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Childcare Advocates Press New Mexico Senate to Protect Wage Hikes Amid Budget Standoff

Juan Oliveros
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Childcare Advocates Press New Mexico Senate to Protect Wage Hikes Amid Budget Standoff

ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO — Childcare workers and advocates asked New Mexico senators on Thursday to keep proposed wage hikes for early childhood educators in the final state budget. They warned that failure to do so could deepen workforce shortages and undermine the state’s push for universal childcare.

At a news conference, advocates said low wages and job insecurity are driving an exodus of educators from the profession, threatening stability for families who depend on childcare services.

Childcare advocates to Senate: Support $60-million funding

“The turnover is costly, not just in the resources needed to recruit and train new staff, but in the disruption it causes for families who need our support,” said Alei Maxson, director of the home-visiting startup La Luz Family.

Education advocates sent a letter to the Senate Finance Committee on Thursday. They urged lawmakers to support a proposed $60 million allocation in House Bill 2 for the New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department. The proposed funding would finance a wage-increase program for educators with higher qualifications.

Magnolia Chavez lamented that childcare workers have been for a long time are “poorly paid and poorly valued.” She operates a home-licensed childcare center in Albuquerque, serving about 15 children of varying ages

“Universal childcare will only work if educators are willing and able to remain in this field,” Chavez said in Spanish. Educators and their families don’t have stability, she added.

Key priority

Childcare is a key priority in the final legislative session of Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham. The $11-billion state budget approved by the House this week, however, does not fully fund the governor’s proposal for free universal childcare.

Lawmakers included instead co-payments for higher-income families in the state’s childcare program. The governor opposes this provision.

Lujan Grisham said universal childcare is “not really universally applied” when there is a co-pay. The governor said negotiations with lawmakers remain ongoing as the budget moves through the Senate.

On the Heel on Infant’s Death Due to Listeria Infection, FDA Will Test Infant Formula After Botulism Outbreak Sickens Dozens of Babies

Juan Oliveros
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On the Heel on Infant’s Death Due to Listeria Infection, FDA Will Test Infant Formula After Botulism Outbreak Sickens Dozens of Babies

After the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) officials confirmed an infant’s death due to Listeria infection, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) plans to begin testing infant formula amid growing concern that contamination could be putting babies at risk of botulism.

The move came after a ByHeart infant formula outbreak involving the hospitalization of at least 51 infants. No deaths were reported. But babies who consumed the formula suffered alarming symptoms, which included difficulty feeding, extreme lethargy, and loss of head control.

Kyle Diamantas, FDA deputy commissioner for human foods, told Bloomberg that the regulatory body will test products such as milk powder, whey protein concentrate, and finished infant formula. The tests will establish whether botulism-related contamination is “a foreseeable hazard that companies could test for.”

Botulism is a rare but potentially fatal illness.

Central to the test, Diamantas said, is whether the health risk could have been detected earlier.

Health officials say the planned testing will try to close gaps in infant formula safety and prevent similar outbreaks.

Warnings over unpasteurized dairy resurface

The agency’s action followed state health officials’ renewed warnings about the risks of unpasteurized dairy products, particularly for pregnant individuals and newborns.

“Individuals who are pregnant should only consume pasteurized milk products to help prevent illnesses and deaths in newborns,” Dr. Chad Smelser, deputy state epidemiologist at the New Mexico Department of Health, said in a statement.

Raw milk, if not heat-treated to kill harmful bacteria, could carry pathogens such as Listeria, Brucella, Salmonella, Campylobacter, E. coli, tuberculosis-causing bacteria, Cryptosporidium, and even avian influenza viruses.

New Mexico Agriculture Secretary Jeff M. Witte said pasteurization is “a vital part” of dairy safety. He urged the public to avoid unpasteurized products.

Food safety experts and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) repeatedly warned against consuming unpasteurized milk. But Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. continues to promote its purported health benefits, heightening concerns among public health officials as infant food safety comes under renewed scrutiny.

Clear Horizons Act: How New Mexico’s net-zero bill might affect you and your household budget

Victoria Padilla
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Clear Horizons Act: How New Mexico’s net-zero bill might affect you and your household budget

New Mexico lawmakers are preparing to introduce the “Clear Horizons Act.” This bill would make the state’s greenhouse gas targets official and give state agencies greater authority to plan, track, and enforce emissions reductions over time. The New Mexico Sentinel has raised concerns that the bill could lead to higher utility and fuel costs for families and create uncertainty for investments in the state’s oil and gas industry.

Supporters, including Senate Democrats, say the bill would lock in current state goals, give regulators better tools for long-term planning, and focus new rules on the largest industrial polluters. The bill would also require more monitoring, reporting, and public transparency.

Key facts you should know

  • Targets: Reduce emissions by at least 45% below 2005 levels by 2030, 75% by 2040, and reach net-zero by 2050 (as described in bill summaries).
  • Mechanics: The bill directs the Environmental Improvement Board and state agencies to create plans and rules, with annual emissions reporting and compliance checks.
  • Scope: The bill mainly targets large, fixed sources of emissions. It also creates a process to certify offset or credit projects (per summaries).
  • Process: Lawmakers plan to introduce the bill in the 2026 session, and it will first go to committees for review (per legislative and press reports).

How this policy could impact your budget: key questions

Most households will probably notice changes first in utility rates, fuel prices, and any rebates or fees on their bills, rather than in the target year itself. The Sentinel’s main concern is that moving away from natural gas quickly and adding stricter emissions rules could feel like a “regulatory tax.” They also point to examples from other states as warnings.

If you want to set aside the politics and focus on your budget, the main question is whether policymakers can clearly show:

  1. The total cost of the system (including generation, transmission, and reliability upgrades),
  2. Who pays and when, whether it’s ratepayers, taxpayers, or industries that must comply, and
  3. How many bills might change, either from swings in gas prices or from the costs of building out the grid?

Home efficiency: how to prioritize upgrades if prices get unpredictable

If you want to prepare for uncertainty, start by reducing your energy use before you think about replacing equipment:

  • Air sealing and insulation usually offer the best return because they lower heating and cooling needs right away.
  • For HVAC systems, replace them when they break or when incentives are especially good. Otherwise, focus on regular tuning and maintenance.
  • For solar, calculate the payback period using your post-incentive price, your utility’s rate structure, and realistic expectations for how much energy you’ll produce.

Budgeting for change: a straightforward approach

  • Test your monthly budget by raising the amount you set aside for utilities and fuel for a few months, even if you expect costs to drop.
  • Treat rebates and financing offers like any loan. Compare the APR, fees, required contractors, and whether the savings are guaranteed or just estimated.
  • If you rent, focus on savings you can take with you, like weatherstripping, smart thermostats (if allowed), and changing your usage habits, since you can’t benefit from building upgrades.

The real impact on consumers will depend on the rules that follow the bill’s passage. This includes how emissions limits become requirements, what counts for certified projects or credits, and how grid reliability and affordability are handled in rate cases. These details, more than the net-zero goal itself, will determine if “affordable energy” is a real outcome or just a slogan.

What New Mexico’s SIC says its venture program is delivering

Victoria Padilla
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What New Mexico’s SIC says its venture program is delivering

A new State Investment Council (SIC) report spotlights the early results of the agency’s Strategic Venture Capital Program, a redesigned approach meant to pair financial returns with measurable economic activity inside New Mexico. The SIC says the program has created more economic impact in the past year than in any prior year since the earlier initiative began.

At the center of the report is scale: more than $1.8 billion in commitments to venture funds, which the SIC says has helped drive more than $2 billion in economic impact tied to companies expanding into New Mexico, including Pacific Fusion, XGS Energy, and Castelion Corp.

SIC officials frame the pivot as a response to shortcomings in the state’s older, statute-based private equity program, which was originally oriented around New Mexico–headquartered companies. SIC private equity and venture capital director Chris Cassidy said the prior structure became difficult to sustain, both in investment performance and in meeting broader funding goals for public services.

The new model leans on partnerships with established venture firms that can source deals and encourage portfolio companies to build a footprint in the state—what the SIC describes as a “double-bottom line” of returns and local growth.

SIC leaders also connect the program to a broader transparency push around New Mexico’s sovereign wealth assets. The agency manages a fund it says has grown to $71 billion, and it reported sending $2.6 billion to the state operating budget in 2025. The SIC projects the fund could reach $100 billion by 2032 and return $38 billion to the operating budget over the next decade, according to the report.

Company examples in the story include XGS Energy—cited as a venture-backed firm partnering with Meta Platforms on a geothermal power plant in northwestern New Mexico—and defense manufacturer Castelion, which recently broke ground on a large Sandoval County site after a funding round led by Lightspeed Venture Partners, a fund that received an SIC commitment.

One line that captures the SIC’s pitch: Cassidy pointed to out-of-state firms building in New Mexico, saying, “I think that’s what everybody actually wants to achieve.”

Crucial facts

  • $1.8B+ committed to venture funds via the Strategic Venture Capital Program
  • $2B+ in reported New Mexico economic impact tied to supported expansions
  • $71B sovereign wealth fund managed by SIC
  • $2.6B returned to the state operating budget in 2025 (per the report)
  • 2032 outlook: SIC projects $100B fund value and $38B returned over the next decade

How the 20% qualified business income deduction works

Victoria Padilla
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How the 20% qualified business income deduction works

The qualified business income (QBI) deduction, also known as the “20% business income deduction,” allows many pass-through business owners to deduct up to 20% of their qualifying business income on their federal tax return. As Albuquerque CPA Jim Hamill explains, “The basic deduction is 20% of the income earned from the business.”

Although the main number is straightforward, the actual deduction depends heavily on taxable income and whether the business is considered a specified service trade or business (SSTB). This category can sharply limit the deduction for higher earners.

Hamill notes that recent tax law changes made the deduction permanent, even though it was originally set to end after 2025. The new rules also expanded the income range before the deduction phases out completely.

Crucial facts

  • Full deduction threshold (taxable income): $394,600 married filing jointly; $197,300 single
  • Phaseout range (example for married filers): starts at $394,600 and can reach zero at $544,600
  • SSTBs face extra limits. As income goes up through the phaseout range, an “applicable percentage” reduces eligible income, wages, and capital until it reaches zero.

The core mechanics: taxable income drives the result

One important detail is that the thresholds are based on taxable income, not adjusted gross income (AGI). Hamill points out that taxable income is calculated after subtracting deductions, such as the standard deduction or itemized deductions. This means two people with the same business profit could end up on different sides of the threshold, depending on the rest of their tax return.

If taxable income is below the threshold, the deduction is usually 20% of qualified business income, subject to certain technical exceptions. If taxable income exceeds the threshold, the deduction can be reduced, sometimes to zero.

A mid-range example: how the phaseout bites

Hamill uses a simple example to show how the rules work:

  • If qualified business income is $100,000, the “in general” deduction would be $20,000.
  • For married couples, if taxable income reaches the top of the phaseout range in his example ($544,600), the deduction can drop to zero.
  • If taxable income is halfway through the range (Hamill uses $469,600), the deduction is usually reduced by half. In his example, it drops from $20,000 to $10,000.

The wage-and-capital lever: why payroll can matter

Once income exceeds the threshold, the rules may still allow a deduction based on W-2 wages paid by the business or on depreciable assets it uses. Hamill notes that the deduction cannot go below certain limits tied to wages or capital. This means that paying W-2 wages can help keep a partial deduction, even at very high taxable income levels.

In his example, a taxpayer at the top of the phaseout range who pays $20,000 in W-2 wages could still claim a $10,000 deduction, which is 50% of those wages, even if taxable income is much higher.

SSTBs: the extra limits high earners face

For SSTBs, which Hamill says include fields like accounting, law, health care, and consulting, the phaseout is stricter. Once taxable income goes over the threshold, an “applicable percentage” reduces not only the deduction, but also the amounts of income, wages, and capital used to figure it. At the top of the phaseout range, this percentage can reach 100%, wiping out the deduction.

Hamill’s midpoint example shows the impact. An SSTB with the same $100,000 of income and $20,000 of W-2 wages, halfway through the phaseout, gets a $5,000 deduction. That is half of the non-SSTB result in his example.

A Fun Way to Learn: NMSU Unveils ‘Market Set Go!’

Grace Tackman
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A Fun Way to Learn: NMSU Unveils ‘Market Set Go!’

Discovering useful information can be simple and entertaining. A team from New Mexico State University (NMSU) brings this idea to life by introducing a new educational game. 

The NMSU Cooperative Extension Service recently launched “Market Set Go!” to share food safety best practices with farmers’ market vendors. The game provides training materials in an engaging format.

The media production team from NMSU’s Innovation Media Research and Extension and Learning Games Lab in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences designed a tycoon-style game set in a farmers’ market. Players manage the market and face various food safety challenges. 

The game was created in collaboration with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture and the University of Houston.

Matheus Cezarotto, Educational Technology Extension specialist with Innovative Media Research and Extension, said game development efforts began in early 2024.

“In early 2024, the Learning Games Lab team began working on the design of a game to support essential food safety learning for farmers’ market vendors. Our goal was to find the knowledge gaps, utilize science-based standards to develop the game, and evaluate the success of the game in providing food safety training,” said Cezarotto.

Objective of Market Set Go!

The goal of the game is for players to:

  • Understand the risks associated with their produce and products, and learn how to reduce them through food safety practices. 
  • Understand the importance of food safety by seeing the connection between not making people sick and the quality of their products.
  • Feel confident about food safety.

Cezarotto said that vendors at farmers’ markets, regardless of whether they operate on a small, medium, or large scale, share a common enthusiasm for their products.

“In many cases, they are selling family recipes or locally produced goods. Despite their excitement, all vendors offering various products, from fresh items to ready-to-eat products, need training on food safety practices. Research has revealed that vendors claim to understand food safety, but their behavior does not always reflect that understanding, indicating a need for transformative training.”

How to Play Market Set Go!

To win, players manage a farmers’ market to ensure safety and profitability. They can create appealing stands to attract customers and offer a variety of products for sale. They also address food safety issues as they arise and use their profits to expand.

Further, players can add 10 different food stands, ranging from fresh produce to ready-to-eat products. Each stand presents specific food safety challenges, mapped out with the help of context experts. These include personal hygiene, cross-contamination, temperature abuse, and labeling and packaging. 

Social media-style posts communicate to players when a stand has a food safety issue that needs to be addressed. Players fix the issues by completing mini-games.
Visit http://marketsetgogame.org to know more or play the game when it launches.

Kevin Matthes Retires From WNMU After Years of Dedicated Service

Grace Tackman
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Kevin Matthes Retires From WNMU After Years of Dedicated Service

Western New Mexico University (WNMU) Assistant Vice President of Facilities and Operations Kevin Matthes has officially retired. 

In a news release, WNMU announced this new milestone for Matthes, an alumnus and longtime champion of the university. 

As he begins another chapter, Matthes leaves behind a transformed WNMU campus, reflecting his commitment to infrastructure, aesthetics, and an employee-centric leadership philosophy.

How Matthes’ Journey at WNMU Started

Matthes shares a deeply personal connection to WNMU and Silver City. After his father retired and relocated the family from Hawaii to Silver City, Matthes found a home in the high desert. 

He earned his Bachelor of Business Administration and MBA at WNMU. He began his professional journey at the university in 1992 as an applied technology recruiter. Before spending the bulk of his early career—34 years—working in the local mining industry.

In May 2018, Matthes returned to his alma mater to lead the Facilities and Operations department. He brought decades of industrial experience and a passion for WNMU and the Mustang community.

Matthes’ Leadership at WNMU

Under Matthes’ watch, the WNMU campus underwent a visible renaissance. He handled a team of 40 to 50 members across custodial, grounds, maintenance, and special projects. Matthes led both grand renovations and essential behind-the-scenes modernizations at WNMU.

During Matthes’ tenure, WNMU saw notable successes. This includes the renovation of College Avenue and the creation of the Mustang Fountain in Regents Square. Additionally, Matthes played a key role in developing the WNMU John Arthur and Janette Smith Educational Center. This is to expand healthcare programs in Deming, providing vital resources for first-generation students in nursing and healthcare.

On the athletics side, Matthes helped bring night games to WNMU. He installed field lights and upgraded the softball complex to a standard, drawing praise from visiting teams across the conference. Currently, his team is navigating the complex legislative and engineering phases of the Graham Gym renovation. Their next focus is the Fine Arts Center Theatre auditorium.

Despite the scale of these projects, Matthes led with empathy for the “invisible” work that sustains a university. “No one is going to thank you because their toilet flushes, but they will call you if there’s a problem,” Matthes said. “My team understands this and is diligent in servicing the campus.”

Matthes took charge during emergencies, notably during a “fire-watch” several years ago when alarms and safety systems failed. He worked 16-hour shifts alongside his crew to ensure campus safety. He eventually used the challenge as a catalyst to digitize the university’s monitoring systems with built-in redundancies.

Matthes’ Advice to His Successor

Matthes leaves a simple piece of advice for the next AVP, underscoring the trust within his team. “Get out on campus; meet people and generally get to know your team really well. Most importantly, trust your people to do the job you hired them to do.”

His successor will take over a more efficient campus, thanks to the push for standardization. This included streamlining six keying systems, implementing modern maintenance management software, and using underground “wand” technology to map century-old infrastructure.

After retiring, Matthes plans to tackle his long “to-do” list at home, including a Caribbean cruise and a Florida visit.

New Mexico Students Tackle Climate Disasters in Governor’s STEM Challenge

Juan Oliveros
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New Mexico Students Tackle Climate Disasters in Governor’s STEM Challenge

LAS VEGAS, New Mexico — More than 300 high school students from across New Mexico will gather on February 7 for the seventh annual New Mexico Governor’s STEM Challenge. The event is a statewide competition of young innovators to develop science- and technology-driven solutions to the growing threat of climate-related disasters.

The annual event brings together students from 33 schools to address real-world problems affecting their own localities. It will be held at the Sub Ballroom of New Mexico Highlands University (NMHU).

The competition, organized by the STEM Innovation Network in partnership with the LANL Foundation, challenges students to apply science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) to issues facing the state.

“This is a great opportunity for New Mexico Highlands to highlight its commitment to STEM education, training, and research,” said NMHU Provost Dr. Dann Brown.

Climate and disaster response at the core

This year’s challenge focuses on climate resilience and disaster preparedness.

Student teams are going to respond to the question: “As natural disasters continue to affect New Mexico — such as wildfires, floods, drought, heat waves, and dust or windstorms — how can innovations in STEM help your community predict disasters, mitigate harm, respond effectively, and recover in the long term?”

Projects may range from disaster prediction tools and mitigation strategies to emergency response systems and recovery-focused technologies.

Beyond competition

Governor’s STEM Challenge goes beyond winning prizes, event organizers said. The program places strong emphasis on equity and access, particularly for students from underrepresented communities. It will also help students build pathways into high-demand STEM careers.

Fifty-seven teacher mentors and 23 industry partners support this year’s participants. Eighty judges from industry will evaluate the projects.

Industry-backed innovation

Event industry partners include major corporations, research institutions, and universities, such as Los Alamos National Laboratory, Sandia National Laboratories, Intel, Boeing, Meta, Virgin Galactic, and the University of New Mexico, among others.

The Governor’s STEM Challenge continues to serve as a major platform for experiential learning, workforce development, and community-centered problem solving.

Clear Horizons Act Advances in New Mexico Amid Jobs Versus Climate Clash

Juan Oliveros
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Clear Horizons Act Advances in New Mexico Amid Jobs Versus Climate Clash

SANTA FE, New Mexico — A controversial climate bill that seeks to embed greenhouse gas reduction targets into state law narrowly cleared its first legislative hurdle this week. Lawmakers debated with competing visions of economic stability and environmental protection.

Senate Bill 18, also known as the Clear Horizons Act, moved forward on a 5-4 vote in the Senate Conservation Committee. It took at least four hours for the legislators to debate on Tuesday.

Once approved, the bill would codify pollution reduction goals set by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s 2019 executive order into statute. The goals include cutting emissions by 45 percent below 2005 levels by 2030, by 75 percent by 2040, and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

Lawmakers push climate urgency

Proponents said the bill is an important step toward protecting public health and sustaining the state’s long-term prosperity.

“These goals aren’t just aspirational — they’re an investment in our future,” said Senate Pro Tempore Mimi Stewart (D-Albuquerque), the bill’s sponsor.

He argued that the legislation provides New Mexico with tools for planned, responsible emissions reduction without sacrificing jobs.

Supporters of the measure also stressed the rising costs associated with climate-driven disasters and pollution. They argued that early action can prevent far greater economic losses in the future. Statistics on the impact of climate change over the next 20 years, they said, could cost New Mexico nearly $294 billion in infrastructure losses, health impacts, and disaster response costs.

Critics warn of economic harm

But critics — including the three Senate Republicans on the committee — slammed the proposal. They argued that the bill threatens the state’s economy, particularly in the oil, gas, agriculture, and construction sectors.

“Passing this legislation will kill New Mexico’s economic future,” said Sen. Larry Scott (R-Hobbs).

He said that strict statewide mandates could reduce fossil fuel production, diminish government revenue, and put jobs at risk.

Opponents also chided the bill for what they described as unrealistic targets. These targets, they said, fail to account for “real-world consequences” for consumers and industry, echoing broader concerns among business groups about regulatory burdens.

The bill threatens to devastate New Mexico’s economy if approved, according to the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association. The group warned that the bill could reduce state revenue from oil and gas by more than $740 million. And it will put families at risk and eliminate nearly one-third of the education budget.

Lands, health, and economics at the center stage

The hearing drew significant public interest. Resource persons came from a broad range of voices — from former oil workers-turned-health advocates urging cleaner air to industry representatives. They warned of higher utility rates and economic disruption.

Sen. Angel Charley (D-Acoma) invoked environmental and cultural urgency. The Democrat lawmaker said New Mexicans must now “take care of the land” that has long sustained their

The bill is now heading to further consideration in the Senate. Supporters of the measure have expressed confidence that the bill could eventually reach Gov. Lujan Grisham’s desk for signature.

The climate bill is part of New Mexico’s broader effort to establish its own emissions and clean energy standards.

New Mexico was the fourth state to enact the Clean Transportation Fuel Standards and the Advanced Clean Car and Truck Rules, which sought to reduce pollution while driving new investment and creating job opportunities.

CreativeCon Series Launches to Boost New Mexico’s Creative Economy

Victoria Padilla
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CreativeCon Series Launches to Boost New Mexico’s Creative Economy

This spring, New Mexico is launching a statewide event series to support its creative economy. The events will offer business education, networking, and resources for artists and creative professionals. The New Mexico Economic Development Department (EDD) announced the initiative to help creative workers turn ideas into income, grow small businesses, and connect communities with state support.

NM CreativeCon will bring together creative entrepreneurs, policymakers, community leaders, and industry partners through regional events culminating in a statewide gathering in Albuquerque in June. Organizers say the events will feature workshops, panels, and hands-on learning, all designed around local strengths and resources.

The Creative Industries Division of the EDD is leading this effort to create more economic opportunities for New Mexicans through creative businesses. Its mission is to build a strong creative sector that supports business growth, workforce training, and community success. Grants, technical assistance, and networking are central to this mission.

“The creative economy is one of New Mexico’s most powerful economic assets, and CreativeCon is about helping people find the tools to turn artistic passion into professional opportunities,” said Shani Harvie, director of the Creative Industries Division.

This event series comes as New Mexico focuses on growing its creative sector as a key part of the economy. Creative industries such as visual and performing arts, digital media, and design contribute billions annually to the state’s economy and support many small businesses and entrepreneurs.

Many creative professionals need business education and networking to succeed. Unlike established industries, creative work often relies on income from freelancing, contracts, grants, and small businesses. Programs like CreativeCon offer resources that help artists and creative entrepreneurs learn business basics, secure funding or support, and connect with peers in their field.

Local economic development in New Mexico now views the creative economy as a key area for growth. Recently, a state investment program awarded over $460,000 in grants to support the growth of the creative ecosystem, workforce training, and business incubation across the state.

Organizers say events like CreativeCon show how creative assets support community revitalization, workforce development, and tourism. The agenda includes visits to historic theaters and cultural venues in remote and rural areas, bringing economic activity and resources to local creatives who might not otherwise have access.

For entrepreneurs building creative businesses, the series offers practical guidance and networking opportunities. The statewide event in Albuquerque will feature panels for hobbyists looking to become professionals, business owners seeking to grow, and civic leaders interested in incorporating creative industries into local development plans.

Registration for regional CreativeCon events is now open, and more details about the statewide Albuquerque event will be shared soon. Organizers encourage everyone in the creative community to join, saying the series highlights New Mexico’s commitment to building a stronger, more diverse, and inclusive economy.

Key Details About NM CreativeCon

  • Statewide reach: NM CreativeCon will take place in five regions across New Mexico: Carlsbad, Raton, Gallup, Silver City, and Pueblo of Pojoaque. The series will wrap up with a statewide event in Albuquerque in June.
  • Designed for creative business growth, the program will cover topics including entrepreneurship, artistic development, business planning, and collaboration.
  • Partnerships and support: Regional and state partners include the New Mexico Marketing Center of Excellence, New Mexico Arts, Meta, New Mexico Tourism, and the Department of Workforce Solutions, among others.
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