Priority 3 · Delivery Brief

Infrastructure Modernization and Economic Capacity

Turn local priorities into a shared, fundable project pipeline. Start with clear scope, ownership, operating capacity, and the communities each project will serve.

Suggested coordinating lead
Local governments and utility owners, with SNMEDD coordination
First delivery milestone
Build one regional register of priority infrastructure projects covering all five counties; invite Tribe-directed entries. Month 6.
Outcome to track
Households and businesses gaining reliable service; reduced outage duration; private investment enabled
Read the Goal and Measurable Objectives →Compare Milestones and Planning Resources →

Regional Action Plan

Regional Infrastructure and Site Readiness Initiative

Create a coordinated regional system for identifying, prioritizing, funding, and advancing infrastructure projects that support economic growth, housing development, business expansion, tourism, public services, emergency preparedness, and long-term resilience.

Why It Matters

Infrastructure is one of the most consistent barriers and opportunities identified throughout this CEDS. Communities cannot grow their employment base, recruit businesses, expand housing, retain workers, improve downtowns, or prepare for disruption without reliable infrastructure.

In Southeastern New Mexico, infrastructure pressures vary sharply by geography and industry. Energy-intensive communities face heavy truck traffic, water and wastewater demand, utility pressure, and housing-supportive infrastructure needs. Tourism communities face seasonal demand, wildfire and flooding risk, broadband needs, and aging public facilities. Rural communities often face limited fiscal capacity, aging systems, and the need for technical assistance to move projects from concept to construction.

The CEDS planning process identified infrastructure, broadband, and capital projects as key priorities. County-level focus groups and public hearings also helped clarify how local capital needs affect economic development, community resilience, and future growth capacity

County-Specific Strategic Direction

Chaves County

Advance infrastructure that supports Roswell’s role as a regional service center, including aviation-related infrastructure at and around the Roswell Air Center, water and wastewater improvements, agricultural processing and distribution needs, downtown redevelopment, housing-supportive infrastructure, healthcare access, and public facility modernization. Dexter, Hagerman, and Lake Arthur should also be supported in developing fundable infrastructure projects that improve local capacity and quality of life.

Eddy County

Prioritize infrastructure connected to industrial growth, energy activity, WIPP-related logistics, Carlsbad and Artesia expansion, water and wastewater reliability, freight movement, workforce housing, and site readiness. Particular attention should be given to transportation corridors, utility capacity, water stewardship, and public facilities that support both rapid industrial activity and long-term community stability.

Lea County

Support infrastructure that responds to energy-sector growth, industrial traffic, workforce housing demand, utility reliability, broadband, and industrial park/site readiness. Hobbs and Lovington should be supported as major population and employment centers, while Jal, Eunice, and Tatum should receive targeted assistance for infrastructure tied to rural service delivery, energy impacts, and long-term diversification.

Lincoln County

Focus on infrastructure that supports wildfire and flood recovery, water reliability, broadband connectivity, tourism continuity, senior-accessible public facilities, and rural community resilience. Ruidoso and Ruidoso Downs need infrastructure that can support seasonal tourism and disaster recovery, while Capitan, Carrizozo, and Corona need investments that improve essential services, transportation access, broadband, and year-round livability.

Otero County

Prioritize infrastructure that supports Alamogordo’s role as a regional service and population center, military and federal assets, Holloman Air Force Base connections, White Sands Missile Range-related activity, tourism corridors, housing-supportive utilities, broadband, and public facilities. Cloudcroft and Tularosa should be supported in projects that strengthen tourism, water reliability, rural services, and community resilience.

Key Activities

  1. Develop and maintain a regional infrastructure priority inventory connected to ICIPs, capital outlay requests, EDA eligibility, broadband gaps, housing needs, transportation corridors, and economic development potential.
  2. Create project prioritization criteria that consider job impact, housing impact, regional benefit, resilience, readiness, match availability, environmental considerations, and alignment with CEDS goals.
  3. Provide technical assistance to local governments for project scoping, preliminary engineering, cost estimating, funding strategy, procurement readiness, environmental review, compliance planning, and grant applications.
  4. Identify development-ready and near-ready sites for industrial, commercial, housing, tourism, and community development.
  5. Support broadband deployment and redundancy planning in rural, mountainous, and underserved communities.
  6. Coordinate annually with state and federal funding cycles to position projects for EDA, USDA, CDBG, State Capital Outlay, NMFA, and other funding opportunities.
  7. Track infrastructure projects from concept through planning, funding, design, construction, and completion.

Lead and Supporting Partners

Potential Lead Partners

  • SNMEDD
  • Counties
  • Municipalities
  • Mescalero Apache Tribe

Potential Supporting Partners

  • New Mexico Economic Development Department
  • New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration
  • New Mexico Department of Transportation
  • New Mexico Finance Authority
  • New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion
  • EDA and USDA Rural Development
  • Utility Providers
  • Engineering Firms and Private Developers
  • Local Economic Development Organizations
  • Chambers of Commerce and Community Organizations

Estimated Cost Range

Costs will vary significantly based on project type, readiness, engineering needs, environmental review, local match requirements, and construction scope.

Activity Type Examples Estimated Range
Planning, Engineering, and Feasibility Studies $50,000–$500,000
Small Public Facility or Utility Improvements $250,000–$2 million
Water, Wastewater, Drainage, or Road Improvements $1 million–$25 million+
Broadband Deployment or Redundancy Projects $500,000–$20 million+
Industrial Site Readiness or Business Park Infrastructure $1 million–$30 million+

Potential Funding Sources

  • EDA Public Works
  • EDA Economic Adjustment Assistance
  • USDA Rural Development
  • Community Development Block Grant
  • State Capital Outlay
  • New Mexico Finance Authority
  • Colonias Infrastructure Fund where eligible
  • New Mexico Department of Transportation
  • Office of Broadband Access and Expansion programs
  • Local Government Match
  • Utility Investment,
  • Private-Sector Participation, and Philanthropic or Foundation Support where Appropriate.

Performance Measures

  • Number of priority infrastructure projects identified.
  • Number of projects moved from concept to funding application.
  • Number of projects funded.
  • Total dollars leveraged for infrastructure investment.
  • Number of communities receiving technical assistance.
  • Number of sites advanced toward development readiness.
  • Housing units, businesses, public facilities, or community assets supported by infrastructure investment.
  • Broadband access or reliability improvements supported.
  • Reduction in identified infrastructure barriers to economic development.

Timeline

  1. Year 1: Establish regional infrastructure inventory, prioritization criteria, and technical assistance process.
  2. Years 2-3: Move priority projects into funding applications, engineering, and early implementation.
  3. Years 4-5: Advance major project delivery, update infrastructure priorities, and evaluate regional impact.