PLANNING HIGHLIGHTS

Enchanted Circle

Communities in the Enchanted Circle of Northern New Mexico share mountain beauty, winter snows and a host of economic development issues.  In 2007, John Otis and the Taos Business Alliance brought the communities together to discuss those issues and to think about regional solutions.  TBA became the Enchanted Circle Regional Business Alliance and the conversations continued.

In a series of mini-summits, ECRBA met with community members and elected officials to find out what problems most affected the region’s economy.  After several meetings, patterns appeared that were common to every community contacted.  Workforce development, workforce housing, transportation and business development services were the top four issues in every community.

In June 2007, Otis (a member of the NCNMEDD board) described the mini-summit process to attendees at the NCNMEDD Board meeting in Santa Fe.  The next trick, according to Otis, was to get together to talk about solutions and actually make something happen. 

On October 13, 2007, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM at the Taos Convention Center Bataan Hall, about 150 people from Taos and Colfax Counties gathered to decide what to do.  The Regional Solutions Summit outcomes were used to stimulate new thinking in the provision of wireless services, regional transportation and workforce housing.

NCNMEDD provided support for the event and has worked to advance the solutions discussed.

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