May 18th, 2023 – The New Mexico Economic Development Department (EDD) announced that four companies have been approved for new funds to train New Mexico employees, EDD Cabinet Secretary Alicia J. Keyes announced today.
Each month, the Job Training Incentive Program (JTIP) board meets to review applications from New Mexico companies requesting financial assistance in order to hire and train local employees. Once these allocations are approved, the training funds become available at a rate of 50-85% of the employers’ costs. Companies are reimbursed after the training has been completed.
JTIP is one of EDD’s most prominent tool to help companies expand and hire skilled employees. It offers companies assistance in training New Mexicans and gives locals the ability to gain the skills they need for higher-wage jobs.
The total amount allocated in May was $850,496 to fund up to 73 trainees at these four companies:
Gridworks, Albuquerque, 43 trainees at an average wage of $32.36 for a total award of$606,141.36. Gridworks provides turnkey solar and energy storage solutions for developers and utility clients through engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) as well as operations and maintenance (O&M). The company’s proprietary technologies streamline the EPC process, saving time and money. Gridworks is also sought after for their ability to engage in creative problem solving for early-stage renewables development.
Higher Cultures LLC, Las Cruces, 15 trainees at an average wage of $20.20 for a total award of $111,272. Higher Culture’s goal is to provide the best quality cannabis products to the state of New Mexico, to run a responsible and profitable business, and to create quality jobs in the communities in which they operate.
Atkore, Inc. dba United Poly Systems , Albuquerque, 10 trainees at an average wage of $19.95 for a total award of $65,090. United Poly Systems offers pressure pipe and conduit pipe applications. The company has expanded the product offering by increasing the pipe diameter to 16′. In the past three years, the company grew from 21 to 37 employees, while production capacity grew from 11 million pounds to more than 25 million pounds.
Vana, LLC, Clovis, 5 trainees at an average wage of $21.39 for a total award of $67,993.04. Vana LLC is a minority-, women-owned company. The operation is vertically integrated with Orenda Farms as the cannabis growing facility and Vana as the processing and manufacturing facility of cannabis products that include edibles, salves, lotions, and tinctures.
