MRGDC | Official Web Site

MRGDC | COG | Strategic Plan Regional Assessment

Middle Rio Grande Region:

To develop as accurate a picture of the state of the region as possible, the MRGDC staff and its consultants took to the road during the month of May for a series of community meetings for the purpose of identifying the needs as well as the strengths of each county in the Middle Rio Grande Region. The community meetings were following by a four-month period of review on behalf of the MRGDC Board of Directors and the Economic Development Committee. The Committee zeroed in on several needs including: Safety/911 - the way calls are received at the 911 center and are transferred/dispatched to the proper emergency team, i.e. fire department, EMS, etc.; Consolidated Planning/Solid Waste - the need for regional unity over solid waste issues/regional waste management institution; Consolidated Planning/Infrastructure - the need to address connectivity/technology gaps and the need for access to affordable broadband services; Consolidated Planning/Transportation - the need to study the pros and cons of MPO/RPO benefits to the region; Community and Economic Development/Business Development - the need to increase public education to correlate with workforce needs; Community and Economic Development/Community and Human Development - the need for the establishment of a top tier University in the region; and Community and Economic Development/Aging - the need to address alternative living quarters/housing and assistive living quarters and the need to expand on the aging plan to include transportation and duplication of services.

The following is a listing of regional needs and opportunities as recognized during the community meetings. The list is not prioritized by order of importance. A particular need and/or opportunity was chosen as regional if it appeared in the needs assessment of more than three of the nine counties of the Middle Rio Grande Region. The Action Plan (begins on page 91) is the only section of the strategic plan that has any reference to order of importance on a regional level.

Regional Problems/Needs:

SAFETY

Criminal Justice

Youth Facilities/Services/Activities
Youth and Community Drug Prevention & Deterrence Programs
Juvenile Justice Services
Substance Abuse Services
Address Gang Activity in the Community
Implement Education and Coordination among Local Resources within the Community
Address issue of Parental Involvement & Accountability with Youth

Public Safety

Funds for Personnel and Infrastructure
Increased Training of Law Enforcement
Officers need more Support/Community Involvement
Regulatory Authority to address Environmental Problems
Funding for EMS and Fire
Improve Emergency Care

911

Address the issue of how 911 calls are received, transferred and dispatched.
Ability to Track Cellular Phone 911 Calls
Continue mapping and addressing component of 911
Increase public education outreach of proper use of the 911 system

CONSOLIDATED PLANNING

Water

Public Awareness of Water Issues
Regional Unity over Water Issues that include bi-national/cross-border needs
Services and Technical Assistance from State Agencies

Solid Waste

Address Issue of Illegal Dumping
Public Awareness of Solid Waste Issues
Lack of state/federal programs and funding for Recycling Programs
Federal and State Rules bureaucracy impedes solutions
The need for Regional Unity over Solid Waste Issues/Regional Waste Management Institution

Infrastructure/Transportation

Study the pros and cons of an RPO or MPO designation for the region
Connectivity/Technology - Affordable Broadband for Communities/Businesses
Need air service for region
Expertise in Planning and Development
Federal/State coordination with Local Transportation Needs
Inadequate funding for roads/highways
Mass transit system

COMMUNITY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Business Development

Regional Strategies for Job Creation/Economic Development/Marketing
Incentive Programs to Stimulate Economic Development
Economic Dependence Upon Federal Funds
Capital Investment in Housing/Affordable Housing
"Brain Drain" & other Out-Migration Problems
Increased Public Education to correlate with workforce needs
Convention Facilities
Alternate Income Sources-Niche markets, etc...
Value added processing
Global Market Vision
Need for a regional geographic service area adhered to by all state agencies

Community & Human Development

Increase Leadership Capacity
Address the "Digital Divide"
The need for the establishment of a top tier University in the region
Public Awareness of Economic Development Efforts
Politics Play a Large Role in Setting Goals/Hinders Participation of Qualified People
Inability to keep up with service demands-infrastructure and service needs

Aging

Alternative Living Quarters/Housing & Assisted Living
Ombudsman Program
Funds for Nutrition Services/Center
Adult Day Care
High Insurance/Medication Costs
Transportation for elderly; duplication of services
Address long-term elder care

GIS/Technology

Local Technical Assistance
Basic Mapping Services

Regional Strengths/Opportunities: