The Albuquerque Regional Economic Alliance recently transformed its organizational structure to allow it to become a true public private partnership made up of key business leaders as well as representatives of local government entities within the greater Albuquerque region.

The village of Los Lunas and the city of Rio Communities are the most recent local government agencies in the region to formally engage with AREA under this new partnership arrangement providing enhanced professional economic development services to the community.

The new structure invites local government entities to engage in the organization under an inclusive, transparent model where all may receive a similar menu of economic development services such as regional marketing support, new lead generation, efforts to attract needed commercial space development, and data and research analysis for economic development purposes.

“The expertise and professionalism AREA has already brought to the village of Los Lunas is clearly evident by our recent $2 billion aluminum rolling mill project announcement from this past May,” said Los Lunas Mayor Charles Griego. “Local economic developers working cohesively together aligns the region toward a more prosperous economy. The village of Los Lunas is proud to be a part of this coordinated regional economic development strategy.”

In addition to engaging with AREA as a larger regional economic development entity, this partnership also provides community partners with opportunities to represent their communities and engage in important dialogue affecting AREA’s long term strategic priorities as well as day to day efforts.

Senior Economic Developer Kristen Gamboa, of the village of Los Lunas, will serve on AREA’s Economic Development Professionals Advisory Council, and has already been selected to serve as its first vice chairwoman.

“The second I realized Danielle and I were both working toward a regional economic development strategy within our respective areas, I knew that an official partnership was imminent,“ said Gamboa. “AREA is laying down the framework for a long-term, sustainable strategy that will elevate the region and achieve inclusive regional economic growth for both existing local businesses and incoming economic-base projects.”

“This embrace of regionalism, transparency, and leveraging AREA’s expertise to support all partners in attracting and growing firms is taking root and will increase our ability to attract companies to the region,” said Danielle Casey, president and CEO for AREA. “We have already seen great success in new business announcements in Los Lunas as a result of our work together, and we expect many more.”

“It is tremendously exciting to see additional communities in the region seek and embrace collaboration in this manner,” said Cynthia Schultz, chairman of AREA.

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