GGEDC awarded $10,000 BNSF Railway Foundation Grant

Funding will support workforce development initiatives in McKinley County

Gallup, NM – GGEDC Executive Director Patty Lundstrom announced BNSF Railway Foundation is awarding a $10,000 grant to Greater Gallup Economic Development Corporation (GGEDC) to support local workforce development efforts in McKinley County.

“The opportunity to provide residents with the skillsets that employers demand is one that we sought out, and with the BNSF Railway Foundation, our organization can now deliver a wonderful contribution to our community,” said Executive Director Patty Lundstrom. “There are employers right now in the local logistics sector that have a need for qualified employees, and with this funding we’ll be able to help residents get that on-to-job work experience and qualifications that they need to gain employment while also skilling-up our local workforce.”

The one-time appropriation will assist in the creation of career employment pathways within the logistics sector for McKinley County residents. With access to Interstate 40 and the BNSF Railway Transcontinental line and new transportation assets such as the Gallup Energy Logistics Park, opportunities for employment in the logistics sector are expected to increase. The program has a proposed timeline that aims to initiate resident recruitment in Fall 2019.

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About GGEDC:

Greater Gallup Economic Development Corporation (GGEDC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 2012, with a mission to drive economic growth through building on local assets and strategic partnering to target attraction and recruitment of business and industrial employers that provide economic-base jobs in the Gallup-McKinley County area. As a professional economic development organization serving the City of Gallup and McKinley County, GGEDC adheres to the Code of Ethics of the International Economic Development Council, is managed and staffed by Certified Economic Developers (CEcD), and governed by an 8-member board of directors with a combined business experience exceeding 250-years.

About BNSF Railway Foundation:

The BNSF Railway Foundation has supported and helped improve quality of life for thousands of communities across the 28 states where BNSF operates. As one of the largest freight railroads in North America, BNSF Railway is focused on making a difference in the communities where our employees live, work and volunteer.

Contact: Patricia Lundstrom
505-722-2980
patty@gallupedc.com
www.gallupedc.com