Santa Rosa hemp company, Boeing among JTIP awardees
SANTA FE, N.M. – The state Economic Development Department has awarded 10 companies over $2 million to hire and train 123 new workers at businesses in Albuquerque, Clovis, Santa Rosa, and Santa Fe.
The awards were made at the JTIP Board meeting on Sept. 13. The Job Training Incentive Program (JTIP) is one of the most generous training incentive programs in the country, reimbursing 50 to 75 percent of employee wages for classroom and on-the-job training.
The average wage of the new jobs is just over $32 an hour.
“The job-training awards are another indication that New Mexico is adding jobs across the state and the new jobs are highly paid," said Cabinet Secretary Alicia J. Keyes of the Economic Development Department. “We are growing in key sectors and this assistance will help businesses expand and add workers as we diversify our economy.”
Companies receiving assistance are:
NEW MEXICO HEMP SERVICES – The Santa Rosa, N.M., company awarded $246,000 for 17 new trainees at an average wage of $19.41. The company plans to have a fully integrated hemp operation by the end of 2019 and is hiring lab technicians, extraction chemists, storage clerks, and an electrician.
THE BOEING COMPANY – The Albuquerque operations location for the defense and security contractor was awarded $1.38 million to hire and train an additional 46 employees at an average wage of $53 an hour. The positions include mechanical, electrical, and software engineers, as well as program support staff.
Boeing was recently awarded a Department of Defense contract to expand its Laser & Electro-Optical Systems business and now has more than 200 full-time employees in New Mexico.
UNITED POLY SYSTEMS - The high-density polyethylene pipe manufacturer in Albuquerque was awarded $60,300 for 20 new trainees with an average hourly wage of $13.80. The jobs include line technicians, a driver, a supervisor, and operators.
VITALITY WORKS - The company produces medicinal supplements and recently expanded its Albuquerque facility to meet new demand. It was awarded $134,846 for 17 hires with an average wage of $19.63.The positions include sales, processing technicians, inspectors, and managers.
GOLIGHTLY CASHMERE - The Santa Fe company has a 5,900 square-foot production facility and specializes in hand-loomed line of cashmere knits. Golightly was awarded $76,425 for 7 new hires with an average wage of about $25 an hour.
CUMMINS NATURAL GAS ENGINES – The Clovis manufacturer was awarded $40,624 for 5 positions with an average wage of $17.10. The Clovis facility has expanded to add an engine re-manufacturing division and the jobs include technicians and production associates.
Three companies were awarded job-training grants for one new position: Solar Works Energy of Albuquerque; Flow Science, Inc. of Santa Fe; and Next State Systems of Albuquerque. BennuBio LLC of Albuquerque, which manufactures particle diagnostic instruments, was approved for $96,330 for four new jobs and four internships.
The Legislature created JTIP, formerly known as the Industrial Development Training Program, or “in plant training,” in 1972. Eligibility for JTIP funds depends on the company’s business, the role of the new jobs in that business, and the trainees themselves.
The Economic Development Department has $10 million in JTIP money to award in Fiscal Year 2020.
The JTIP Board meets monthly to consider proposals & amendments from companies. To learn more about JTIP and other EDD programs, visit http://gonm.biz.
JTIP dollars are reimbursed to businesses after employee training is completed and reporting requirements are certified by the Economic Development Department.