Greater Gallup Economic Development Corporation

(1)business attraction & recruitment (bar): under the ggedcs core business attraction and recruitment (bar) program, the ggedc secured and began execution of a contract from mckinley county (renewed for another year at july 1, 2024) to oversee and coordinate the work of consultant teams on three inter-related Development projects,engaged by the county to plan and design: (a) an autonomous vehicles test track complex; (b) a hydrogen fuel hub; and (c) a multi-functional inland port facility. Ggedc staff and local consultants assisted the county in the rfp/consultant procurement process and then coordinated communications and tracked progress on each of the initiatives. These efforts were funded by three planning and design grants from the new mexico department of transportation (nmdot). The ggedc also began work under its contract with the city of Gallup (also pursuant to an nmdot grant) to secure expert assistance in obtaining from us customs a foreign trade zone and user-fee airport designation for the Gallup municipal airport an initiative likewise interrelated with the inland port complex design. This certification process is running in parallel with plans for rehabilitation of the airport terminal facility. Highlights of the organizations bar work included two Economic roundtable conferences focused on the tradeport initiatives: one was held in santa fe in january 2024 (over 60 in attendance); and the second one was held in Gallup in june 2024 (about 40 in attendance). The reports and presentations at these events were outstanding, adding great value to the ggedcs work. (2) marketing: the ggedcs bar and marketing efforts included (a) close communication with and technical assistance to a number of companies considering relocating to the Greater Gallup area, resulting in one company committing to relocate and several companies sustaining interest; and (b) attendance and networking with industry leaders at several national conferences, including the transatlantic business investment council (tbic), journal of commerce (joc) inland distribution conference, the international manufacturing technology show (imts), the select usa trade show, and the breakbulk trade show. The ggedc achieved recertification by tbic, as well as by the new mexico Economic Development department as a certified Economic Development organization. (3) business retention & expansion (bre): the ggedc continued and refined its award-winning business retention and expansion (bre) program, including semi-annual interviews with key economic-base employers and recognition of a local employer,peabody coal company, for its Economic contributions to the region. The ggedc also actively continued its support for expansion of the mckinley paper operation located at prewitt in eastern mckinley county. The ggedc received an award from the international Economic Development council(iedc) for its outstanding work in organizing and hosting Economic Development week in the Greater Gallup community.