A Strong Commitment to Colleges and Universities in New Mexico

Sergio Salvador

New Mexico is showing its commitment to post-secondary education through the establishment of the largest higher education trust fund in the nation, with a guarantee of free tuition for many students. That is just one component of the state’s workforce development strategy, which also includes training programs at colleges and universities in New Mexico and inside companies that help keep a pipeline of talent flowing to leading industries.

Central New Mexico Community College

As New Mexico’s largest community college in the most populous area of the state, Central New Mexico Community College (CNM) serves the workforce needs of nearly every sector of the economy in the Albuquerque-Rio Rancho metro area.

The college’s new Skilled Trades Facility, set to open in early 2025, represents a continuing commitment to meeting those needs. The 60,000-square-foot facility will provide a modernized learning environment with the latest technology for high-demand programs, including carpentry, electrical, HVAC, plumbing, mechatronics and welding.

“We’ve always been a major producer of well-educated and well-trained skilled trades workers, but the new facility will increase our capacity for more students, and the modernized, high-tech learning environments will be a key factor in attracting more people into the skilled trades,” says Tracy Hartzler, president of Central New Mexico Community College.

With an intentional design, the building is being constructed for the fast-paced nature of technology.

“This facility will provide much more flexibility in adapting spaces as technology continues to quickly evolve in the skilled trades … There will be space for industry partners and others to provide timely, responsive workforce training courses.”

Film Industry: Action-Packed Profession

The college is also growing its film production program to help meet the needs of the state’s emerging film, television and digital media industries. CNM partnered with the state and the City of Albuquerque to build the New Mexico Media Academy at the Rail Yards.

“For more than 20 years, CNM has been supporting the growing workforce needs of the film industry in New Mexico,” Hartzler says. “This new partnership and state-of-the-art facility are going to increase access for New Mexicans to get high-quality film production training and begin exciting careers that will help our film and digital media industry continue to thrive.”

Building Up an Industry on Energy Efficiency

Another growing industry with workforce demands is energy-efficient construction and building. New Mexico State University’s Building Training and Assessment Center (BTAC) addresses these needs with comprehensive training in areas such as energy efficiency, green building practices and advanced construction techniques.

A partnership between the university’s College of Engineering and Global Campus, BTAC is funded in part by a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy. The university also works with industry leaders, like Trane Technologies, to give students hands-on learning opportunities.

“We’ve developed state-of-the-art training on energy efficiency for both undergraduate and graduate students both in-person and online. This series of stackable online micro-credential courses focuses on residential and industrial energy efficiency and energy assessment,” says Samah Ben Ayed, professor of mechanical engineering technology and project lead manager of the BTAC.

Patricia Sullivan, NMSU associate dean of engineering and principal investigator for the project, says the BTAC not only addresses the industry’s workforce needs but also serves as a catalyst for the state’s clean energy efforts.

“New Mexico is looking to be a leader in clean energy development and clean energy deployment, and to do that, we must have an aligned workforce at all levels,” Sullivan says. “We will also expand our efforts in working directly with the business community to provide on-site assessments and services to enhance energy efficiency practices.”

On-the-Job Training Opportunities

Training opportunities for in-demand jobs extend past the colleges and universities in New Mexico.

The New Mexico Economic Development Department’s Job Training Incentive Program (JTIP) provides grants to companies across the state for on-the-job training. The program has benefited companies, such as AerSale in Roswell, Stampede Culinary Partners in Sunland Park, Franklin Mountain Packaging in Santa Teresa, Arcosa Wind Towers in Belen and Intel Corp. in Rio Rancho.

“It’s a tool in the toolbox to attract new industry to New Mexico. The program has evolved with more funding to work with local industries that are growing and extending their operations,” says Patrick Gannon, JTIP program manager at the New Mexico Economic Development Department. “We’re offsetting the cost associated with training a new worker to bring them up to the competency levels those employers require. The program is also designed to encourage companies to hire residents of New Mexico.”

Grants Fund Training for New Intel Facilities

Intel Corp. has received more than $3 million in grants from the New Mexico Economic Development Department’s Job Training Incentive Program (JTIP) to train some 480 new technicians and engineers for its Rio Rancho facilities.

The company recently opened the state-of-the-art Fab 9 factory to manufacture advanced semiconductor packaging technologies. Frank Gallegos, director of community relations for Intel, speaks about the success of the JTIP program.

How would you describe the program’s success?
Our collaboration with the JTIP team has been instrumental in navigating this journey together, underscoring the program’s effectiveness in facilitating workforce development and fostering partnerships. This program has also helped us make deep connections with our local labor agencies, which led to mega-hiring events to support a large hiring ramp.

How has the program benefited your employees?
The program has significantly benefited our employees by providing them with specialized training tailored to their roles as technicians and engineers. This training equips them with the skills and knowledge necessary to excel in their positions, enhancing their professional growth and contributing to our overall productivity and success.

What makes New Mexico a good place to do business?
The state’s programs not only enhance the skills and capabilities of the workforce but also contribute to economic growth, job creation and innovation within the community. The state plays a crucial role in bridging the gap between industry needs and workforce readiness, ensuring a sustainable and competitive workforce for the future.