Clovis Nabs Statewide Economic Development Award

Teamwork among local entities is the main factor that led to Clovis being awarded an economic development award from the governor, said Greg
Williams, economic development director for the Eastern Plains Council of Government.

The new award was announced during the Governor’s Economic Development Summit late last month in Albuquerque, according to a press release from Gov. Bill Richardson’s office.

Williams said when Clovis faced the possibility of losing Cannon Air Force Base it was a reality check that brought people together to make sure the community would survive regardless of what happened to Cannon.

“Our future can’t be so tied to the base that if the base goes, we’re just going to dry up and blow away,” he said. “We weren’t willing to just roll over.”

Williams said entities such as the Clovis/Curry County Chamber of Commerce, the Clovis Industrial Development Corp., EPCOG and city and county governments collaborated to make growth in Clovis a priority.

“As governor, I have made economic development a priority in New Mexico,” Richardson said.

“I’d like to congratulate Clovis, the first community to be awarded for excellence in economic development. Clovis has made great strides and is leading the way of the future; this is great news for New Mexico.”

Chase Gentry, executive director of the Clovis Industrial Development Corp., said Clovis won the award because of teamwork and outsidethebox thinking that has led to the completion of projects and brought more than 1,000 jobs and new industries to the area in recent years.

Efforts to save Cannon from closure, the arrival of the Southwest Cheese plant, the SCI call center and plans for a fish farm, ethanol and biodiesel plants are some of the accomplishments, he said.

Local entities have found creative sources for funding, Gentry said, using a lowinterest clean water loan for the cheese plant, finding federal funding sources to build a train overpass and implementing an economic development tax.

“I think that we’ve reached success and we’ve been able to continue that momentum and bring jobs to the community,” he said.