MAKE OUR MONEY WORK FOR US
Starting a small business in Las Cruces is far too difficult. The permitting process is not easy for new business owners to understand and follow. A user friendly portal where new business owners can submit applications, track progress, and submit their questions would help streamline the process. The city can also develop incubators, accelerators, and co-working spaces that nurture start-ups and small businesses. These spaces can offer mentorship, resources, and networking opportunities.
Las Cruces has an abundance of retail and service oriented jobs. We need to diversify the job market by attracting businesses from other sectors such as manufacturing, tech, etc. Ways to do this would be to offer incentives which might include tax breaks, grants, or subsidies for specific industries that align with the city’s goals and values.
We have a wealth of talent graduating from DACC, NMSU, and even UTEP. The city should work with these institutions to create a skilled workforce to meet the needs of the businesses we are hoping to attract. The city can incentivize these institutions to develop educational tracks that will deliver highly qualified graduates for the higher paying business sectors. This would increase the value of our local talent pool while attracting those sought after businesses. Let’s create those jobs so the talent pool stays local after graduating.
Several areas of our city have fallen into disrepair and suffer from urban blight. We should enhance the appeal of those commercial areas through beautification project, signage improvements, and pedestrian friendly designs that attract both residents and visitors. Improving these areas will elevate the city’s economic health overall.