Taos County Economic Development Corporation

THE ORGANIZATION WAS FORMED IN 1987. ITS MISSION IS "SUPPORTING LAND, FOOD, WATER, AND THE CULTURES" OF THE PEOPLE OF NORTHERN NEW MEXICO THROUGH THE DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS.

TCEDC OPERATIONS/PROGRAMS:THE FOLLOWING STATISTICS ARE REFLECTIVE OF THE SOCIALLY DISTANCING GUIDELINES SET FORTH DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. OUTREACH AND ASSISTANCE BEING PROVIDED VIA ZOOM AND PHONE CLASS TRYING TO ASSIST OUR COMMUNITY. JOB RETENTION/CREATION WAS REFLECTED THROUGH TAOS FOOD CENTER BUSINESSES (FOOD MANUFACTURING-ESSENTIAL BUSINESSES) REMAINING OPEN THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC. THE COMPANYS MOST RECENT STATISTICS SHOW THAT IT HAS ASSISTED AROUND 250 CLIENTS AND CREATED OR RETAINED 16 JOBS. THE PROGRAMS PROVIDE TECHNICAL AND MARKETING ASSISTANCE, SPECIALTY TRAINING, AND GUIDANCE IN THE PREPARATION OF BUSINESS PLANS. TRAINING TO OTHER ORGANIZATIONS AND NONPROFITS WORKING ON GRASSROOTS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND FOOD SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT LOCALLY, REGIONALLY, AND NATIONALLY. GARDEN AND GREENHOUSE-TCEDC OFFERS TRAINING TO YOUTH IN THE AREA OF SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL FOOD PRODUCTION. OUTREACH, INFORMATION, AND REFERRAL STAFF ASSIST CLIENTS VIA PHONE CONVERSATIONS. AT LEAST 10 CALLS DAILY, 90 CALLS PER MONTH. ADDITIONALLY, ON SITE ONE-ON-ONE ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED TO ABOUT 8 CLIENTS PER MONTH. BUSINESS PARK/TAOS FOOD CENTER:THIS COOPERATIVE FACILITY HOUSES 1 BUSINESS AND/OR ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDING 1 NATIVE AMERICAN SERVICE COMPANY AND TOAS COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION OFFICES AND A COMMUNITY CLASSROOM. THESE BUSINESSES PROVIDE EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION AND SKILL TRAINING FOR MANY LOCAL AREA RESIDENTS. TRAINING IS PROVIDED AT NO COST FOR FOOD PROCESSING BUSINESSES TO DEVELOP MARKETING PROGRAMS FOR SPECIALTY FOOD. JOB SITE TRAINING WAS PROVIDED AS WELL AS BASIC BUSINESS SKILLS TO SMALL BUSINESS ENTREPRENEURS. EDUCATION AND TRAINING WAS PROVIDED PURSUANT TO THE FOOD AND MODERNIZATION ACT TO ASSIST 45 FOOD BUSINESSES WITH COMPLIANCE AND IMPLEMENTATION. THE FOOD CENTER IS A 5,000 SQUARE FOOT COMMERCIAL KITCHEN WHICH PROVIDES FOOD PROCESSING FACILITIES AND SUPPORT TO LOCAL FOOD PROCESSORS. EACH PROCESSOR EMPLOYS FROM 1-2 PEOPLE TOTALING OVER 4 DURING 2021. LARGER PROCESSORS AND FOOD CATERERS HAVE GRADUATED FROM THE FOOD CENTER TO THEIR OWN LOCATION AND CONTINUE TO PROVIDE EMPLOYMENT. THE BUSINESS PARK IS ALSO A VENUE FOR MULTIPLE FORUMS AND WORKSHOPS HOSTING MANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS. THE ORGANIZATION OFFERS SPECIALIZED EDUCATION AND TRAINING TO FOOD ENTREPRENEURS THROUGH ITS FOOD SECTOR OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM (FSOP). ADDITIONAL COURSES SUCH AS NX LEVEL TILLING THE SOIL OF OPPORTUNITY; AND OTHER COMMUNITY DRIVEN WORKSHOPS ARE OFFERED ON AN ONGOING BASIS.MOBILE LIVESTOCK SLAUGHTER UNIT (MLSU):MOBILE LIVESTOCK SLAUGHTER UNIT AND TRAINING PROGRAM IS A TOOL TO ASSIST LIMITED RESOURCE RANCHERS WITH CREATING NEW EMPLOYMENT AND BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES AS WELL AS ACCESS TO NEW MARKETS. IN 2015, THE PROGRAM WAS INTERRUPTED DUE TO LACK OF FUNDING. THE PROGRAM IS CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF REPAIR/UPGRADE TO EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE AND WE HOPE TO HAVE THE PROGRAM RUNNING AGAIN IN 2023.