Driving Gallup Forward: The Route to Trade & Talent

By Patty Lundstrom, CEcD, Executive Director, Greater Gallup Economic Development Corporation

Gallup, NM - Each year, Economic Development Week gives us a chance to reflect on where we’ve been—and where we’re going. In Gallup, our story has always been tied to movement. From the early days of the railroad to the rise of Route 66, and now along Interstate 40, transportation has shaped who we are. 

Gallup began as a rail town, built along the BNSF Railway line that still connects us to major markets from Los Angeles to Chicago and beyond. Later, Historic Route 66 brought travelers, businesses, and popular culture to our community. This year, as we celebrate the Route 66 Centennial, we are reminded of Gallup’s storied history as a gateway for trade, travel, and opportunity.

Today, Interstate 40 carries that legacy forward. As one of the busiest east-west corridors in the country, I-40 moves goods and people across the Southwest and the country every day. These transportation assets - rail, highway, and regional connections - are not just part of our history. They comprise the critical foundation for our future.

The future is taking shape through the Gallup-McKinley TradePort.

For more than a decade, local, county, state, and private partners have been working together to plan the TradePort project. The goal is simple but powerful: to build a modern inland trade hub that connects our region to global supply chains. With over 5,000 acres of development-ready land, strong rail and transload assets, and a strategic location on I-40, Gallup is positioned to become a key player in the Southwest economy. 

But a vision like this requires more than land and location. It requires infrastructure.

That’s why we are making targeted investments to prepare the TradePort for industry. Along the Carbon Coal Road Corridor, we’ve already seen major improvements, including a $32 million reconstruction of Carbon Coal Road (a 5-mile, 4-lane highway that supports heavy commercial traffic). Future plans include completing the extension of industrial grade utilities, building industrial facilities, and capitalizing on specialized facilities like the Gallup Energy Logistics Park. These investments are essential to attract businesses in areas such as energy, manufacturing, warehousing, and transportation.

We are also planning for the industries of tomorrow. The TradePort includes concepts such as an automotive proving ground and testing facility, a multi-fuel energy hub, and advanced logistics operations. These projects reflect how technology is changing the way goods move - and how communities in Gallup and McKinley County can lead, not follow, that change.

Still, infrastructure alone does not create opportunity. People do.

One of Gallup’s greatest strengths is its workforce. Recent studies show that our region has a strong base of workers in energy, transportation, and manufacturing, along with hundreds of individuals ready to step into new jobs right away. Equally important is our ability to grow our workforce through focused training and education.

We think about workforce development in three steps: “ready now,” “quick upskill,” and “pipeline.” Some workers are ready to go today. Others can move into new roles with short-term training. And our schools and colleges are building the next generation of talent for long-term success.

This approach helps us match people with opportunity - so that as new businesses come to Gallup, our residents are prepared to fill those jobs.

The theme of this year’s Economic Development Week, “Driving Gallup Forward: The Route to Trade & Talent,” reflects both our history and our direction. We are building on the roads and rails that brought us here, while investing in the people and infrastructure that will carry us into the prosperous and sustainable future we envision. Gallup has always been a place of connection. Today, we are strengthening those connections - between industries and infrastructure, between education and employment, and between our community and the global economy.

As we look ahead, one thing is clear: the route forward runs right through Gallup.
________

About the Author 

Patty Lundstrom is the founding and current Executive Director of the Greater Gallup Economic Development Corporation (GGEDC), a 501(c)(3) non-profit serving as the economic development organization for the City of Gallup and McKinley County. GGEDC’s primary focus areas are recruiting, retaining and supporting the expansion of economic-base employers. Prior to founding GGEDC, Patty served as Executive Director of the Northwest New Mexico Council of Governments, which was designated as an Economic Development District by the U.S. Department of Commerce, serving Cibola, McKinley, and San Juan counties. Patty has led the planning and development of projects totaling over $5 billion in value including the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project, the Gallup Energy Logistics Park, and the four-laning of U.S. Hwy 491 from Gallup to the Colorado border.

Patty also has served on numerous Boards and Commissions. As a State Legislator since 2001, she has an intimate understanding of New Mexico State government, as well as the full range of public and private sector issues impacting economic development throughout New Mexico.

About the Greater Gallup Economic Development Corporation

Formed in March 2012, Greater Gallup Economic Development Corporation (GGEDC) is a designated 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in Gallup, New Mexico. As a State Certified Economic Development Corporation, GGEDC serves the City of Gallup and McKinley County 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, and to support and promote a business-friendly environment. See www.gallupedc.com for more information.

About Economic Development Week

Economic Development Week is an event created by the International Economic Development Council to celebrate economic development and the achievements of economic developers. Running from May 4-8, 2026, this year marks the 10 th Economic Development Week and also the 10 th year that Greater Gallup EDC has organized activities in observance of the week.