CEDSEvaluation Framework / 01 Southeastern New Mexico
Measuring Regional Progress
From Plan to Proof.
A public strategy earns trust when it shows what changed, what has not, and what the evidence can—and cannot—tell us.
What Counts as Regional Progress
The CEDS evaluates three connected results: economic conditions, the region’s capacity for growth, and whether the six priorities are delivered. Public statistics establish context. Sponsor records show what specific projects and programs achieved. Both are needed to judge progress responsibly.
What Does Progress Look Like Here?
Regional figures tell us where the five counties begin. They cannot, by themselves, say whether a project was built, a participant advanced, or a small business secured a new contract. The annual review must pair the public trend with a verified record of the work behind it.
That distinction matters across a region with different industries, settlement patterns, and service needs. County detail helps reveal where conditions diverge; sponsor evidence shows whether an action reached the people and places it intended to serve.
Five Counties. Two Views of Work.
The same region holds different employment profiles. Compare covered jobs where people work, then average annual pay per covered job. These are historical conditions, not results of the CEDS.
Read the distinction: QCEW jobs are counted at workplaces and exclude self-employment and other jobs outside its coverage. Average annual pay is total wages divided by average covered employment; it is not median household income or an individual worker's annual earnings.
View the Exact Values and Source
| County | Covered Jobs | Annual Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Chaves | 21,658 | $47,769 |
| Eddy | 32,197 | $76,419 |
| Lea | 33,770 | $69,342 |
| Lincoln | 6,782 | $43,202 |
| Otero | 17,528 | $50,017 |
Five-county average annual pay per covered job: $62,593, calculated from summed wages and employment. See the BLS QCEW methods ↗.
Seven Dated Regional Baselines
These are observed conditions, not targets or claimed CEDS accomplishments. Later releases can be compared with the same definitions and geographic coverage.
Covered Jobs
2024 BLS QCEWWorkplace-based jobs; excludes self-employment.
Average Annual Pay
2024 BLS QCEWPay per covered job; not median household income.
Private Establishments
2024 BLS QCEWAnnual average of private-sector establishments.
Residents
July 2024 Census estimateFive-county total, not a current count.
Broadband Subscriptions
ACS 2020–2024Household subscription; not speed or reliability.
Housing Units
ACS 2020–2024Occupied and vacant units; not available homes.
County Median Household Income Range
ACS 2020–2024Range of five county medians; not a regional median.
The five counties are Chaves, Eddy, Lea, Lincoln, and Otero. Census and BLS measures use different populations and reference periods; they should not be combined into one score.
How Each Priority Will Be Judged
A completed activity is an output. A stronger business, reliable service, occupied home, or improved career outcome is a benefit. The pair matters more than either number on its own.
Economic Diversification and Business Growth
Does local demand turn into contracts and durable firms, rather than interviews alone?
Five opportunity profiles, 25 interviews, two supplier pilots, five clinics, and 25 businesses assisted
Verified local contracts and financing closed; assisted-firm survival and job quality
Workforce Alignment and Talent Development
Do participants complete, enter employment, and earn more—not simply enroll?
Three sector partnerships and two employer-backed earn-and-learn pathway designs
Cohort credential attainment, employment in quarters 2 and 4 after exit, and median earnings
Infrastructure Modernization and Economic Capacity
Do prepared projects reach funding or design, then deliver usable service?
One five-county project register, five readiness assessments, and three documented advancement milestones
Commissioned service gains, reliability, and investment enabled by completed infrastructure
Housing, Livability, and Community Capacity
Do screened sites become homes residents can occupy at a stated cost?
Five county housing-action briefs and two locally sponsored feasibility packages
Usable homes completed or rehabilitated, occupancy, and affordability for defined households
Regional Collaboration and Implementation Capacity
Does regional coordination help sponsors remove barriers and move projects forward?
Common intake, one regional pipeline, quarterly partner reviews, and an annual progress summary
Distinct projects advancing readiness stages, barriers resolved, and verified awards
Economic Resilience and Long-Term Readiness
Can partners identify needs quickly and restore economic functions after disruption?
Shared contact protocol, five county exposure profiles, and one recovery exercise
Corrective actions completed; after an incident, business reopening and essential-service restoration
Progress Means Delivery With Evidence of Benefit.
At each annual review, the region can continue work that is delivering, repair work blocked by a specific barrier, or redirect effort where evidence shows a better route to the same goal. Regional trends inform that decision; they are not automatically attributed to a single CEDS action.
See the Priority ScorecardPublic baselines: BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; American Community Survey; Census Population Estimates.