Oct 14, 2015
Something exciting is happening in rural economic development. Recently four counties, Valencia, Socorro, Sierra and Catron, all submitted a joint application for the USDA/NMSU Stronger Economies Together (SET) program.

The application was accepted, which means, under the guidance of the USDA and NMSU, these four counties will be spending the next 18 to 24 months developing a regional economic development plan. This plan will help identify key resources for improving our regional economy while outlining strategies for implementation.

The SET program was created by the USDA in 2009. The purpose of the program, which can be found on their website www.rd.usda.gov/about-rd/initiatives/stronger-economies-together, is to “Strengthen the capacity of communities/counties in rural America to work together in developing and implementing an economic development blueprint that strategically builds on the current and emerging economic strengths of their region …”

As monetary resources have thinned at every level of government, higher priority is being given to those places who have chosen to work collectively. Any time an agency can fund a multi-jurisdictional project, they are provided the ability to “do more with less.”

This type of prioritizing might become the norm as state and federal governments look at where and how to achieve the most reach with their funding.

What this means for Valencia County is that by combining resources and working regionally, we gain access to economic tools and funding we might not otherwise have at our disposal. Additionally, we are also provided an opportunity to reach out to our neighbors and form relationships with others who are trying to accomplish the same goals.

Working together through regional planning can only serve to strengthen our communities and create new opportunities for economic success.

What I like most about this SET process is that anyone can participate, and everyone is encouraged to. From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 27, in Socorro there will be a civic engagement event. This event will introduce participating counties to the SET process, time line and activities.

At this initial meeting, we will examine the strengths, challenges and opportunities for our region, and receive key regional data to help with our planning process.

If you are interested in attending the civic engagement forum, email or call as soon as possible. The process is open to everyone, however space is limited.

You can RSVP with me by email at tina@tmdconsultingllc.com, or by phone 505-918-0411. Additionally, you can also contact Steven Tomita, director of economic development with the city of Belen. His email is steven.tomita@belen-nm.gov, or he can also be reached at 505-966-2745.

The city of Belen has been very active with this project and their City Manager Jay Ruybalid is credited with being the first to introduce this program to Valencia County.

In closing, I would be remiss if I didn’t take this opportunity to welcome our new county manager, Mr. Danny Monette. While meeting with him on his first week to update him on the SET process, I was happy to hear one of the priorities of the current county commission is to focus more on economic development.

I think this is a great thing for all of Valencia County and look forward to collaborating.

(Tina Dziuk, president of TMD Consulting, LLC, is a business consultant specializing in the transportation industry. She is also co-owner of an aggregate processing company in eastern New Mexico. She is currently developing a non-profit corporation that will focus on supporting our local economy and plans to continue engaging Valencia County residents in the process. She can be reached at 505-918-0411 or by email tina@tmdconsultingllc.com.)

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