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Rich Global Hemp Corp. Moves to Doña Ana County, Seeks 180 Employees

Michael Hernandez

Rich Global Hemp Corp. plans to hire up to 180 people to grow industrial hemp at its roughly 750,000 square-foot greenhouse facility. 

That's the former Aldershot nursery located in Mesilla Park south of Las Cruces.

State, county and economic leaders made the announcement Monday at New Mexico State University's Leyendecker Plant Science Center in La Mesa, hosted by the Mesilla Valley Economic Development Alliance.

Hemp is used to make goods like textiles, food products and medicinal cannabidiol, or CBD oil. 

The company is set to work with licensed farmers to cultivate various strains of hemp and partner with the New Mexico Department of Agriculture and NMSU on hemp gene research.

New Mexico Economic Development Cabinet Secretary Alicia Keyes said the state is pledging $1.2 million in Local Economic Development Act, or LEDA funding and another $1.4 million in job training incentive money.

A study by the state's Economic Development Department estimates the project to generate $136 million in direct spending over the next decade and have a total economic impact of $247 million.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said those figures mean New Mexico is “open for business.”

“These are the kinds of numbers that make us an international leader in this effort. And so, when people tell us anywhere in the world, not just the country that New Mexico can’t lead in economic development, this is proof positive that they are wrong," Lujan Grisham said.

The federal 2018 Farm Bill legalized the regulated production of hemp. NMSU's Board of Regents approved regulations to grow the plant in November 2018. Those rules, which include limiting the THC content in hemp below 0.3 percent, will be enforced by the NMDA.

But Rich Global Hemp co-founder Kai Kirk said there is risk in growing the crop.

“You know we’re being very candid with the farmers as we work with them that this is a risky year," Kirk said. "New Mexico’s never done this and you know, we’re going to come with our best knowledge to make you as successful as possible as partners with you, right? We’re not just selling you the seeds and saying 'good luck' like a lot of people from other states are doing. We're partnering with you to ensure a successful crop and to learn and share that knowledge amongst everybody."

The average annual salary for employees is projected to be $43,000, according to a MVEDA press release. Kirk said he expects entry-level positions to pay around $9 per hour with wage increases pending a 90-day review period.

The first harvest could be as soon as the fall, according to Kirk.

Michael Hernandez was a multimedia reporter for KRWG Public Media from late 2017 through early 2020. He continues to appear on KRWG-TV from time to time on our popular "EnviroMinute" segments, which feature conservation and citizen science issues in the region.