Los Lunas gets $1.3M boost for water line

Commerce Dept. grant a windfall for expansion

LOS LUNAS — Expansion of the village of Los Lunas just received a boost from the U.S. Department of Commerce.

The Commerce Department is investing $1.3 million for water infrastructure improvements to support business growth in the village, which estimates the project ultimately would create 3,000 jobs.

“It’s great that we received the grant,” said Los Lunas Mayor Charles Griego. “I think the (Commerce Department) is looking for job creation and thinks this is a good project.”

The project will install a 21,000foot potable water pipeline that will run along N.M. 6 to the western edge of the village and the BNSF Central New Mexico Rail Park.

The Rail Park will increase intermodal freight capabilities, which will power the growth of the manufacturing, warehousing and distribution industries.

Sen. Martin Heinrich said economic development depends on 21stcentury infrastructure improvements like this, which was made possible by the regional planning efforts led by the Mid-Region Council of Governments.

The grant was pursued about a year ago by Los Lunas Public Works Director Michael Jaramillo, who said it is a 50/50 grant that the village will match with LEDA funds the state awarded for the Facebook Data Center’s infrastructure needs.

“This definitely opens the door for economic opportunity,” Jaramillo said.

The grant will be used in the first phase of a two-phase process, which includes building a sewer line. Jaramillo is looking for the funding for the second phase.

The village hopes to start the design process this fall. The village expects the request for proposals to go out in the first quarter of 2019. The project is expected to be completed around this time next year, Jaramillo said.

Other private entities who will benefit from the potable water line will also be contributing funding.