businesses.

Following the luncheon, Homans toured several businesses in Socorro that had been former recipients of the department's Job Training Incentive Program funding to keep in touch and see how they are doing.

The job-training incentive packages provide for classroom or on-the-job training, and reimburse a business that is expanding or relocating for 50 percent to 70 percent of a trainee's wages for as long as six months.

The program, formerly known as the In-Plant Training Program, reimburses qualified economic-based companies for a significant portion of training costs associated with job creation.

To qualify, new or expanding companies must either create a product in New Mexico, or provide a non-retail service with 50 percent of the company's customer and revenue base outside the state.

The eligible jobs must be full-time and year-round. The trainee must be a new hire to the company and have been a New Mexico resident for at least one continuous year at any time prior to being hired.

"JTIP is one of the most effective programs the state administers because it directly helps companies in New Mexico grow and prosper," said Homans. "It encourages employers to hire New Mexicans and provide training that helps create a more skilled workforce throughout our state."

The secretary and his staff visited Aerojet, and toured their fire suppression systems development and manufacture facilities.

He stopped by American Truss in the Socorro Industrial Park and discussed Joe Otero's plans to build a structure to house his truss building operations and his plans to begin producing wood pellets for pellet stoves.

After his interview on Socorro's KMXQ-FM radio, Homans visited FSM Labs, a manufacturer of system-control software for the robotics, machinery and aerospace industries that had been awarded $56,700 for three new jobs in March.

His tour ended with a visit to Don Tripp's manufacturing facility. Homan was impressed with Tripp's operation that creates and sells parts and findings to jewelers across the county. Homans said he would be working with Tripp to increase the company's international sales.

The secretary and his staff expressed their appreciation to County Assessor Valentin Anaya Jr., who drove the van provided by Socorro Boys & Girls Club to transport the team around the county.

ecronce@dchieftain.com

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