Program Overview

New Mexico State University

Stronger Economies Together (SET) Program

The Stronger Economies Together (SET) program is a joint initiative between New Mexico State University's College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, USDA Rural Development, and the Western Regional Rural Development Center at Utah State University. This program aims to help New Mexico's rural community and county leaders develop and implement an economic development blueprint for their multi-county regions.

NMSU Cooperative Extension Service

New Mexico rural community and county leaders are taking advantage of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Stronger Economies Together program to help them develop and implement an economic development blueprint for their multi-county regions. The SET program has nine regions within New Mexico, encompassing 32 of the state's 33 counties.

SET Regions in New Mexico

The SET regions in New Mexico are:

• Southwestern New Mexico Economic Development Partnership including Catron, Grants, Hidalgo, and Luna counties. Launched in 2010.
• Northeast Economic Development Organization - New Mexico including Union, Colfax, Mora, Harding, Quay, Guadalupe, and San Miguel counties. Established in 2010.
• Trails of the Ancients including San Juan, McKinley, and Cibola counties. Established in 2013.
• Northern New Mexico Pueblos SET Region including Santa Fe, Taos, and Rio Arriba counties and the pueblos of Tesuque, San Ildefonso, and Picuris. Established in 2015.
• Middle Rio Grande Economic Development Organization including Catron, Valencia, Socorro, and Sierra counties. Established in 2015.
• South Central Mountains Economic Development Organization including Lincoln and Otero counties, and the Mescalero Apache Tribe. Established in 2015.
• East Central New Mexico SET Region including Quay, Guadalupe, De Baca, and Torrance counties. Established in 2016.
• Mid Central Rural Corridor including Los Alamos, Sandoval, and Bernalillo counties. Established in 2017.
• South Eastern New Mexico SAT Region including Curry, Roosevelt, Chaves, Eddy, and Lea counties. Established in 2017.

Strategic Plans

The following strategic plans have been developed:

• SET Plan 1: North East Economic Development Organization, Inc. DBA NEEDO-NM, 2016
• SET Plan 2: Trail of the Ancients, 2016
• SET Plan 3: Middle Rio Grande Economic Development Association, 2016
• SET Plan 4: South Central Mountain Economic Development Association, 2016
• SET Plan 5: Northern New Mexico Pueblos, 2016
• SET Plan 6: East Central New Mexico, 2018
• SET Plan 7: New Mexico Mid Central Rural Corridor, 2018
• SET Plan 8: Southeastern New Mexico

College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES)

The College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) is an engine for economic and community development in New Mexico, improving the lives of New Mexicans through research, academic programs, and extension. The college's mission and vision are focused on providing high-quality educational programs, conducting innovative research, and delivering effective extension services to the community.