Rural Valencia targeted

Group to help boost economy

BOSQUE FARMS — A new nonprofit is beginning the task of making small municipalities and rural areas of Valencia County more economically viable.

The Middle Rio Grande Economic Team, which has obtained its 501c3 status from the IRS, will focus on communities that haven’t seen an economic boon in recent years, starting in the north of the county with the village of Bosque Farms and town of Peralta.

“Los Lunas is doing great, and Ralph Mims (village economic development director) has been a huge amount of help,” said Mark Podeyn, president of the new group. “That’s why we fell on the idea of these communities, like Bosque Farms and Peralta, Tomé and Jarales. They need representation, too.”

Podeyn was quick to add that every community had its own vision of the right kind of economic development, saying the team was not looking to imitate Los Lunas everywhere.

“It’s been several years ago, but there was a survey done in Bosque Farms about what people wanted and didn’t want,” he said. “They definitely didn’t want all sidewalks, curbs and street lights. They want unique, niche, destination businesses.”

Those community wants fit the team’s purpose, which is to “sensibly grow commerce” to provide a better quality of life for residents.

Podeyn, the owner of Action RV in Bosque Farms, and vice presidents Audra Salazar and Wendy Wallace say such growth will benefit not just Bosque Farms and Peralta, but all communities in the county.

“As a nonprofit, we now have access to private, state and federal funds to accomplish some really great things for the residents through careful commercial development,” Podeyn said.

The team plans to seek out those resources to recruit and provide assistance to businesses that will benefit the local economy and at the same time maintain a rural lifestyle.