SANTA FE, N.M. – New Mexico Economic Development Department (EDD) Cabinet Secretary Alicia J. Keyes announced today that ten businesses were awarded Job training Incentive Program (JTIP) funds in September to help train 239 new employees and 15 current employees.
Included in the $2.58 million awarded this month by the JTIP board for new trainees, funds were also allotted to the Roswell-based Pecos Valley Production, Inc. through the Step-Up program. Step-Up is a part of JTIP that allows for training funds to be used for current employees who would like to learn new skills so they can be eligible for promotions and higher-paying positions within the company.
Since taking office, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has focused on using JTIP and other workforce training programs to encourage companies to grow and expand in New Mexico and create higher-paying jobs. Getting assistance to train new employees and interns has proven to be one of many great motivators that the state offers to create jobs and diversify the economy. Under Gov. Lujan Grisham’s leadership, New Mexico workers are earning the highest average salaries and average weekly pay ever.
“We are seeing more and more businesses come forward, wanting to grow in New Mexico and hire more New Mexicans,” EDD Cabinet Secretary Keyes said. “Thanks to the continued support from Gov. Lujan Grisham and lawmakers, EDD is leveraging JTIP to speed up hiring and increase wages. I see the success of this program every time I visit companies who are expanding and hiring throughout the state.”
The ten companies receiving JTIP funds this month are:
3D Glass Solutions, Inc. (3DGS), Albuquerque, 6 trainees with an average wage of $52.17 for a total award of $170,568. 3DGS is a world-class expert on the fabrication of electronic packages and devices using photo-definable glass-ceramics. 3DGS is a pure-play glass foundry that empowers high-performance electronics using engineered glass to design and manufacture Passive components for next generation wireless and optical communications.
BlueHalo LLC, Albuquerque, 21 trainees at an average wage of $53.79 for a total award of $648,074. BlueHalo is a rapidly expanding national security platform with capabilities spanning space superiority, directed energy, missile defense, C4ISR, cyber, and intelligence.
Franklin Mountain Packaging, LLC (FMP), Santa Teresa, 64 trainees at an average wage of $17.18 for a total award of $428,260. FMP is a newly formed company engaged in the manufacturing of corrugated sheets and provider of unique digital printing services for the corrugated box-making industry. FMP will target sheet converting plants in the Southwestern US and the maquiladoras and Mexican domestic market.
Heritage Driven LLC, Albuquerque, 3 trainees at an average wage of $21.33 for a total award of $25,570. Heritage Defender (Heritage Driven) is one of a handful of highly specialized companies in the US focused on the import, restoration, and modification of classic Land Rover Defender vehicles. The work involves custom fabrication, engineering, custom part design and manufacturing and automotive assembly.
Mega Corp., Inc., Albuquerque, 8 trainees at an average wage of $21.63 for a total award of $59,470. Mega Corp. manufactures water and fuel tanks, coal haulers and bottom-dump trailers, equipment transports, specialty dumper bodies, mobile pumps, and elevating scrapers for use in construction and mining applications around the world.
N.M. Compounding and Infusion Pharmacy, LLC (dba Contigo Compounding and Infusion Pharmacy), Albuquerque, 3 trainees with an average wage of $36.17 for a total award of $56,260. Contigo is focused on solving medication problems and providing solutions for patients and doctors so that people live healthier lives. There are many disease states that are treated with personalized medications and often medication needs cannot be met by a chain pharmacy dispensing a commercially available medication. In these situations, the doctors and patients turn to compounding pharmacies.
Organ Mountain Wellness LLC, Las Cruces, 1 trainee with a wage of $38 for a total award of $22,986. Organ Mountain Wellness (Cannabis) is a family-owned military veteran team providing high-quality recreational cannabis products for adults 21 or older. As advocates of recreational cannabis use, their goal is to deliver the best and safest experiences possible to their customers.
Pecos Valley Production, Inc. (PVP), Roswell, 29 trainees with an average wage of $17.05 for a total award of $233,715. In addition to these trainees, Pecos Valley Production has also been awarded Step-Up funding to up-train 15 current employees for an additional $5,280 in JTIP funds. PVP ties up with different manufactures to provide innovative cannabis products to customers. The firm also works to spread awareness about cannabis. PVP has 12 dispensaries located in Roswell, Ruidoso, Clovis, Carlsbad, Hobbs, Portales, Las Cruces, Alamogordo, Sunland Park, and Albuquerque.
Stampede Meat, Inc., Sunland Park, 97 trainees with an average wage of $14.98 for a total award of $755,590. Stampede Meat is a leading provider of portion-controlled protein solutions. Stampede Meat creates seasoned and prepared value-added meats, portion cuts, and a variety of fully cooked meats that serves numerous national food chains, restaurants, retailers, club stores, food service distributors, cruise lines, casinos, home delivery, military, hospitality, schools, airlines, and other markets.
Vibrant Corporation, Albuquerque, 7 trainees with an average wage of $43.79 for a total award of $175,501. Vibrant’s Process Compensated Resonance Testing (PCRT) services support the worldwide aerospace, automotive and power generation industries, as well as materials laboratories with unparalleled nondestructive testing (NDT). PCRT applications range from quality assurance and process capability assessment for original equipment manufacturers to in-service structural assessment and life monitoring for maintenance, repair, and overhaul organizations.
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