Linda Trujillo, superintendent of the state’s regulatory and licensing department, noted the goal of reducing the turnaround time to 21 days for building permits in cities and counties across the state. Trujillo said the state intends to offer provisional licenses to licensed mental health workers in other states who move to New Mexico.

The strategic plan focuses specifically on the nine target industries of the state for economic development: aerospace, biosciences, cybersecurity, film and television, outdoor recreation, sustainable and value-added agriculture. added ”(such as creating products like salsa and tortillas), smart manufacturing, global trade, and sustainable, green energy.

SRI International, based in Menlo Park, Calif., An independent, nonprofit research institute that supports government and industry, drafted the strategic plan in collaboration with several state departments and business leaders across the ‘State.

Lujan Grisham is running for re-election next fall. Secretary of State for Economic Development Alicia J. Keyes said she recognizes that a 20-year plan is vulnerable to the goals and needs of future administrations. But she added that state officials have worked with various parties to discuss the state’s long-term needs.

“We worked with chambers of commerce and economic development offices across the state to get membership,” Keyes said.

Keyes will present the strategic plan, titled “Empower & Collaborate: New Mexico’s Economic Path Forward” on November 10 at a New Mexico Chamber of Commerce luncheon.

“We have worked closely with Secretary Keyes and her team,” said Rob Black, CEO of the New Mexico House. “The report is fully aligned with the chamber’s Driving New Mexico’s Future report. How do we create jobs in new industrial sectors, this is where we are most aligned? [The governor’s] the decree is an attempt to take a systems approach to a wide range of regulations. “

Lujan Grisham wants to strengthen consumer protection but also make doing business easier, which she noted could be seen by some as a contradiction.

“These are not mutually exclusive,” she repeated several times.

Keyes said the Economic Development Department would seek recurring funding of $ 800,000 for private sector business incubators, which have launched dozens of tech companies in Santa Fe over the past 25 years.

Over the past 20+ years, universities across the country have adapted majors and courses to directly meet the needs of industry jobs. The state’s universities and community colleges, with more than 106,000 students, have also worked with industry to tailor courses. But state officials want more effective results.

“We need to work better with industry,” said Higher Education Secretary Stephanie Rodriguez. “We’re fine, but we can do better. We do this for two and four year degrees and graduate degrees. We do not do this for certificates. The gap is the certificates. For each PhD, there are 10 team members who help them get their work done.

The IRS report notes that the data indicates “a mismatch between the skills of New Mexico workers and the skills demanded by state employers.” … Many institutions of higher education and training in New Mexico are increasingly disconnected from the needs of industry.

The report describes six challenges for New Mexico, including a lack of collaboration in economic development; Higher Education; attract and retain talent; not include socio-economically disadvantaged communities in planning; domination of national laboratories in the innovation ecosystem; by focusing on too few key industries.

The overall philosophy, called JEDI, is defined as justice, equity, diversity and inclusion.

The Rust The film-making tragedy involving actor / producer Alec Baldwin has been brought up as film and television are one of the state’s target industries. New Mexico becomes a premier production center alongside Hollywood, New York and Georgia.

“Our expectation is that the industry will intensify [to improve safety]”Said Lujan Grisham.” If the industry does not come forward, it must expect regulations from the state. “

Keyes said she believes New Mexico can play a leading role in redefining security for the film industry across the country.

“We should emerge as a leader as the safest place to make movies,” Keyes said. “The Hollywood shoot was very safe here [from COVID-19] during the pandemic. We want it to be a destination where people want to go.

The strategic plan was funded with $ 1.5 million in the state’s allocation from the federal CARES Act funding.

“It’s not an end product,” Keyes said. “It’s a roadmap. It is a call from the state.