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Increased interest in JTIP’s Step Up program helps employees upskill for better positions.
Source: New Mexico Economic Development Department
Image: Courtesy ThyssenKrupp
SANTA FE, N.M. — The New Mexico Economic Development Department (EDD) kicked off 2025 with approximately $5.4 million in job training awards for January and February, Cabinet Secretary-Designate Rob Black announced today.
The approved amounts for EDD’s signature Job Training Incentive Program (JTIP) can assist up to 170 new trainees and interns and 51 current employees. Companies that applied during these two months are located in Albuquerque, Las Cruces, Los Ranchos, Milan, Roswell, Santa Fe, Santa Teresa, and Taos.
JTIP is a training-cost reimbursement program. Companies apply for funding to train new employees and are reimbursed after training is completed and all required benchmarks are met. The program can cover a minimum of 50% of training costs, with higher percentages offered when hiring for rural jobs, hiring of recent New Mexico higher education graduates and veterans, and other criteria.
Four applications were for JTIP’s Step Up Program to train 51 incumbent workers. Step Up offers funding to train current employees who learn new skills and apply for promotions and pay raises within the company. JTIP approved Step Up funds in excess of $37,000 to Flow Aluminum Inc. (Albuquerque), Parting Stone LLC (Santa Fe), and Paradise Power Company Inc. (Taos) in January and February.
“JTIP encourages businesses to grow and hire locally,” Secretary-Designate Black said. “It’s especially exciting to see so many companies taking advantage of JTIP’s Step Up program, a clear indicator that businesses want to promote from within and hire local employees as they expand.”
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The four companies approved for JTIP funds in January are:
Admiral Cable Inc., Santa Teresa, is a Taiwanese company that manufactures power cables and related equipment. As the company establishes a presence in the United States, it aims to supply extension cords and electrical products to homes and businesses nationwide, contributing to the reliable distribution of electricity. This is Admiral Cable’s first JTIP application.
9 trainees at an average wage of $14.45 for a total award of $47,898.
Gridworks Inc., Albuquerque, provides turnkey solar and energy storage solutions for developers and utility clients through engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) and operations and maintenance (O&M). The company’s proprietary technologies streamline the EPC process.
3 trainees for an average wage of $41.67 and 3 interns for an average wage of $26 for a total award of $90,960.
Paradise Power Company Inc. (DBA PPC Solar), Taos, specializes in the development, design, and installation of commercial, utility, and residential Photovoltaic systems. The company has been serving the grid-tied and off-grid communities of New Mexico and Southern Colorado since 1979.
4 trainees at an average wage of $26.38 for a total award of $63,250.
Reflective Images Designs (DBA Reflective Jewelry), Santa Fe, has a facility with a wide variety of tools and machinery — everything from traditional stumps and hand tools to a state-of-the-art laser welder. Rooted in a Southwestern design, Reflective Jewelry can also produce modern CAD/CAM designs. Reflective’s strongest niches include the ethically concerned jewelry (and wedding ring) consumer, Celtic jewelry and rings, handmade/artisan jewelry and rings, and custom and repurposed designs.
2 trainees at an average wage of $26 for a total award of $26,210.
The five companies approved for JTIP funds in February are:
BiltWise Structures of New Mexico LLC, Roswell, is a wholesale provider for off-site construction of modular homes, townhomes, and multi-family projects. The company’s current expansion will provide much-needed relief for the housing crunch in Central New Mexico.
103 trainees at an average wage of $22.59 for a total award of $1,255,164.
Higher Cultures LLC, Las Cruces, runs a responsible and profitable cannabis business, creating quality jobs in the communities in which they operate. The company’s New Mexico operations are focused on manufacturing — from extraction to packaging.
6 trainees at an average wage of $20 for a total award of $39,260.
Junction Commodities New Mexico LLC, Milan, specializes in a range of services including wood chipping, playground chips, soil amendment, and lumber production. The company is poised to deliver innovative forestry solutions, create local employment, and maintain a strong commitment to environmental sustainability. This is Junction Commodities’ first JTIP application.
18 trainees at an average wage of $18.47 for a total award of $197,820.
Knight Scientific Systems LLC, Los Ranchos/Albuquerque, is developing multi-spectral Object Detection (OD) tools to bring the power of machine learning to all imaging wavebands.
1 trainee at a wage of $34.43 for a total award of $19,694.
Thyssenkrupp Materials NA Inc., Santa Teresa, is a fabricator of electrical components such as copper and aluminum bus bars and connectors, insulation (GP03) devices, and more. Thyssenkrupp delivers customized solutions for any switchgear, switchboard, transformer, and other electrical distribution, protection, and power quality equipment needs. The business specializes in products for the electrical industry but can fabricate for any industry such as aerospace, automotive, defense, medical, and oil and gas. This is the company’s first JTIP application.
21 trainees at an average wage of $24.52 for a total award of $252,630.
Learn more about the Job Training Incentive Program on the EDD website at EDD.NewMexico.gov/JTIP.
