Commentary: State Rep. Gail Armstrong (R-Magdalena) recently sent a letter to the New Mexico Congressional delegation requesting that their offices co-sponsor legislation to reopen the application process to allow for additional Opportunity Zones in the state. New Mexico was allocated 63 Opportunity Zones, which assist economically distressed communities by encouraging investment with incentives provided by federal funding.
Rep. Gail Armstrong represents Catron, Socorro, and Valencia counties in the state legislature. Valencia County was designated an Opportunity Zone by the IRS; however, the counties of Catron and Socorro were not included in the program. Given the economic upheaval of the COVID-19 crisis, communities across the state are desperately seeking economic relief. Being a vastly rural state, New Mexico will need to develop innovative solutions to attract economic activity once the economy is restarted.
“More than half our state is made up of rural communities, these people are counting on leadership at every level to ensure that we can rebuild and stabilize their economies as we move forward,” said Rep. Gail Armstrong (R-Magdalena), “Congress took action once already to develop these Opportunity Zones, and I do not think it is a stretch to ask for leadership and assistance in protecting rural New Mexico by re-opening the program for applications.”