Brenna Clani-Washinawatok and her children Dylan and Dezbah show San Juan extension agent Bonnie Hopkins the greens they have grown on their farm which is marketed to local schools.

ALBUQUERQUE, NM September 8, 2015 -- USDA Rural Development State Director Terry Brunner announced today the North Central Tribal Groups and the Central NM Economic Development Association are the latest regions chosen to participate in the Stronger Economies Together (SET) program. The SET program provides regions with assistance with their community and economic development planning.

The North Central Tribal Groups SET project will include the Pueblos of San Ildefonso, Tesuque and Picuris. The Central NM Economic Development Association SET project will cover the counties of Socorro, Sierra, Catron, Valencia, Lincoln, Otero and the Mescalero Apache Nation. Both projects will work with local leaders to encourage these rural communities to work together to develop and implement a regional economic development strategy. The project is a collaborative initiative between the Western Regional Rural Development Center at Utah State University, New Mexico State University (NMSU) Cooperative Extension and USDA Rural Development.

In making the announcement Brunner said, "In the last four years we've seen success in communities who are involved in the SET program." Brunner added, "When you give regional community leaders access to economic development training it results in better strategies which, in turn, creates jobs and opportunity.

Dr. Michael Patrick from NMSU who oversees the SET program agreed with Brunner by saying, "The SET program has helped rural communities in New Mexico work together to design and implement economic development plans that build on their assets and competitive economic strengths. We look forward to working with the new designated SET regions to develop strategies for their economic future."

The SET program examines the critical areas of the economy to determine if that particular region might hold a competitive edge in the domestic and/or the international marketplace. The technical assistance and educational support for the region will come from NMSU Extension educators, RD staff, and appropriate Regional Rural Development Centers for the one-year period of the project.

Using this type of technical support both the North Central Tribal Groups and the Central NM Economic Development Association will create regional economic development plans. The plans will include information to allow them to diversify and transform their economies. Area working groups will identify opportunities for the diversification of the regional economy and will use NMSU's technical assistance to pursue those activities.

For example, the "The Trail of the Ancients" SET program in northwest New Mexico was successful in developing the Navajo Farm to School Project. This project helps farmers provide more locally grown produce to area schools. Area residents, who expressed a desire to see traditional Navajo foods being served in local schools, developed the concept. The project re-introduced traditional indigenous food including corn, squash, melons, greens, tomatoes and other vegetables into the diets of Navajo children. As well, the project gives ag-producers the opportunity to increase their sales and earnings by accessing new markets (such as the schools) for their products.