First Economic Development Center Opens in Albuquerque’s International District
December 9, 2019
Mayor Tim Keller joined a representative of City Councilor Pat Davis and Bernalillo County Commissioner Maggie Hart-Stebbins, Economic Development Director Synthia R. Jaramillo, and International District Economic Development Center (IDEDC) Director Alex Horton to announce the opening of the first Economic Development Center in Albuquerque’s International District.
The new economic development center opens with support from the City of Albuquerque and Bernalillo County, and will serve as a business incubator, assisting and connecting businesses in the International District with resources and opportunities to start and/or expand. Funding from the City will go toward supporting program development.
“The International District is an underserved but resourceful community, and this kind of strategic investment will support economic growth from the ground up, helping local entrepreneurs succeed and filling gaps that have created significant barriers for the community” said Mayor Keller. “The City and County have come together in support, but this is a community-driven effort to empower businesses to succeed, and they deserve all the credit.”
“When the community brought this effort before City Council for support, there was no question as to if we should support this effort, but how. The IDEDC’s provides training, support, resources and opportunities for small businesses in the area,” said City Councilor Pat Davis. “IDEDC is exactly the kind of community-led program that we should be supporting.”
Established in 2019, The International District Economic Development Center is a non-profit located near Wyoming and Central. The IDEDC will offer workshops, office space, and consulting for local businesses.
“The International District will be well-served by this collaboration among residents, the private sector, and City and County governments. No one knows better the needs of this community than the people who live here and I’m proud to support their work,” said Bernalillo County Commissioner Maggie Hart Stebbins
“Albuquerque’s International District is a symbol of resiliency - a community that is resourceful and strong, this new Economic Development Center is proof of that. The new IDEDC will serve as the direct point of contact for the City of Albuquerque’s Small Business Office on behalf of International District businesses as we work across Albuquerque to assist and strengthen small businesses,” said Synthia Jaramillo, City of Albuquerque Economic Development Director.
“Opening this center has taken a lot of patience and persistence – it has been a true community-led effort and community is what this center is all about. The IDEDC is here to serve businesses in the International District and make the ID a hub for commerce.
Under the Keller Administration, with the support of City Council and other key partners, the City is prioritizing investments in historically underinvested areas such as the International District. Recently, the City has repaved streets and made lighting improvements in the International District, passed $5.5 million in G.O. bond funding for a new library and $1.5 million in G.O. bond funding to build a new Southeast Area Command substation, and invested in workforce training programs such as Cultivating Coders and the Southeast Albuquerque Success Center.
The International District Economic Development Center is located at 111 Wyoming Blvd NE in the International District. For more information visit the IDEDC’s website.