Foundation says governance has been rebuilt as leaders focus on workforce, industry recruitment and regional coordination
GRANTS, N.M. – A year after public turmoil raised serious questions about its leadership, financial oversight and long-term stability, the Cibola Communities Economic Development Foundation says it is turning the page.
Now operating with a refreshed board, a newly announced economic development director and a renewed focus on regional coordination, CCEDF leaders say the organization has shifted away from internal dysfunction and toward the work of preparing Cibola County for future investment, workforce growth and new industry recruitment.
The shift comes after a highly controversial period for the foundation, which last year faced scrutiny over incomplete tax filings, outdated bylaws, confusion over voting rights, leadership turnover and broader concerns about accountability after years of public support. At the time, the foundation was described as an organization struggling to govern itself, even as it had received substantial taxpayer support over the previous decade from Cibola County, the City of Grants and the Village of Milan.
Today, CCEDF leadership says the organization is in a different place.
Creating Strategy for Growth
In responses provided to the Cibola Citizen, CCEDF President Cooper Jones described the foundation as the “central engine for regional growth” in Cibola County and said its board has evolved into a more active, executionfocused body.
“Over the last year, the board has transitioned into a ‘working board,’” Jones said. “We have moved away from abstract discussion toward active execution.”
He said the foundation’s core role is to help align the City of Grants, the Village of Milan and Cibola County so the region can market its land, assets and opportunities with what he called “one voice.”
“Our priority is alignment,” Jones said. “We serve as the bridge between the city, county, and village to ensure we are marketing our resources and land with one voice. By consolidating our efforts, we prevent duplication of work and present a unified, professional front to prospective industries.”
Jones said CCEDF will measure its success through three main benchmarks: job placement, new industry recruitment and progress on the milestones laid out in its strategic plan.
Cibola is Building Moment
Economic development conversations in Cibola County appear to be gaining new momentum.
Following work by local leaders during the 2026 New Mexico Legislative Session, the Village of Milan Industrial Park has gained visibility as a site being positioned for future business investment.
In March, CCEDF announced Denise Hanson as its new director of economic development, describing her appointment as the start of a “new chapter in regional collaboration and growth initiatives across the county.” Hanson comes into the role from her work with Grants MainStreet and the City of Grants, where the foundation said she has been involved in community revitalization, tourism development and broader economic growth efforts.
In its announcement, CCEDF said Hanson’s focus would include strengthening partnerships, expanding opportunities countywide and building from existing momentum in areas including business development, tourism, outdoor recreation, infrastructure investment and workforce growth.
One of the most concrete areas outlined by the foundation is workforce development.
Jones said CCEDF is working with Grants-Cibola County Schools and New Mexico State University to help create direct “Pathways” between education and employment, with the goal of preparing local students and residents for jobs that either already exist or could be created in the county.
According to Jones, active pathways are already in place for nursing and welding.
Additional pathways in business, broadcasting, heavy equipment operation, commercial driver training and mining or uranium sciences are still in development.
Jones tied that effort directly to larger economic and social concerns, arguing that economic development and workforce readiness are closely connected.
“Economic development is the most effective tool against child poverty,” Jones said in the foundation’s response, adding that CCEDF is working to address what he called an “underequipped” workforce by helping align classroom instruction more closely with local industry needs.
A New Direction
For readers who have followed the foundation’s recent history, however, the question is not only what CCEDF hopes to do next, but whether the organization has resolved the governance problems that once threatened to define it.
Jones said the foundation’s bylaws have now been fully updated and formally adopted to reflect what he described as modern governance standards. He also said CCEDF’s 501(c)(6) status is secure and in good standing. He said the foundation is still working with a professional CPA firm to complete historical filings, with all remaining paperwork expected to be finished by the end of May.
Jones also said the board itself has changed substantially over the past year.
“The board is refreshed and disciplined,” he said. “We have shifted from a period of transition to a period of transparency.”
On the issue of financial oversight, Jones said CCEDF has put stricter reporting systems in place and now reviews financial information openly at each meeting.
“We have implemented strict reporting protocols,” he said. “Financials are reviewed with full transparency at every meeting; there are no ‘surprises.’” He added that the hiring of a dedicated development director would help provide more consistent daily oversight and strengthen the foundation’s accountability in its work with municipal partners.
That emphasis on accountability is significant given the foundation’s recent past.
Last year, internal disputes over finances, governance and basic board procedure spilled into public view, exposing deep divisions inside an organization that had long been expected to help lead economic development efforts in the county. The resulting scrutiny helped intensify pressure on CCEDF to reform its structure, clarify its mission and restore confidence among public partners and the broader community.
What is clearer now is that CCEDF is attempting to reposition itself as a disciplined and practical economic development entity – one focused less on internal conflict and more on delivering visible results through partnerships, workforce preparation and a stronger regional strategy.