Three businesses could be on way to Roosevelt

Portales and Roosevelt County could see three new businesses soon, according to the Roosevelt County Community Development Corp.

Jodi Diaz, executive director for RCCDC, told county commissioners Tuesday that one of the three potential new neighbors is closer to making it final than the others.

“The one that we are very close, we are all the way down to waiting on a contract,” Diaz said. “… (I)t is retail, but aimed at ag and kind of rural agriculture.”

Diaz declined to name the businesses, but said the other two were in the food and beverage realm.

“We’re excited for that to possibly come through,” Diaz said.

Diaz then provided various other updates for RCCDC and listed the projects it has been working on over the past year.

“I’ve really been trying to focus on our BRE: Business Retention and Expansion,” Diaz said. She said 80% of new jobs and capital investment comes from existing businesses.

Diaz said RCCDC goes out to businesses in the county to help them find out what their needs are. “We certainly don’t want to lose any of the businesses that we currently have in Portales and Roosevelt County,” she said.

County Manager Amber Hamilton then presented an update on the state of the county to the commissioners:

Financials

• FY22 financial audit reflected strong financial stability of the county.

• FY23 final budget report - $24.4 million revenues, $19.7 million expenses

• $8 million in required reserves (rebuilt from $0 in FY15)

• $3.8 million in commission special reserves for county capital projects

Operations

• Developed visual three-year strategic plan for the county, with bold steps to be driven by various personnel.

• Continued utilization of five-year planning process for county-maintained roads, including increased miles of chip-sealed/micro-sealed roads

• Enhanced/rehabilitated 55 miles of county-maintained roads.

• Secured just over $760,000 in capital outlay funding for upcoming priority projects, completing projects with Department of Transportation funding of an additional $500,000 for local government road fund projects.

• Maintained ongoing communication with legislative representatives regarding Roosevelt County needs and concerns.

• Completed multi-phase of drainage project at the Roosevelt County Fairgrounds

• Detention Center achieved second reaccreditation; policies and procedures reviewed annually.

• Completed facility upgrade projects to enhance security and building improvements.

• Regional collaboration for Regional Behavioral Health Facility ongoing as Initial Feasibility Study completed, continued into second phase as region was awarded $10 million in capital outlay to initiate planned facility.

After Hamilton’s presentation, commissioners expressed their pleasure with the $8 million in required reserves.

“That’s good news,” Commissioner Dennis Lopez said.

Also at Tuesday’s meeting, a proclamation was read and approved by the commission, declaring Nov. 4 as “Walk to End Alzheimer’s Day” in Roosevelt County.