MILAN, N.M. - On Monday, March 9, 2026, members of the Cibola County Commission gathered to discuss pressing economic issues affecting the village of Milan, New Mexico.
One of the primary topics was the need for unity among all agencies in Cibola County as they embark on crucial future projects. Cibola County Manager Kate Fletcher emphasized the importance of collective effort: “Our minds have to come together. We need to really think about it as a unity.”
Fletcher reflected on the potential consequences of recent legislative changes, particularly concerning property taxes.
“One private entity, one private company, we cannot rely on one,” Fletcher said, expressing deep concern over the possible loss of 53% of property tax revenue due to these changes. The commissioner drew attention to the impact of economic shifts on the village of Milan, saying, “It was a big shock wave... when I saw the numbers, I was scared.” Fletcher highlighted the importance of collaboration, asserting, “If we can succeed? We can get this up and running and done, but we need to be together on this.”
Focus on Milan Industrial Park
The conversation pivoted towards the development of an industrial park in Milan, which was portrayed as an essential investment opportunity for the community. “We need people, we need the city, we need the village, and we need the county to invest in this project,” Fletcher urged attendees, recognizing the potential for growth and revitalization. Economic Overview
Evan Williams, the executive director of the Northwest New Mexico Council of Governments, was invited to present insights into the economic landscape. “I’m a certified economic developer,” he noted, emphasizing the significance of understanding base jobs and industries. Williams explained the model of economic development, saying that base jobs actually bring outside resources, which help fund local government and circulate money within the community.
Williams provided an overview of the economic challenges faced by the region, particularly the cyclical nature of the energy sector. “We’ve had a lot of boom cycles… where everybody’s working,” and low points where a lot of families have to move other places to take jobs.
Challenges Facing the Village of Milan
The effects of external pressures, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and recent legislative actions, further complicated the economic landscape. The meeting concluded with a shared understanding of the challenges ahead, with calls for unity and proactive measures being central themes.
Collaborative efforts and a renewed commitment to developing local industries in the face of adversity, were emphasized, as Williams said, “If you don’t have that tax base and you're not bringing outside dollars, you start seeing a little bit of a spiral going the wrong way.”
The Village of Milan has a history as an energy producer but is currently facing significant economic challenges. The community grapples with declining coal markets, the closure of extractive industries, and the cycles of prosperity and downturn that force families to seek employment elsewhere.
Strategic Development and Economic Diversification
Williams remarked, “The county and our other constituents asked me to come in and help lead this presentation. And I know you've heard it a couple of times, so I won't belabor it, but it kind of shows one of the projects that we have that’s really ready to go that the state knows about.” One of the main focuses of the presentation was to highlight the potential for economic diversification through strategic development projects.
Williams emphasized the importance of painting an accurate picture of the industrial center, stating, “How many businesses are here? How many employees do we have? How many trained workforce? Kind of the medium household incomes?”
This comprehensive view aims to attract interest from outside entities and stakeholders. A key part of the strategy involves leveraging existing assets within the community.
Asset-Based Community Development
A marketing slide presented outlined the advantages of the Village of Milan, calling for an asset-based community development approach.
“We look for asset-based community development when we talk about putting projects together, not trying to be something you're not, but taking the assets that are already here,” Williams said.
The community seeks to target these assets for the global marketplace, particularly in sectors related to transportation and logistics. Milan’s strategic location on I40 and near the transcontinental rail line forms a crucial part of its development narrative.
Importance of Transportation and Logistics
The region stands to benefit from anticipated growth along this transportation corridor, especially as congestion builds at major ports, “There’s a lot of growth moving, trying to move out of the ports of Long Beach; there’s a lot of congestion,” explained Williams, highlighting the importance of capitalizing on these opportunities for the community's economic revitalization.
Milan Industrial Park: A Long-Term Vision
Milan and Cibola County are poised to take a major step forward in economic development with the advancement of the Milan Industrial Park. After over two decades of planning, environmental analysis, and infrastructure design, the project is moving toward a comprehensive strategy to diversify the local economy and attract new industry.
The effort to create the Milan Industrial Park began in 2003, when the Village of Milan purchased roughly 900 acres of land, including valuable agricultural water rights. Over time, the vision evolved through master planning in 2008 and later studies, which identified the need to support local industry, provide workforce housing, and leverage existing assets like proximity to Albuquerque, transportation routes, and healthcare facilities.
Laying the Groundwork for Development
Economic development takes time, and officials acknowledged that progress can appear slow. Diversifying a local economy requires careful planning, environmental clearance, and infrastructure readiness. The initial studies included:
Workforce analysis to understand local skills and support new industry.
Target industry analysis to determine the best-fit industries for the region.
Supply chain analysis to explore opportunities to attract suppliers closer to Albuquerque's existing manufacturing base.
This groundwork culminated in a “best fit” analysis that guided the development of the Prewitt and Milan Industrial Parks.
Preparing the Site for Industrial Use
A key component of the project has been preparing the site for industrial use. This involved several steps: Environmental testing: Phase One and Phase Two environmental studies included groundwater and soil monitoring, ensuring the site is viable for industrial purposes.
Floodplain management: Portions of the property required drainage improvements and channelization to mitigate floodplain limitations.
Infrastructure planning: The village developed a fully designed speculative (spec) building plan of 120,000 square feet, which can be adapted for various industrial tenants.
By 2021, the site was considered “shovel ready” for infrastructure construction, pending sufficient funding.
Funding the Industrial Park
Securing funding has been a central challenge. Local leaders pursued federal and state programs, including the Economic Development Administration’s Assistance to Coal Communities initiative, ultimately securing over $2.7 million in federal funds and $1.6 million from the state to begin work on access roads and utilities.
However, larger-scale funding requests—up to $25 million—were initially denied, illustrating the difficulty of landing major state and federal investments.
Project Phases
The industrial park is divided into two phases:
Phase One focuses on shovel-ready development with immediate utility and road construction.
Phase Two preserves land for future expansion, including possible agriculture-related projects.
The Village of Milan has strategically prioritized infrastructure— water wells, wastewater service, electrical grids, and access roads—while carefully managing funding to avoid competing with the village’s essential infrastructure needs for residents.
The Milan Industrial Park is designed to appeal to industries that can leverage the region’s strengths: Aerospace and machinery manufacturing Plastics and rubber manufacturing Value-added food production Logistics, warehousing, and distribution serving Albuquerque and West Coast supply chains The site’s location near major transportation corridors and within the trucking industry’s 11-hour rule positions it as a potential logistics hub.
Community leaders emphasized the importance of collective action across Cibola County, the Village of Milan, and the City of Grants. A joint resolution is being prepared that can circulate to all the various entities committing to this project, the development of the individual part, and committing to identify additional resources for funding.