State department to help family business in rural Curry County
May 31—A New Mexico state department is stepping in to help a family business in rural Curry County.
According to a news release from the state Economic Development department, that department is committing $360,000 in local economic development act (LEDA) funds to Melrose Tire so the business may replace its above-ground gasoline storage tanks and continue to operate as what the state terms "a vital economic hub."
Melrose Tire is a fuel service point and also the only tire service center and restaurant in Melrose. The business opened in 1991 and has been owned by Terry and Chassidy England since 2009.
The $360,000 in LEDA funds will allow the business to replace the above-ground tanks with underground tanks that meet environmental regulations. The village of Melrose is providing an additional $40,000 for the project.
Without the help the largest employer in the village of 616 would have to close or cut back service, according to the news release. Melrose Tire employs 15 people, the release said.
The funding for the Melrose Tire project comes from a 2020 change to the LEDA statute allowing for state assistance to retail projects in communities with a population of 15,000 or less.
The assistance is pending approval from the Melrose village council.
Melrose Mayor Barry Green said in the news release if the business were forced to close, the impact to the village would be great.
Green said, "Agriculture-based businesses will be forced to drive an additional 50-60 miles round-trip to get fuel or tires."
Chassidy England said the business has 425 service accounts and has an operations truck that travels as far as Amarillo and Lubbock to help replace or repair tires for tractors and farm equipment, often with hard-to-find products.
The LEDA infrastructure project includes new fuel lines and electric work, three 12,000-gallon fuel tanks and one 4,000-gallon tank. The work is expected to begin in July.
