New Mexico’s Community, Business, and Rural Development program (CBRD) doubled it to staff who are responsible for assisting businesses and communities at the local level.
The CBRD was created by the legislation in 2000 and has evolved by including high-level economic development professionals who provide Technical assistance to communities and businesses in their respective regions, all while guiding these businesses to reach their economic development goals.
The New Mexico EDD now has a regional representative living in the NMBorderplex Region (Las Cruces)
In 2020, New Mexico Economic Development Department collaborated with several state agencies and local stakeholders to create a long-term strategic plan to inform New Mexico’s economic path forward. The state plan is a critical first step toward unifying New Mexico’s economic development ecosystem. One of the key takeaways of the data collected is the need for more assistance, especially in rural and other underserved communities. NMEDD’s expansion of the Community, Business, and Rural Development program allows them to accomplish this.
EDD has broken the state into six regions, previously each with a single representative supporting several counties. The expansion to ten, plus one vacancy and a centrally located team leader, vastly improves the agency’s ability to reach every corner of the state. Additional hires were made possible with funding from the 2022 Legislature.
Regional representatives can help businesses and communities in many ways. They are called upon to assist with state incentive programs such as the Local Economic Development Act (LEDA), Job Training Incentive Program (JTIP), and the Collateral Assistance Program (CAP). They can also advise their constituents on available state tax credits, the FUNDIT business financing program, potential recruitment opportunities, state regulations, and other EDD programs (international trade, outdoor recreation, film, science and technology, New Mexico MainStreet, Frontier and Native American Communities Initiative, and more).
NMBorderplex Regional representatives have already been doing the hard work. They are respected members of their communities and always eager to help. They are driven by a passion to strengthen their communities and educate their constituents about the many local and state resources available. EDD is grateful for their work: Lorraine Ruggles (region 1), Peter Mitchell (region 2), Tim Hageman (region 4), and Louise Marquez (region 5). See map below to view what counties each region covers.
Julia T. Brown, Esq. (Region 5: Southwest New Mexico and the NMBorderplex)
Julia T. Brown is a graduate of Oklahoma State University and the University of Oklahoma, College of Law, where she was law class president. Brown currently serves as the National Board Chair of the American Association of University Women (AAUW), the nation’s leading voice promoting equity and education for women and girls. She also serves on the Regional Board of Girl Scouts of the Desert Southwest and the NAACP Doña Ana County Branch.
Brown has served as Sunland Park City Manager, Doña Ana County Manager, vice president and CRA officer for Charles Schwab Bank, and director of the Oakland Office of Economic Development and Employment. Additionally, she served in several federal and state agencies, including the District of Columbia and Oklahoma Public Utility Commissions, as an Assistant Attorney General in Oklahoma, and in various public administrative and public policy positions in the District of Columbia, Oklahoma, California, and New Mexico.
Brown is proud to have served as an enlisted soldier and an Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps (JAG) Officer, retiring from the armed services as a Lieutenant Colonel and Deputy Commander of the 75th Legal Support Organization.
