CED receives $40,000 for professional services achievements

Clovis Economic Development (CED) has received a $40,000 cash grant as one of four economic development organizations in the state recognized by the New Mexico Economic Development Department (EDD) for achieving the highest level of professional services for their communities.

The certified organizations were presented with their awards at the 2023 Governor’s Conference on Economic Development held Sept. 11 and Sept. 12 in Albuquerque, according to a news release from EDD.

Tina Dziuk, executive director of CED said the $40,000 cash grant is earned annually through recertification, which can be renewed for up to 10 years.

“It lets the rest of the state know that we’re experienced and that we can help lead economic development for the state,” Dziuk said.

Dziuk said CED will be hosting a board meeting on Wednesday to discuss further on this achievement and deciding how the grant will be used. She said the grant will most likely be used for “specific projects” and not use it as an operating expense.

“We’d like to use it for marketing and advertisement if we can, to be able to recruit other businesses out here. So whether it's rec

ruiting more manufacturing or national retailers, those are all things that we can use that money for,” Dziuk said.

Dziuk said along with the four new awardees, seven previous awardees had also received this recognition at the governor’s conference. She said beneficiaries were selected based on comprehensive applications to the state that included strategic and marketing plans.

“It’s an exciting process to make. It’s a heavy lift, there's a lot involved so to be able to get through the process and receive the recognition was an awesome thing for us,” Dziuk said.

According to the release, the certified economic development organization program facilitates the recruitment and retention of the economic-base jobs within New Mexico, while encouraging professional development for the state’s developers. The release states the program helps establish a diversified and stable economy which will improve quality of life for residents.

Besides CED, other new awardees for fiscal year 2024 include:

• Questa Economic Development Fund.

• Four Corners Economic Development, Inc.

• Lovington Economic Development Corporation.