The Job Training Incentive Program Board approved over $2.2 million in funding to support employee and intern training for 160 jobs at 17 New Mexico businesses, Economic Development Department Cabinet Secretary Alicia J. Keyes announced.
The August meeting of the Job Training Incentive Program (JTIP) board was jam-packed with applications, including five companies applying for the very first time. Funding was requested for 143 trainees, 11 interns, and training for six incumbent employees to gain new knowledge and skills through the Step-Up Program.
“It’s exciting to see such a diversity of businesses taking advantage of JTIP,” Secy Keyes said. “We had so many applications this month, including five companies new to the JTIP process, which shows a real economic optimism that is beginning to permeate throughout the state as we move forward toward recovery.”
The companies receiving funding include:
Amfabsteel is a design-build structural steel fabricator located in Bernalillo. Amfabsteel delivers high quality complex steel projects to owners, general contractors, and developers throughout the Western U.S. The company has been approved for JTIP on four previous occasions since 2016. They will receive $240,974.00 in funding to train 23 new employees at an average hourly wage of $17.67. In addition, Amfabsteel will up-train 5 employees using $15,120.64 in Step-Up Program funds.
Anna & Eve LLC is a manufacturer of baby swaddles and diaper bags. This is their first JTIP request. Sales are conducted solely online, with the bulk of its sales on the wholesale level. Anna & Eve maintain an office and warehouse in Placitas. The company will train one new employee at $16.70 per hour, partially funded by the $11,420.80 from JTIP.
Build with Robots Inc. was founded in Albuquerque and builds sanitizing robots that provide autonomous disinfection at large facilities, including the Albuquerque International Sunport, St. Mary’s School, Houston Airport, and George Bush National Airport. The disinfecting robots were born out of a need arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. The state has awarded $155,470 in support of six new trainees at an average hourly wage of $43.33 and one intern earning $22 per hour.
Capitol Bar & Brewery is applying for the first time to JTIP. They will need two new trainees at an average salary of $15.08 per hour and are requesting $19,360. A Soccoro institution, the building has stood since 1896 and been occupied by a tavern ever since. The DeBrine family has owned Capitol Bar since 1987, and this year marks its 125th year in business. Capit0l Bar is expanding to include a brewery and morning coffee service, thanks in part to state LEDA funds granted this May.
Earth Traveler Teardrop Trailers LLC (Earth Traveler), founded in Santa Fe in 2017, is a manufacturer of the world’s lightest teardrop trailers. This request marks the first time the company has applied to JTIP. Models start at just 250 pounds and are custom-made to meet client specifications. The designs are tough enough for off-road use, but can be pulled by an array of small vehicles. The company Is requesting $25,840.00 to hire six trainees at an average hourly salary of $17.25.
Ergomotion Inc. is the largest manufacturer of adjustable bed bases worldwide. With a base office in Santa Barbara, CA, the Santa Teresa warehouse will support final product coming from the company’s new production facility in Cd. Juarez. The company’s long-term goal is to continue to open new facilities in the U.S. to better serve existing customers, retailers, and strategic partners, thus Santa Teresa was picked as their first chose for expansion. This is their first JTIP application, requesting $33,840.00 to hire five trainees at an average hourly salary of $17.40 .
KiloNewton LLC is a unique service-based business providing technical and engineering analysis and software design for the renewable energy sector. Located in Albuquerque, the company provides consulting and software R&D, primarily focuses on the optimization of large-scale solar, wind, and renewable technology. KiloNewton has been approved for JTIP on three previous occasions. This request for $73,918.88 will be used toward training two new employees at an average of $44.02 per hour and three interns with an average hourly salary of $23.50.
New Mexico Harvest in Albuquerque is a virtual farmer’s market, featuring New Mexico products. The company utilizes a Community Supported Agriculture model in which community members pledge support to the farmers, ranchers, and producers, sharing the risks and benefits, with members customizing what crops are harvested for them weekly. They are applying for $62,760 and it is their first JTIP request. They plan to hire eight new employees at an average hourly wage of $20.09.
New Mexico Fresh Foods LLC is the first High Pressure Processing (HPP) tolling facility in the Southwest. HPP allows for extended shelf-life of canned agriculture products and also replaces the need for chemical preservatives and heat – allowing for a cleaner more naturally flavored product. The company’s location in Albuquerque will help New Mexico businesses sell to a larger geographic customer base. The company intends to create 120 jobs over the next few years. This is their second JTIP request and this time they have been awarded $124,744 to assist in training 16 new employees at an average salary of $20.30 per hour.
Nature's Toolbox Inc. (dba NTx) is a bioinformatics and biomanufacturing company in Rio Rancho. Approved for JTIP on two previous occasions, they will receive $396,179.92 in support of 18 new trainees with an average hourly wage of $41.25. The company has developed a novel platform that allows for rapid screening of genetic data, thereby accelerating preclinical drug discovery efforts for any medically relevant compounds.
Red Mountain Arsenal LLC (RMA) is an ammunition manufacturing company in Roswell that focuses on delivering high-quality ammunition to domestic and foreign governments, law enforcement, domestic training organizations, and commercial customers as allowed by U.S. law and U.S. Dept of State regulations. RMA is a Certified Veteran Owned Small Business, owned and operated by two veterans with extensive ammunition and military experience. The company currently has nine employees and the $111,458 in JTIP funding will support eight new trainees, almost doubling their current staff, receiving an average hourly salary of $20.50. RMA has been approved for JTIP on one other occasion.
Santa Fe Brewing Company is New Mexico’s oldest and largest craft brewery and is headquartered in Santa Fe, which serves as the location for all production and warehousing. The Santa Fe compound consists of a brewing/cellaring building, packaging hall, warehouse/distribution building, and a large tasting room. The original structure is now a concert and private party venue. The brewery also leases four additional taproom spaces in downtown Santa Fe, Eldorado, and two in Albuquerque. Santa Fe Brewing has been approved for JTIP on three previous occasions and will use the new funding of $69,096 to train three new employees with an average hourly salary of $32.
Sombra Cosmetics Inc. has requested JTIP funding on one previous occasion. Sombra manufactures pain relief gels and hand sanitizers, doing all of its own R&D and onsite lab work at the Albuquerque location since 1974. Its products are known for their purity, composition, and effectiveness. They will use the $3,540 in JTIP funds to support one new trainee earning $14.75 per hour.
TORC Robots Inc. is an independent subsidiary of Daimler Truck AG, the global leader and pioneer in trucking. Headquartered in Blacksburg VA, TORC has leased a 40,000 square foot facility in Albuquerque which serves as the base of its testing operations for their highly automated self-driving trucks. TORC offers a complete self-driving-vehicle software and integration solution and is currently focusing on commercializing self-driving trucks. This request is their third JTIP application and will be used to offset training costs for 10 new employees with an average hourly wage of $41.01. The total request amount is $226,028.96.
Vibrant Corporation in Albuquerque provides non-destructive testing for component manufacturers and maintenance, repair, and overhaul companies using proprietary technology initially developed at Los Alamos National Laboratories. Vibrant has been approved for JITP on eight previous occasions. Its customers include Rolls Royce, Delta Airlines, Honeywell Engines and Systems, Boeing, GE, and the Dept of Defense Air Force Research Lab. The business plans to use the $150,268 of JTIP to support seven new trainees earning an average hourly wage of $38.29.
X-Bow Launch Systems Inc. has been approved for JTIP twice before. Located in Albuquerque, the company is commercializing tactical launch capabilities for low-cost, rapid-response access to space. Their approach to additive manufacturing of solid propellants dramatically reduces costs and optimizes performance. X-Bow will receive $399,898 in support of 15 new trainees with an average hourly salary of $36.48.
X2nSAT Inc. has evolved over the years to become a full-service satellite network operator at the forefront of satellite communications technology. Headquartered in Petaluma CA, the company opened a second national operation center in Las Cruces in 2015. X2nSAT offers a variety of broadband and data transmission services including access to the internet, email, and cloud-based data storage. This, its third JTIP request, will offset costs to train 12 new employees at an average of $23.17 and seven interns making an average of $17.57 per hour. The total requested amount is $155,610.