Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Staff writer
The Clovis city commission on Thursday passed a measure clearing the way for a $350,000 grant to help fund the third phase of the Southwest Cheese plant expansion effort. Commissioners unanimously approved Ordinance 2070-2016, which includes a project participation and security agreement.
The New Mexico Economic Development Department reports that since 2002, 83 New Mexico communities, including Clovis, have passed a Local Economic Development Act (LEDA). Through passing LEDA, a community adopts an ordinance creating an economic development organization and a strategic plan.
“The ordinance is required under state law to use public money for an economic development project,” said Clovis Industrial Development Corp. Executive Director Chase Gentry, who presented the legislation to the body. “This ordinance would approve phase three of Southwest Cheese Plant funding. It was introduced in March and the reason we’re trying to get this done is the state needs to transfer the money to the city by June 30.”
LEDA allows public support of economic development to foster, promote and enhance local economic development efforts while continuing to protect against the unauthorized use of public money and other public resources.
Officials said once completed, the third phase of the Southwest Cheese Plant expansion project would produce approximately 48 jobs and increase plant production by 30 percent.
Southwest Cheese opened 10 years ago with an initial investment of $200 million, bringing 200 jobs to the Clovis/Curry County area.
In 2009 the cheese plant expanded by 70,000 square feet to increase milk processing capacity from 7 million pounds to 10.5 million pounds of milk daily.
Phase Two expansion added an additional 50 jobs to the facility, officials said. Since that time, officials said the plant has nurtured increased employment levels to over 350 full-time employees.
Clovis Mayor David Lansford extended kudos to Gentry for his due diligence regarding the initiative.
“We appreciate all of the hard work you put on this project,” Lansford said. “A $160 million cheese plant expansion project is significant for not only our city, but the surrounding area. A lot of work has gone into this.”
