Local economic development awarded PNM Safety Grant

DEMING, N.M. — Deming, Luna County Economic Development (DLCED) is a proud recipient of the 2022PNM Community Safety Grant awards. The $10,000 grant focused on initiatives that keep communities safe in New Mexico. The City of Deming was supportive of DLCED’s grant application and offered a $5,000 match.

The DLCED Board of Directors have a mission of creating opportunities for our diverse population – and to help meet this mission, decided to get these funds into the hands of business owners who have had setbacks due to recent vandalism.

“The retention and success of our local businesses is key to Deming, Luna County thriving,” said DLCED President, Kenneth Leupold.

DLCED worked collaboratively with valued community partners to talk to the impacted business community directly,hear their concerns, and take an active role in their solutions. Many of the recently vandalized businesses had already invested in security systems, alarms, and physical structures. “We are always inspired — but, never surprised – at the resiliency that our business community shows in the face of adversity. It is our job to work collaboratively to establish and maintain a business-friendly ecosystem. That is why our community partners such as Mainstreet, Deming Police Department, and The City of Deming are involved in conversations with our local businesses to understand the next level of needs such as lighting and affixed structures to discourage imitative scenarios in the future,” said DLCED Executive Director, Cassie Arias-Ward.

DLCED thanks the businesses that call Deming home and want to make sure that the community is aware that they are available to hear ideas, solutions, and concerns regarding economic development. “It rarely happens that a need directly aligns with funding opportunities and timelines, so we are really excited that DLCED was ready when the PNM Community Safety Grant came out and put the dollars immediately to work, investing in the safety of our businesses and our community,” said Mayor Benny Jasso.

The local economic development office can be reached by visiting their website www.dlced.com or e-mailingcarias@cityofdeming.org.

This article originally appeared on Deming Headlight: Local economic development awarded PNM Safety Grant