CEDSStrategic Direction and Action Plan
Action Plan: Regional Work Program
Six connected priorities, with recommended milestones, delivery steps, resources, and measures.
Turn Priorities Into a Work Program
- Regional Priority
- Proposed Action
- Responsible Partner
- Progress Measure
Regional progress comes from a small number of well-scoped actions carried through to delivery. This recommended work program supports the six strategic priorities in the CEDS and connects each one to the regional SWOT.
Sequence the Work
First 90 Days · Organize
Confirm the coordinating team, invite partners, agree on the work program, document the starting position, and choose the first delivery milestones.
Months 4–12 · Prepare and Pilot
Complete county profiles and project screens, establish sector partnerships, and design the strongest pilots with clear ownership.
Years 2–3 · Deliver and Learn
Advance ready projects and pathways. Report outputs, verify outcomes, and adjust work where the evidence changes.
Years 4–5 · Evaluate and Renew
Assess regional outcomes, refresh the SWOT, and use public and partner review to shape the next planning cycle.
Recommended Milestones by Priority
| Priority | Measurable Objective | Timing |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Economic Diversification and Business Growth | 1.1 · Complete five county opportunity profiles and at least 25 structured employer/supplier interviews. | Month 6 |
| 1. Economic Diversification and Business Growth | 1.2 · Select two supplier-development pilots using documented demand, workforce capacity, and infrastructure readiness. | Month 12 |
| 1. Economic Diversification and Business Growth | 1.3 · Publish annual results for the pilots, including verified local purchasing, business expansion, and job quality. | Years 2–3 |
| 1. Economic Diversification and Business Growth | 1.4 · Publish one shared referral directory and hold an accessible business clinic in each county. | Month 6 |
| 1. Economic Diversification and Business Growth | 1.5 · Provide individualized assistance to at least 25 unique businesses, including succession and financing readiness. | Month 12 |
| 1. Economic Diversification and Business Growth | 1.6 · Report 12-month business survival and verified financing or procurement outcomes for the assisted cohort. | Years 2–3 |
| 2. Workforce Alignment and Talent Development | 2.1 · Convene three sector partnerships and document occupations, entry requirements, wages, and advancement routes. | Month 6 |
| 2. Workforce Alignment and Talent Development | 2.2 · Design two earn-and-learn pathways with employer participation and a childcare/transport referral protocol. | Month 12 |
| 2. Workforce Alignment and Talent Development | 2.3 · Publish completion, credential, employment, and earnings results for each participating cohort. | Within 12 months after cohort exit |
| 3. Infrastructure Modernization and Economic Capacity | 3.1 · Build one regional register of priority infrastructure projects covering all five counties; invite Tribe-directed entries. | Month 6 |
| 3. Infrastructure Modernization and Economic Capacity | 3.2 · Complete at least five project-readiness assessments, including scope, cost basis, permits, match, operations, and funding fit. | Month 12 |
| 3. Infrastructure Modernization and Economic Capacity | 3.3 · Advance at least three screened projects to a documented funding application or final design milestone. | Month 24 |
| 4. Housing, Livability, and Community Capacity | 4.1 · Complete five county housing-action briefs using the 2026 state housing strategy and local evidence. | Month 9 |
| 4. Housing, Livability, and Community Capacity | 4.2 · Advance two locally sponsored housing or rehabilitation pilots through feasibility, site, infrastructure, and funding screening. | Month 18 |
| 4. Housing, Livability, and Community Capacity | 4.3 · Publish annual housing delivery and affordability results for the pilot areas. | Years 2–3 |
| 5. Regional Collaboration and Implementation Capacity | 5.1 · Agree on a common project-intake template and invite all five counties and Tribe-directed participation. | First 90 days |
| 5. Regional Collaboration and Implementation Capacity | 5.2 · Establish one regional project pipeline and complete an initial readiness review for each participating project. | Month 6 |
| 5. Regional Collaboration and Implementation Capacity | 5.3 · Hold quarterly partner reviews and publish one annual summary of milestones, barriers, and verified funding outcomes. | Quarterly; first annual summary by Month 12 |
| 6. Economic Resilience and Long-Term Readiness | 6.1 · Invite all five counties and Tribe-directed participation; agree on contacts, backup roles, and information-sharing protocols. | First 90 days |
| 6. Economic Resilience and Long-Term Readiness | 6.2 · Complete five county exposure profiles and one regional economic-recovery exercise. | Month 12 |
| 6. Economic Resilience and Long-Term Readiness | 6.3 · Issue an aggregate needs summary within 10 business days of agreed activation, where access permits; follow recovery at 30, 90, and 180 days. | After an incident |
Planning Resources and Funding
These first-year coordination and preparation allowances are transparent scoping estimates, not adopted budgets or funding awards. Each uses an assumed $100,000 fully loaded annual staff cost, an estimated share of staff time, and a direct-activity allowance. Replace assumptions with local compensation, procurement, and partner estimates before budgeting. Shared staff must be allocated across actions without counting the same cost twice.
| Priority | First-Year Allowance | Cost Basis | Scope |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $115,000 | 0.75 FTE × $100,000 assumed fully loaded annual staff cost + $40,000 activity allowance | Employer engagement, procurement mapping, certification assistance, and two pilot designs; excludes business capital investment. Regional coordination, outreach, clinics, and assistance referrals; excludes loan principal, grants to businesses, and direct investment. |
| 2 | $70,000 | 0.40 FTE × $100,000 assumed fully loaded annual staff cost + $30,000 activity allowance | Partnership coordination, pathway design, and support-service planning; excludes tuition, participant wages, and ongoing service delivery. |
| 3 | $95,000 | 0.50 FTE × $100,000 assumed fully loaded annual staff cost + $45,000 activity allowance | Pipeline coordination and five preliminary readiness screens; excludes engineering design, land acquisition, and construction. |
| 4 | $80,000 | 0.40 FTE × $100,000 assumed fully loaded annual staff cost + $40,000 activity allowance | County briefs and two preliminary feasibility packages; excludes land, engineering, subsidy commitments, and construction. |
| 5 | $35,000 | 0.25 FTE × $100,000 assumed fully loaded annual staff cost + $10,000 activity allowance | Shared pipeline administration, partner convening, and reporting; excludes engineering, construction, and sponsor project management. Allocate shared staff across priorities without double-counting. |
| 6 | $65,000 | 0.40 FTE × $100,000 assumed fully loaded annual staff cost + $25,000 activity allowance | Network coordination, profiles, workshops, and an exercise; excludes disaster assistance, physical mitigation, and emergency operations. |
Construction, land, business investment, tuition, participant wages, and direct disaster assistance require separate project budgets. Funding routes in each action are opportunities to screen; eligibility, availability, match, procurement, and award terms must be checked for the specific project.
1. Economic Diversification and Business Growth
Local EDO and employer contributions; state economic-development and eligible technical-assistance programs. Existing counseling programs; local and philanthropic support; eligible small-business technical assistance; private lending for qualified firms.
Planning connections: New Mexico Economic Development Department: State Plan; EDA: Strategic Direction/Action Plan. Reviewed September 26, 2026.
2. Workforce Alignment and Talent Development
Eligible WIOA services, employer contributions, apprenticeship support, state training programs, and education resources.
Planning connections: Eastern Area Workforce Development Board: 2024–2027 Local Plan; EDA: Workforce Development; New Mexico Economic Development Department: State Plan. Reviewed September 26, 2026.
3. Infrastructure Modernization and Economic Capacity
Local match and in-kind support; NMFA financing; eligible state capital outlay, federal infrastructure, and utility programs.
Planning connections: SNMEDD: Infrastructure Capital Improvement Planning; SNMEDD: Southeastern Regional Transportation Planning Organization; New Mexico Finance Authority: Public Project Revolving Fund; New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion. Reviewed September 26, 2026.
4. Housing, Livability, and Community Capacity
Housing New Mexico programs; eligible community-development resources; local infrastructure investment; private and nonprofit capital.
Planning connections: Housing New Mexico: New Mexico Housing Strategy, including 2026 update; SNMEDD: Infrastructure Capital Improvement Planning; New Mexico Finance Authority: Public Project Revolving Fund. Reviewed September 26, 2026.
5. Regional Collaboration and Implementation Capacity
Existing local and district planning resources; eligible state or federal planning and technical-assistance programs; partner in-kind support.
Planning connections: SNMEDD: Regional Plans and Data; SNMEDD: Infrastructure Capital Improvement Planning; EDA: Strategic Direction/Action Plan. Reviewed September 26, 2026.
6. Economic Resilience and Long-Term Readiness
Local coordination resources; eligible EDA planning/technical assistance; state recovery or mitigation programs when applicable.
Planning connections: SNMEDD: Regional Plans and Data; EDA: Economic Resilience. Reviewed September 26, 2026.
Choose Projects Consistently
Regional Value
Prioritize a clear need, a direct link to the SWOT and goals, and benefits that reach residents and businesses.
Readiness and Responsibility
Require a willing sponsor, defined scope, lawful site control, delivery capacity, and realistic dependencies.
Resources and Durability
Test full life-cycle cost, operating capacity, match, funding eligibility, and environmental and hazard constraints.
Measurable Benefit
State the people and places served, the starting conditions, the outcome sought, and how the evidence will be collected.
Planning connections: EDA: Strategic Direction/Action Plan. Reviewed September 26, 2026.