Regional Economic Development



Map & Directions Home	PLANNING HIGHLIGHTS Regional Economic Development Initiative – A Los Alamos County Initiative The Regional Development Corporation, with North Central New Mexico Economic Development District as principal partner, developed a regional economic development strategy encompassing Los Alamos, Taos, Rio Arriba and Santa Fe Counties, and the municipalities, tribes and other major stakeholders in that geographic area. In March 2007, Los Alamos County executed Cooperative Agreements with the three other counties and three cities which required the distribution of Los Alamos County funds for three regional projects. Each of the projects was agreed upon by the regional entities and one of them called for the creation of this Regional Economic Development Strategic Plan. After a competitive bid that included major national contenders, the selection committee chose the home team. The RDC Program Manager Monica Abeita outlined a year long project including individual meetings with major stakeholders and a carefully managed process of integration to help select regional priorities for implementation over five- ten- and twenty-five year periods. Equally important, the process is intended to develop patterns of regional communication that will enable mutual growth and prosperity. Regional cooperation is key. ( The intense schedule for the 12-month contract allowed an initial round of projects selected for implementation in time for presentation to funding sources next summer. Abeita, RDC Executive Director Ed Burckle and NCNMEDD Executive Director Barbara Deaux met with the 60 or so identified stakeholders and interested parties. Those meetings continued, and information from existing plans was sifted and sorted to provide a framework on which new ideas and strategies can be tested. A community event to celebrate the formal launch of this planning adventure was held on January 10 from 10:00 am to noon at the San Gabriel Mision Y Convento in Española. The Regional Economic Development Initiative (REDI) met on May 1 at the Ohkay Owingeh Convention Center to discuss the findings of the REDI Team, Ed Burckle, Monica Abeita and Barbara Deaux. The team had interviewed all of the major stakeholders in the project which included the counties of Los Alamos, Santa Fe, Rio Arriba and Taos and the municipalities of Santa Fe, Española and Taos. Interviews were also conducted with the eight northern Pueblos and Jicarilla Apache Nation, as well as chambers of commerce and other public and private interested parties. The information from those interviews led to an emphasis on four strategic areas that need substantial effort for any economic strategy to succeed: human capital; infrastructure; public policy; and economic development services. The May Day Consensus brought stakeholders and other participants together to establish priorities for economic development for the four county region. The process was facilitated by Terri Giron and involved a whirlwind afternoon of information exchange and priority setting. At the end of the day, the four strategic areas were confirmed as critical and of the ten sectors listed, alternative energy, technology, value added agriculture and entertainment were selected for the most immediate attention. On February 3, 2009, Los Alamos County hosted a celebratory event at the New Mexico Capital to highlight the completion of the plan and the initiation of the implementation phase. Local legislators, local elected officials and members of the team talked about the strategies developed and the need to continue regional cooperation, especially in the face of new and more perilous economic times. For a copy of the final report, click here or please check the team’s website, www.nnmredi.org. 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 Barbara Deaux, Executive Director

PLANNING HIGHLIGHTS

Regional Economic Development Initiative – A Los Alamos County Initiative

The Regional Development Corporation, with North Central New Mexico Economic Development District as principal partner, developed a regional economic development strategy encompassing Los Alamos, Taos, Rio Arriba and Santa Fe Counties, and the municipalities, tribes and other major stakeholders in that geographic area.

In March 2007, Los Alamos County executed Cooperative Agreements with the three other counties and three cities which required the distribution of Los Alamos County funds for three regional projects. Each of the projects was agreed upon by the regional entities and one of them called for the creation of this Regional Economic Development Strategic Plan.

After a competitive bid that included major national contenders, the selection committee chose the home team. The RDC Program Manager Monica Abeita outlined a year long project including individual meetings with major stakeholders and a carefully managed process of integration to help select regional priorities for implementation over five- ten- and twenty-five year periods. Equally important, the process is intended to develop patterns of regional communication that will enable mutual growth and prosperity. Regional cooperation is key.
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The intense schedule for the 12-month contract allowed an initial round of projects selected for implementation in time for presentation to funding sources next summer. Abeita, RDC Executive Director Ed Burckle and NCNMEDD Executive Director Barbara Deaux met with the 60 or so identified stakeholders and interested parties. Those meetings continued, and information from existing plans was sifted and sorted to provide a framework on which new ideas and strategies can be tested.

A community event to celebrate the formal launch of this planning adventure was held on January 10 from 10:00 am to noon at the San Gabriel Mision Y Convento in Española.

The Regional Economic Development Initiative (REDI) met on May 1 at the Ohkay Owingeh Convention Center to discuss the findings of the REDI Team, Ed Burckle, Monica Abeita and Barbara Deaux. The team had interviewed all of the major stakeholders in the project which included the counties of Los Alamos, Santa Fe, Rio Arriba and Taos and the municipalities of Santa Fe, Española and Taos. Interviews were also conducted with the eight northern Pueblos and Jicarilla Apache Nation, as well as chambers of commerce and other public and private interested parties.

The information from those interviews led to an emphasis on four strategic areas that need substantial effort for any economic strategy to succeed: human capital; infrastructure; public policy; and economic development services.

The May Day Consensus brought stakeholders and other participants together to establish priorities for economic development for the four county region. The process was facilitated by Terri Giron and involved a whirlwind afternoon of information exchange and priority setting.

At the end of the day, the four strategic areas were confirmed as critical and of the ten sectors listed, alternative energy, technology, value added agriculture and entertainment were selected for the most immediate attention.

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On February 3, 2009, Los Alamos County hosted a celebratory event at the New Mexico Capital to highlight the completion of the plan and the initiation of the implementation phase. Local legislators, local elected officials and members of the team talked about the strategies developed and the need to continue regional cooperation, especially in the face of new and more perilous economic times.

For a copy of the final report, click here or please check the team’s website, www.nnmredi.org.

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
Barbara Deaux, Executive Director