PLANNING HIGHLIGHTS

Connect Chama – A U.S. Economic Development Administration Project

On May 14, 2004, EDA Regional Director Pedro Garza and EDA staffer Tozi Tijerina joined Mayor Archie Vigil of Chama, Representative Nick L. Salazar, Barbara Deaux, Cristina McCandless of the Regional Development Corporation, and a host of others to celebrate the opening and successful start up of the new wireless service that brought high speed internet connections to Chama and surrounding communities.   The celebration recognized all the members of the community who had worked so long to make this project happen. 

Thanks to their efforts and about $280,000 from the Economic Development Administration, wireless towers and other equipment were installed.  Private internet service providers are leasing space on the network and have about 75 customers hooked up so far.  The combination of public funding and private operators will make the project sustainable and even offer a base from which to expand to other communities.

In August of 2008, the facility was sold to a private firm that operates wireless services in New Mexico and southern Colorado.  The goal of the Economic Development Administration is to help create jobs in the private sector.  In this case, initial government assistance helped to make the business case for wireless services.

Cristina McCandless of the RDC gives Pedro Garza a miniature cell tower in recognition of EDA’s assistance.

North Central NM Economic Development District, District 2
P.O. Box 5115 Santa Fe, NM 87502
Phone: 866-699-4927, 505-827-7313 Fax: 505-827-7414
Tim Armer, Executive Director