Heinrich, Luján, Leger Fernández Welcome $1.3 Million For Rocky Mountain Youth Corps

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and U.S. Representative Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.) are welcoming a $1.3 million grant to Rocky Mountain Youth Corps that will accelerate the construction of a new workforce development training facility in Taos, New Mexico.

Rocky Mountain Youth Corps provides comprehensive workforce development training and educational enhancement programs to New Mexico’s youth between the ages of 17 and 25. Members work on a variety of land conservation, recreation, and historic preservation projects in partnership with local, state, and federal land management agencies.

"National service is a critical and cost-effective approach to solving problems," said Heinrich, the first AmeriCorps alum to serve in the United States Senate. “I am proud to support this funding for Rocky Mountain Youth Corps that will allow them to continue providing up-and-coming outdoor leaders and advocates with restoration and conservation skills.” 

“Workforce development programs are crucial to train the workers of the future, fill in-demand jobs, and support local economies. I’m glad that the Department of Commerce is investing $1.3 million to support the Rocky Mountain Youth Corps to construct a new training facility for New Mexicans,”said Luján. “As a member of the Senate Commerce and Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committees, I’ll continue working with the Biden-Harris administration to strengthen workforce development programs to create new opportunities. These investments are how our state will recover and rebuild from the COVID-19 pandemic and keep our homegrown talent right here in New Mexico.”

“The Rocky Mountain Youth Corps sees the promise in our youth and trains young New Mexicans with the skills they need to get a good paying job,” said Leger Fernández. “My first job was with the Youth Conservation Corp and I know the benefits of working on our land as a launchpad. This EDA funding for a new development training facility in Taos will help the Rocky Mountain Youth Corps continue to empower our communities and strengthen our local economy. We hope this is one of many more investments to come for our state as we care for our planet and address our economic crises.”

“RMYC couldn't be more excited about this opportunity, this project has been a goal of the Corps for well over a decade and we are thrilled to kick it off! Ultimately this project will allow RMYC expand our ability to support New Mexico's youth and young adults, providing them with workforce development trainings, job experience and planning for the future,” said Ben Thomas, executive director of Rocky Mountain Youth Corps in New Mexico. “Youth are all too often seen as one of the problems within our communities, RMYC see's youth as our next leaders, change-agents and worth a substantial investment, this project will allow for that!” 

This funding from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration will be matched with $315,000 in local funds.

Senators Heinrich and Luján recently announced the Civilian Climate Corps Act that builds on President Joe Biden’s call for a climate-focused national service program by authorizing the administration to utilize existing national service programs and coordinate with federal and non-federal entities to create a Civilian Climate Corps.