Bernalillo County residents will have another opportunity to influence local economic development policies at the next Community Dialogue meeting focused on small business and infrastructure needs, scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 29, at Taylor Ranch Branch Library.
The meeting represents the third in a series of five community engagement sessions designed to gather public input on key economic issues affecting the county’s 676,000-plus residents. The sessions are part of a project by a nine-member steering committee created at the directive of the Board of Commissioners in March to guide the county’s development strategy with an emphasis on building an inclusive, resilient economy.
“We want to hear what our friends and neighbors believe is important as far as economic development,” said Marcos Gonzales, Bernalillo County Executive Development Officer, in a press release. “We will use your comments to inform our Economic Development Department’s future strategies and programming.”
The upcoming meeting’s focus on infrastructure needs comes as the county has been actively advocating for critical infrastructure improvements, particularly for rural and indigenous communities’ access to internet, energy, water, and wastewater services. In January 2024, Bernalillo County commissioners urged the New Mexico Legislature to implement Constitutional Amendment 2 to address these infrastructure challenges.
The county’s Economic Development Department serves both rural areas and the Albuquerque metro across multiple industries, including food production, cybersecurity, and film production, spanning the county’s 1,160 square miles.
The dialogue series began in June with meetings covering different economic development themes. The first meeting on June 17 at South Valley Multipurpose Senior Center focused on “Community Benefits and Sustainability,” while the July 10 session at Raymond G. Sanchez Community Center addressed “Workforce Training and Transparency.” According to the press release, conversations at previous meetings have been “lively and informative.”
Two additional Community Dialogue meetings are planned following the July 29 session:
- Saturday, Aug. 9, 9-10:30 a.m.: Vista Grande Community Center, 15 La Madera Road, Sandia Park. Topic: Building a Strong, Competitive Economy
- Thursday, Aug. 14, 5:30-7 p.m.: Hiland Theater, 4804 Central Avenue SE, Albuquerque. Topic: Quality of Place, Quality Jobs
The July 29 meeting will be held at Taylor Ranch Branch Library, 5700 Bogart St. NW, Albuquerque, from 5:30-7 p.m. Light food will be available 30 minutes before the scheduled start, and the county will provide translation services and a Mobile Rec Unit to entertain children.
Community members are invited to attend any or all meetings based on their areas of interest. The steering committee will compile feedback from all sessions into a report to be presented to the Board of Commissioners in October.
For more information on Bernalillo County’s economic development policy and strategy, visit www.bernco.gov/economic-development. Residents can also complete a brief survey to help inform the county’s future economic development policies by clicking here.