The New Mexico Economic Development Department announced that its Job Training Incentive Program (JTIP) will provide up to $2.2 million to 12 companies, supporting training for 225 employees across the state.
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham
Cabinet Secretary Rob Black
Deputy Cabinet Secretary Isaac Romero
State Job Training
Contact: Chris Chaffin
Chris.Chaffin@edd.nm.gov
(505) 490-7962
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
October 3, 2025
State Job Training awards to boost skills of 225 New Mexicans
September JTIP funding supports 12 companies with $2.2M
SANTA FE — The New Mexico Economic Development Department announced that its Job Training Incentive Program (JTIP) will provide up to $2.2 million to 12 companies, supporting training for 225 employees across the state.
JTIP reimburses companies for at least 50% of trainee wages, with higher rates for rural jobs and for hiring recent graduates from New Mexico colleges and universities. JTIP also encourages companies to hire locally from underserved populations. All funds are paid on a reimbursement basis after training is completed, providing a direct pathway for companies to grow while developing local talent.
“By investing in workforce training, we are creating pathways to prosperity for New Mexicans, helping them build valuable skills while supporting companies as they grow and thrive across the state,” said Rob Black, Cabinet Secretary for Economic Development.
The September JTIP-funded positions span a wide range of industries, from Humble Brands, a Taos-based company whose deodorants and personal care products are sold nationwide, to Quantinuum, the world’s largest quantum technology company driving breakthroughs in advanced materials, cybersecurity, and AI. The awards showcase the breadth of career opportunities available across New Mexico.
This month, JTIP was awarded to three companies in Santa Teresa, a growing economic base area, four in Albuquerque, two in Taos, and one each in Roswell, Los Alamos, and Santa Fe.
Santa Teresa:
- Admiral Cable was awarded up to $53,703 for 12 trainees at an average hourly wage of $14. Admiral Cable is a Taiwanese company that manufactures power cables and related equipment.
- Franklin Mountain Packaging LLC will train up to 46 workers for reimbursement of up to $533,537. The company specializes in providing custom, sustainable, and cost-effective packaging solutions.
- Oro LLC plans to train up to 32 workers at an average hourly wage of $17 for reimbursement of up to $247,904. Oro contracts and peels bulb onions to bulk ship them to other vegetable processors.
Albuquerque:
- Quantinuum LLC was awarded up to $71,478 for two trainees at an average hourly wage of $65. Quantinuum’s technology drives breakthroughs in materials discovery, cybersecurity, and next-gen quantum AI.
- Gridworks Inc. was awarded up to $9,718 through Step Up for five employees. Gridworks is a solar utility company focused on advancing clean energy infrastructure and grid modernization
- Securin Inc. in Albuquerque will hire up to three interns at an average hourly wage of $26 for a total reimbursement up to $39,780. The company is a leading provider of tech-enabled cybersecurity solutions.
- Turquoise Skies will be reimbursed up to $53,025 for nine trainees at an average hourly wage of $20. Turquoise Skies manufactures authentic handcrafted southwest jewelry for retail and wholesale.
Taos
- Humble Brands Inc. will be reimbursed up to $18,140 for one trainee at an average wage of $24. Humble Brands manufactures and distributes cosmetics, such as deodorant, soap, and lip balm.
Humble Brands, based in Taos, currently employs 62 people and was born from founder Jeff Shardell’s dream of achieving a health-conscious lifestyle. Photo courtesy of Humble Brands. - Paradise Power Company Inc. (PPC Solar) was awarded up to $8,420 for nine employees through the Step Up program. The company specializes in the development, design, and installation of commercial, utility, and residential Photovoltaic systems.
Other Locations:
- BiltWise Structures (Roswell) was awarded up to $974,802 to train 100 workers at an average hourly wage of $21. BiltWise is a manufacturer of modular homes.
- RefractAR LLC (Santa Fe) will be reimbursed up to $20,178 to train one worker at an hourly wage of $26. Refract Studio is a creative technology studio specializing in the design, prototyping, and development of immersive experiences using emerging technologies, such as augmented reality and spatial computing.
- UbiQD Inc. (Los Alamos) was awarded up to $135,095 for five trainees at an average hourly wage of $48. UbiQD is a quantum dot manufacturing and technology company, powering product innovation in agriculture, clean energy, and security.
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