Evaluation / The Measures

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.

01 / Starting Point

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.

111,935

Covered Jobs

2024 BLS QCEW

Workplace-based jobs; excludes self-employment.

$62,593

Average Annual Pay

2024 BLS QCEW

Pay per covered job; not median household income.

7,513

Private Establishments

2024 BLS QCEW

Annual average of private-sector establishments.

290,020

Residents

July 2024 Census estimate

Five-county total, not a current count.

86.4%

Broadband Subscriptions

ACS 2020–2024

Household subscription; not speed or reliability.

132,622

Housing Units

ACS 2020–2024

Occupied and vacant units; not available homes.

$52,938–$78,426

County Median Household Income Range

ACS 2020–2024

Range 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.

02 / Delivery and Benefit

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.

01

Economic Diversification and Business Growth

Does local demand turn into contracts and durable firms, rather than interviews alone?

Delivery Evidence

Five opportunity profiles, 25 interviews, two supplier pilots, five clinics, and 25 businesses assisted

Benefit to Verify

Verified local contracts and financing closed; assisted-firm survival and job quality

02

Workforce Alignment and Talent Development

Do participants complete, enter employment, and earn more—not simply enroll?

Delivery Evidence

Three sector partnerships and two employer-backed earn-and-learn pathway designs

Benefit to Verify

Cohort credential attainment, employment in quarters 2 and 4 after exit, and median earnings

03

Infrastructure Modernization and Economic Capacity

Do prepared projects reach funding or design, then deliver usable service?

Delivery Evidence

One five-county project register, five readiness assessments, and three documented advancement milestones

Benefit to Verify

Commissioned service gains, reliability, and investment enabled by completed infrastructure

04

Housing, Livability, and Community Capacity

Do screened sites become homes residents can occupy at a stated cost?

Delivery Evidence

Five county housing-action briefs and two locally sponsored feasibility packages

Benefit to Verify

Usable homes completed or rehabilitated, occupancy, and affordability for defined households

05

Regional Collaboration and Implementation Capacity

Does regional coordination help sponsors remove barriers and move projects forward?

Delivery Evidence

Common intake, one regional pipeline, quarterly partner reviews, and an annual progress summary

Benefit to Verify

Distinct projects advancing readiness stages, barriers resolved, and verified awards

06

Economic Resilience and Long-Term Readiness

Can partners identify needs quickly and restore economic functions after disruption?

Delivery Evidence

Shared contact protocol, five county exposure profiles, and one recovery exercise

Benefit to Verify

Corrective actions completed; after an incident, business reopening and essential-service restoration

03 / The Decision

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 Scorecard

Public baselines: BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; American Community Survey; Census Population Estimates.