[Editor's Note: This is the third in a series of articles on the May 7, 2024 Grant County Commission work session and decisions made at the regular meeting on May 9, 2024. This article begins with a second presentation at the regular meeting.]

Western New Mexico University Vice President of External Affairs Dr. Magadaleno Manzanares led off the second presentation at the May 9, 2024 Grant County Commission meeting.

"We are here to answer your questions about the Western New Mexico University initiative to build a career and technical education center in the Mining District," Manzanares said. "We are looking at two properties. One that has nothing and would cost upwards of $30 million dollars. The second is the Armory in Santa Clara, which would cost between $5 million and $7 million."

He introduced two university administrators with him, the Vice President of Facilities and Maintenance Kevin Matthes and the Director of Capital Projects Joseph Holguin to help answer any questions.

"We are looking at funds on both the state and national level," Manzanares continued. "We have spoken to our District 2 Congressman and our two senators. We have not heard a 'No' yet, from anyone including you commissioners and the municipalities, which will host this facility. Catron, Luna and Hidalgo counties are also supporting this initiative. The facilities we have at Western are full, and we want to expand also the offerings in terms of the technical education. We are in conversations with both Cobre and Silver districts to create a consortium to carry this through."

Matthes said: "We spent the better part of two years talking with the two school districts, as well as Santa Clara, Hurley, Bayard and Silver City to put a consortium together to try to get everyone at the table. We are encouraged that both school districts polled their students and found a renewed interest in technical skills. I came from the mining industry before I joined Western, and I experienced that drought of technical skills. There is a big demand for technical skills; kids can make a lot of money with the skills; and as I said, there is a renewed interest among young people that hasn't been there over the past decade. So, our goal is to put this package together to benefit the entire area."

Holguin gave a rundown of the funding received so far, as well as "the work we've done and to give an overview of the institution's vision."

"We received $260,000, from Senate Bill 12," he continued. "With that we created a comprehensive master plan. With that, we want to build the best facility we can in the Mining District to provide opportunities not only to youth, but also to non-traditional students. We visited the CTEch Center in Hobbs and Santa Fe Community College. We have done extensive research to get all the best ideas together. We have looked at constructing a facility right outside of Bayard that is an ask for about $30 million to build it. We are also doing an architectural assessment of the Armory. We want to make sure that investments we are putting into it will benefit the community as a whole, including our neighboring counties. Out of that funding source we received, we also hired someone to do a needs assessment, to build a plan with the potential jobs and the salaries that can be earned, for instance. We are hoping to have that report within the next few months."

District 1 Commissioner and Chair Chris Ponce asked: "Once this happens, what is the funding to keep it going?"

Manzanares replied that it will come from the university through legislative-allocated funds, "once we have the place for the teaching."

District 5 Commissioner said the whole community has expressed interest in a vocational school becoming a reality. "What programs will you have?"

Manzanares said the programming will include training for welders, electricians and construction positions, among others. "Once it is established in the community, we will develop new programs. We are considering developing health related job training, as well as plumbing and high-end welding jobs." He noted that Freeport McMoRan has given the university standards to create international jobs. "We can't offer everything, but we want to meet the needs of the community."

He also said all four counties in the southwest part of the state are supporting the effort. "We want to make sure new technologies are available. Some courses will be offered online, but the practicums will be onsite."

Browne said the armory had some downsides, but "why would you consider four times the cost for construction of a new Bayard facility?"

Holguin noted the university would not have to purchase land, as Freeport had offered to donate the land. "But our secondary consideration came when we learned it was possible for us to purchase the armory. It would require legislative funding to create the new facility with all the latest tech, but the armory looks practical."

Ponce noted that the 35 acres offered by Freeport McMoRan would allow for expansion, even potentially for commercial vehicle driver training. But the armory may have some land around it available for purchase, but the difference is about $30 million in cost, with the armory costing around $5 or so million, and then another million would be needed for renovation and equipment.

Browne asked what role the county would have.

Manzanares said whatever help the county could offer would be appreciated. "We ask for your support and whatever you can do to guide us in the location decision and in learning what the needs are in Grant county."

Ponce said he would like to see the item on the county's ICIP (Infrastructure Capital Improvement Plan) for funding. "We need plumbers."

District 4 Commissioner Billy Billings thanked Ponce for taking the lead for the county, and for what WNMU President Dr. Shepard, Freeport and "all of you are doing. I think this is an answer from the county that you wanted. We want it to be regional, and I'm happy to hear the support from Luna, Hidalgo and Catron counties. We also need allies in support from the municipalities."

Manzanarea said Lt. Gov. Howie Morales and Shepard have met. "Howie wants to help in securing funds from the state. He has always been in support of a vocational center."

"I'm glad to see his support," Billings said. "I think we've always been on the same page on a vocational school. We are tired of exporting our kids and grandkids to elsewhere. We need to keep them here. I certainly endorse this training center. I think it would also be a good boost to the economy. I've heard support from everyone."

Manzanares said the group has also been working on accreditation with the Forest Services for their work force. "We have a grant and soon will have a meeting on where to plant 1,000 trees."

The next article will continue the review of the work session and then get into the elected official reports at the regular meeting.

To view the previous articles in the series, please visit https://www.grantcountybeat.com/news/news-articles/84689-grant-county-commission-work-session-050724-part-1 ; and https://www.grantcountybeat.com/news/news-articles/84782-grant-county-commission-work-session-050724-and-regular-meeting-050924-part-2