State announces January job training awardees

Securin Inc., a company that works in the world of cybersecurity, will receive nearly $1.1 million in funding from the state’s Job Training Incentive Program to train 27 employees. And four other businesses will share a little more than $200,000 to train their employees with funds from the program.

That’s according to the New Mexico Economic Development Department, which last week announced its first round of funding for the program. JTIP, founded in 1972 by the state Legislature, incentivizes businesses to make new hires by paying a portion of the cost in wages for on-site or classroom training. The funds are administered after training is completed.

The program’s goal is simple: to expand the state’s workforce in areas crucial to furthering economic development.

“In 2023, JTIP assisted 67 businesses in 16 New Mexico counties with training funds for over 1,200 positions,” Acting EDD Secretary Mark Roper said in a statement. “We know JTIP is helping businesses develop a better skilled and higher-paid workforce — and with that a more sustainable statewide economy.”

The other four companies receiving funding are:

Las Cruces-based Electronic Caregiver will receive a total award of $101,500 to train 37 employees. The company offers telehealth products and services like remote patient monitoring, chronic care management and virtual visits.

Las Cruces-based Higher Cultures LLC will receive $33,656.40 to train five employees at an hourly wage of $21.38. The company has operations that span cannabis processing and cultivation, retail and wholesale. Higher Cultures currently has 60 employees and also hires seasonal workers.

Albuquerque-based Night Scientific Systems LLC will receive $64,730 to train two workers and one intern. The average hourly wage for the workers stands at $45 and the intern at $37.50. The company is currently developing multi-spectral Object Detection, or OD, tools to “bring the power of machine learning to all imaging wavebands.” It provides engineering services for the Department of Defense.

Taos-based Paradise Power Company Inc. will receive $27,944 to train 15 employees. The company specializes in the design and installation of commercial, utility and residential photovoltaic systems.