Valencia County to tout area’s economic progress
Trades conference, job fair on Thurs. at Belen Business Center
As more and more businesses and industry move into Valencia County and revitalize the area’s economy, they’ll all soon gather together to let the public know who they are and what they can offer.
The Valencia Trades Conference and Job Fair is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday at the Belen Business Center, 719 S. Main St.
New Mexico Economic Development and Workforce Solutions will present workshops on a variety of topics, including Valencia County’s emerging economic development, its challenges, the solutions and the economic development forecast.
Steven Tomita, Belen’s planning and economic development manager, said he got the idea for the conference during a recent workshop with Albuquerque business leaders and elected officials who were grousing about the lack of international manufacturing companies in the state.
“I stood up and said we have about six or seven international manufacturing industrial companies in Valencia County that work in 20 to 100 countries, including two plastic manufacturers — Keter and Aristech,” Tomita said. “They looked at me dumbfounded. Some of the councilors and representatives said they didn’t know. I told them ‘You didn’t want to know.’”
Representatives from international and local companies, such as Aristech Surfaces LLC, Clariant Corp., CEMCO Inc., Keter Plastics, New Mexico Travertine, Sisneros Brothers, Geomni and Wall Colmonoy, will speak at the conference. Facebook, which is building a $1 billion data center near Los Lunas, won’t be represented.
One of the challenges to be discussed at the conference is the lack of recognition of economic development in Valencia County.
“A lot of international companies are asking why come to New Mexico if they’re going to be the first ones there,” Tomita said.
Another challenge Tomita said is the idea he once had that Valencia County didn’t have enough of a workforce. But Keter has been able to hire 80 employees without problem and is looking to hire another 75.
Along with the trades conference, the event will include a job fair. Tomita encourages people to bring their résumés.
For information about the Valencia Trades Conference and Job Fair, email Steven Tomita at steven.tomita@belen-nm.gov.