Nine companies get job training funding

Up to $2.4 million is going to nine New Mexico companies to hire and train employees.

The New Mexico Economic Development Department approved June funding for the Job Training Incentive Program, or JTIP.

“This month, three of the nine companies are receiving JTIP support for the first time,” EDD Acting Cabinet Secretary Mark Roper said in a statement. “This participation furthers our mission to support communities with new job growth and help New Mexico businesses thrive.”

The JTIP Board meets monthly to review applications of local companies that are hoping to train new employees or upskill incumbent employees through the Step Up program.

Here’s a list of the companies that received JTIP funding.

Aliya’s Foods USA,

• (dba Aliya’s Limited Food), Albuquerque, 51 trainees at an average wage of $19.46. Total award amount: $243,540. It is the first JTIP application for Aliya’s Foods.

BiltWise Structures of New Mexico,

• Roswell, 103 trainees at an average wage of $22.05. Total award: $1.2 million. It is the company’s first JTIP application. Biltwise Structures is teaming up with Turnkey Ventures to open a modular home manufacturing center inside a vacant building at the Roswell Air Center.

Century Sign Builders,

• Albuquerque, two trainees at an average wage of $27.75. Total award: $29,590. CSB designs, manufactures and installs interior and exterior signage nationwide.

General Airframe Support,

• Roswell, 32 trainees at an average wage of $18.04. Total award: $321,226. General Airframe Support is an Aviation Supplier Association-accredited distributor of aircraft parts and accredited by the Aircraft Fleet Recycling Association.

Mega Corp,

• Albuquerque, 15 trainees as part of the Step Up program. Total award: $22,226. It is Mega Corp’s ninth JTIP award, it is its first request for Step Up funds. Mega Corp is a leading producer of specialty haulage equipment for the construction industry.

Orenda Farms,

• Clovis, six trainees at an average wage of $17.41. Total award: $56,108. Orenda Farms is a minority- and women-owned cannabis cultivation business. The indoor facility allows it to grow 1,496 plants.

Reflective Images Designs

• (dba Reflective Jewelry), Santa Fe, two trainees at an average wage of $25.50. Total award: $25,730. This is the company’s first JTIP application. Reflective Jewelry has a manufacturing facility with wide variety of tools and machinery.

Payfave, Inc.

• (dba Wink), Albuquerque, 8 trainees at an average wage of $55.22. Total award: $254,414. Wink’s mission is use biometrics to eliminate the reliance on passwords.

Spiritus Technologies PBC,

• White Rock, 11 trainees at an average wage of $46.14. Total award: $235,580. Spiritus is a climate technology company at the forefront of direct air capture technology.