As summer nears, a cross section of local leaders, business owners and residents say the region is being shaped by the same stubborn pressures: a strained economy, rising prices, a thinning workforce and the growing cost of simply keeping communities running.
Interviews with political leaders, small‑business owners and residents across the county reveal a shared sense of urgency around workforce participation, affordable housing and aging infrastructure ‒ issues that officials say are slowing economic momentum and limiting essential services.
While business owners cite rising costs and shifting consumer behavior, residents point to everything from gas prices to environmental concerns. Together, their perspectives sketch a community eager for stability and a “major economic win,” yet grappling with the structural challenges standing in the way.
Farmington Mayor Nate Duckett stated in an email that his “mission makes our focus clear: a thriving economy demands a ready workforce, abundant housing, reliable infrastructure, and excellent essential services.”
Regarding the workforce, he said the city has a gap in readiness and engagement, but “the jobs are here, but the gap is participation.”
“We need more people willing to step in, get trained, and go to work,” Duckett said, adding there is a “cultural component to this.”
Growth will require a “mindset focused on independence and productivity,” he said.
More housing is needed for every level of the workforce, Duckett said, adding increased inventory will help attract employers. He said “limited private land impacts this mission and “rising inflation has escalated the cost of construction.”
Essential services are being “hampered by the need to attract doctors, nurses, and specialists as our population ages,” Duckett said.
The city and the county continue to invest in outdoor recreation, he said.
Concerns include ranking near the bottom in education, public safety and economic performance, adding that one thing that needs to happen in the next 12 months is a “major economic win.”
Bloomfield Mayor John Mohler said “this is an important conversation for our community.”
“The three most pressing issues facing the City of Bloomfield all tie back to one core challenge ‒ limited funding,” Mohler said in an email.
As is the case with many small communities, Mohler said Bloomfield is dealing with aging streets, water systems and facilities that require ongoing investment. The gap continues to grow, he said, but funding to fill that gap has not.
Essential services, public safety, utilities and basic city services are things that Bloomfield residents rely on daily, Mohler said, adding his “dedicated staff does great work” but is often asked to “do more with less.”
Mohler put economic development high on his list, with Bloomfield relying heavily on gross receipts tax revenue to fund operations.
However, they have one of the lowest gross receipts revenues in the region, which “directly impacts our ability to address both infrastructure and services,” he said.
Mohler said the one thing that must happen in the next 12 months is economic growth locally, noting that means attracting new businesses and supporting Bloomfield businesses.
“Bloomfield has a lot of potential. We’re a strong community with good people, and if we can build momentum around economic growth, we can start closing those gaps and moving forward in a meaningful way,” he said.
Aztec Mayor Mike Padilla said his top three concerns are finding the right personnel, specifically certain department heads, a city attorney and police officers. Two other primary issues for Padilla are sourcing a new family restaurant and working with property owners around the North Main business extension.
Padilla said he’s not alone ‒ other mayors in the county have expressed their concerns about finding the right personnel who will stay committed to their jobs. Retention is a big problem for municipalities, especially in northwest New Mexico, Padilla said.
“My second one would be meeting some of the requests that the citizens have asked for,” Padilla said. “We need a family restaurant more than anything.”
Losing the Aztec Restaurant left a “void,” he said. “We still need to have some place for people to go have a good sit-down breakfast.”
Regarding the property around North Main, Padilla said once someone comes in and “gets something started, you build one. … I think it will grow.”
An anchor business, such as a family restaurant or hotel, would provide the foundation for others to come in, he said.
Certain ordinances, such as restrictions on drive-ups, may have to be “revamped,” Padilla said.
“But we don’t want just anything down there,” he said. “We don’t want pawn shops and tattoo parlors.”
Jack’s Plastic Welding moving to North Main is still being talked about, Padilla said, but faces financial roadblocks, as the building it needs will cost around $6 million or $7 million.
Padilla said the city owns land there and is willing to work with the company on some kind of amenable agreement, as occurred with Tractor Supply, which the city helped by funding $190,000 for the demolition of the old building. That funding came from grant money that was available, not from taxpayer dollars.
For Karen Ellsbury, co-owner with husband Patrick, of HEart Gallery, said, “I think our biggest concern as a downtown business owner is to educate the community on how cool our downtown is.”
“I’m really happy that the city is supporting us that way, but it is still a concern,” Ellsbury said, noting that tourists “really drive us in the summer.”
Lil Aztec Flower Shop owner Susan Aguirre said people sometimes go online to place orders, have a bad experience, but later learn they weren’t actually engaging with her shop.
“People are confused and give me bad reviews,” Aguirre said.
Her other two concerns are the rising prices of products such as vases and gasoline because deliveries are a significant aspect of her business.
An optimistic Wade Anderson, owner of Barefoot Bikes in Aztec, said “I feel like I’m isolated. Everybody says things are being difficult and stuff, but really, I feel like the world’s moving.”
As a business owner for about three years, Anderson has experienced his best times in the last six months, and they’re only improving with the warmer weather.
Kasey McCune of Aztec said her biggest concerns are water, oil and gas drilling next to schools, and lack of enforcement of noxious herbicides.
Jennifer Martin of Aztec said her major concerns are “gas prices, spiritual and financial stability for family units, and the cost of hiring professionals, such as certified public accountants.
Flora Vista resident Ryan Downey said gas prices, untrustworthy food labeling and affordable housing are his biggest concerns.
For Farmington resident Gloria Lehmer, the economy and high prices were No. 1, followed by trust in law enforcement and their proper training that ensures public safety, specifying the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Lehmer’s other concerns were adequate safe water and “air, land and environmental issues.”