Rural Economic Development

Meeting about developing the economy in the rural parts of New Mexico are a tradition. The past few weeks have seen gatherings in Tucumcari and Ruidoso. What these meetings accomplish, I have long wondered.

It is good, therefore, to see action that will produce jobs, however few. Last week's edition of the Socorro-based Mountain Mail reported that Jim Kellar and George Barreras, who own and run K&B Timberworks of reserve have scored $250,000 from the federal Department of Agriculture. The money will enable them to buy what is called a "scragg mill" for high production processing of wood from tree less than a foot in diameter. Such trees are considered "small diameter." The Gila National Forest is involved in the deal. Kellar descries the production technique as low impact, leaving few visible stumps.

Kellar and Barreras will hire five employees. The new equipment should be on site by September.

Logging was the Catron County economic staple until 1991 when spotted owl fears shut down the last sawmill. 

In January, Catron County had 1,369 people employed and a 5.3% unemployment rate, third highest in the state, according to the Department of Workforce Solutions.