CEDS
A Shared Direction for the Region
Strategic Direction & Action Plan
Turning Regional Strengths Into Coordinated Action
The Regional Vision
A Shared Direction for Southeastern New Mexico
A strong region is built when local leadership, practical investment, and shared measures point in the same direction.
In Southeastern New Mexico, our challenges and opportunities extend beyond city and county lines. The future of our economy depends on working together across jurisdictions, industries, and communities. Regionalism isn’t just a strategy—it’s a mindset that builds our capacity to grow and adapt.
As global pressures intensify, no single community can go it alone. By planning regionally and acting collectively, we create smarter, faster, and more lasting solutions. Shared resources and leadership mean stronger infrastructure, better services, and a more resilient, competitive economy.
The strategic direction connects six priorities: a stronger and more diverse economy; skilled people; dependable infrastructure; housing and livability; regional implementation capacity; and long-term resilience. Together they form a work program for Chaves, Eddy, Lea, Lincoln, and Otero Counties and participating partners.
The Mission / What Guides the Work
Three Values Shape Every Priority.
Resiliency, sustainability, and collaboration guide how the region prepares projects and makes choices. They connect today’s needs with long-term opportunity.
Resiliency
Resiliency is central to the CEDS, helping Southeastern New Mexico withstand and recover from disruptions like economic shifts or natural disasters. By building local capacity, diversifying industries, and investing in preparedness, the region can adapt and emerge stronger.
Sustainability
As population growth increases pressure on water, land, and public services, sustainability becomes critical. The CEDS promotes strategies that balance economic progress with responsible resource use—ensuring today’s growth doesn’t compromise future needs.
Collaboration
Economic growth thrives on collaboration, not isolation. The CEDS encourages partnerships among governments, businesses, nonprofits, and communities to drive coordinated action and ensure all voices help shape our region’s future.
02 / Framework
Six Priorities. One Connected Strategy.
Choose a priority to read the regional need, five county perspectives, recommended delivery steps, and what progress would look like. The priorities reinforce one another; no single action can carry the strategy alone.
Economic Diversification and Business Growth
Build on the region’s productive strengths while opening doors for local firms and suppliers.
Read This Priority 02Workforce Alignment and Talent Development
Make the path from education to a good job easier to see and use.
Read This Priority 03Infrastructure Modernization and Economic Capacity
Prepare the systems and sites that allow communities and businesses to grow.
Read This Priority 04Housing, Livability, and Community Capacity
Make room for the people who make the regional economy work.
Read This Priority 05Regional Collaboration and Implementation Capacity
Help locally led projects move from a good idea to a funded result.
Read This Priority 06Economic Resilience and Long-Term Readiness
Prepare for disruption, protect essential economic functions, and recover together.
Read This Priority03 / Work Program
See How the Actions Connect
The portfolio groups the recommended actions in the regional matrix by priority. Explore a priority to see its actions and proposed evidence of movement. Counts describe the planning portfolio, not completed projects or economic outcomes.
04 / How Partners Work Together
Local Partners Lead. Regional Partners Connect.
Projects remain with the organizations responsible for delivering them. Regional coordination helps those sponsors assemble partners, identify resources, and resolve barriers that cross county lines.
Local Leadership
Cities, counties, the Mescalero Apache Tribe, economic-development organizations, employers, and institutions identify needs, own projects, and lead implementation within their authority.
Regional Coordination
Partners align shared priorities and work together where scale improves workforce, infrastructure, housing, or business outcomes.
SNMEDD Support
SNMEDD convenes, connects, analyzes, assists with funding navigation, and helps track the regional strategy. It is a connector, not the owner of every local project.
05 / From Idea to Impact
Make the Next Step Clear.
A priority becomes useful when a project sponsor knows what has been done, what is missing, and who can help. The work program uses readiness stages so projects can advance at a pace that fits their scope and local capacity.
- 01Define the Need
Describe the problem, beneficiaries, partners, and regional connection.
- 02Prepare the Project
Test feasibility, cost, site control, engineering, and required approvals.
- 03Align Resources
Match a credible scope with funding, local commitments, and a delivery plan.
- 04Deliver & Learn
Track milestones, document outcomes, and use lessons to shape the next phase.
06 / Accountability
Measure Movement, Then Adapt.
The CEDS calls for more than a list of aspirations. Partners can review economic outcomes, the capacity that supports future growth, and the work completed against agreed milestones. Measures become meaningful when they have a baseline, a responsible reporter, and a regular review date.
Economic Outcomes
Employment, wages, business activity, private investment, and diversification show how the regional economy is changing.
Regional Capacity
Training pathways, infrastructure, broadband, housing, sites, and project readiness show whether the region is better positioned for growth.
Implementation
Projects advanced, funding pursued or awarded, technical assistance, and completed milestones show what partners actually moved forward.