Franklin Mountain Packaging, Oro LLC and Admiral Cable among 12 companies statewide receiving support to train 225 workers

Organ Mountain News report

SANTA TERESA - Three companies in southern Doña Ana County will receive more than $800,000 through the state’s Job Training Incentive Program, part of a broader effort to strengthen New Mexico’s manufacturing and logistics base while expanding workforce skills.

The New Mexico Economic Development Department announced the awards as part of its September JTIP funding round, which will reimburse 12 companies statewide up to $2.2 million for training 225 workers. The program covers at least half of trainee wages, with higher reimbursements for rural areas such as Santa Teresa and for companies hiring recent graduates of New Mexico colleges and universities.

In Santa Teresa, Franklin Mountain Packaging leads the group with funding of up to $533,537 to train 46 employees. The company provides custom, sustainable packaging solutions for clients across the region and nation.

Oro LLC, which peels and processes bulb onions for shipment to vegetable producers, will train 32 workers at an average wage of $17 per hour, reimbursed up to $247,904.

Admiral Cable, a Taiwanese manufacturer of power cables and related electrical equipment, was approved for $53,703 to train 12 workers earning an average of $14 per hour.

Economic Development Cabinet Secretary Rob Black said the program is designed to create direct paths for residents to gain skills and stay employed close to home.

“By investing in workforce training, we are creating pathways to prosperity for New Mexicans, helping them build valuable skills while supporting companies as they grow and thrive across the state,” Black said.

In all, JTIP’s September awards reached 12 companies in New Mexico, including four in Albuquerque, two in Taos, and one each in Roswell, Santa Fe and Los Alamos.

The initiative continues to be one of the state’s strongest economic development tools, emphasizing job growth, rural investment and opportunities for New Mexicans to advance their careers in high-demand industries.