Heinrich Plans Economic Tour

Article By Albuquerque Business First   |   Gary Gerew

Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-NM, will be in Rio Arriba and Colfax Counties this week for a tour focusing on ways to improve New Mexico’s economy.

On Thursday, Heinrich will also deliver the keynote address for the Workforce Development, Economic Development, and Education Summit at Northern New Mexico College in Española. The summit is organized to have representatives from nearby universities to discuss the role that northern New Mexico secondary education institutions play in workforce and economic development in the region.

On Friday, Heinrich will tour the Track Fire Recovery Site in Raton and meet with city and county officials along with representatives from the State Park and Natural Resources Conservation Services to discuss the continued progress in the recovery effort. The Track Fire of June 2011 severely damaged nearby Lake Maloya, burning nearly 75 percent of the watershed.

Also on Friday, Heinrich will visit the Community Based Outpatient Clinic for Raton-area veterans. A new VA clinic set to open in January in Raton will more than double the size of the current clinic and provide greater access to quality health care for veterans throughout northern New Mexico. Heinrich said he has been advocating for improved care at VA clinics in northern New Mexico. Last month, in a meeting with U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Undersecretary for Health Dr. Robert Petzel, Heinrich said he received assurance that the VA will address the issues with clinics in Santa Fe, Raton, Gallup, Las Vegas, and Taos.

505.348.8323 | ggerew@bizjournals.com