Top New Mexico Govt. Economic Development Officials Pledge Help to Tribes

Top officials in Gov. Bill Richardson’s administration on Thursday pledged more state cooperation with tribal governments on economic development, including financial assistance.

Associated Press Santa Fe New Mexican

Economic Development Secretary Rick Homans announced that the agency was earmarking $1 million in job-training subsidies for tribal governments.

“We will work with you hand in hand so you can access this,” Homans said at a meeting in the Capitol of state and tribal leaders in what was described as an “economic-development summit.”

The department also has named a staff member to serve as a full-time liaison with tribes on economic-development matters such as recruiting businesses, Homans said.

Richardson appeared at the end of the meeting, saying the summit was unprecedented.

“We want the tribes and pueblos to particiapte in the future of the state,” he said.

He signed a “statement of principles” drawn up by summit participants, vowing for the state to work closely with Indian governments and establish working groups in several areas.

At the meeting, Homans and other top agency administrators outlined the resources and programs available to tribes to help with a range of issues, from housing to financing for economic-development ventures.

Tribal leaders explained their needs and expressed frustration over past difficulties in tapping into state or federal programs.

“All of us have tremendous infrastructure needs,” San Juan Pueblo Gov. Earl Salazar said.

Other tribal officials echoed his statement and asked for help in financing drinking water and sewer systems, housing, improved roads and telecommunications services.

“You really have to have the physical infrastructure in place if you want to pursue economic development,” said Salazar.

David Harris, executive director of the New Mexico Finance Authority, said the authority would help tribes secure financing for projects and provide advice on how to tap into the private capital market.

The authority is a quasipublic agency that issues bonds and makes loans to provide low-cost financing for local and state government projects ranging from buildings and water systems to equipment purchases such as police cars.

Under state law, tribal governments can qualify for that financing, Harris said. The authority is working with Santa Ana Pueblo on a nearly $62 million loan package that would allow the tribe to pay off a bank loan and save an estimated $7 million in yearly payments.

If the deal is completed, Harris said, it could serve as a model for other financial packages with tribal governments in New Mexico.

One of the thorny issues, he said, is a limited waiver of sovereign immunity by tribal governments. The financial markets, Harris said, require collateral for loans and that means tribal governments have to pledge assets and revenues for repayment.

Isleta Pueblo Gov. Alvino Lucero said the pueblo hadn’t received a fair share of state money from the Legislature for capital-improvement projects or much cooperation from previous administrations for upgrading roads and highways that run through tribal lands.

The pueblo pays the state a share of its casino proceeds, Lucero said.

But he said, “When we try to get something back, it’s hard.”

Transportation Secretary Rhonda Faught acknowledged that her agency previously had failed to adequately communicate with tribal governments about setting priorities for highway projects.

“I have a commitment to you. We will be establishing better relations,” she said.

New Mexican reporter Steve Terrell contributed to this report.

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