New Mexico invests up to $8M to train 398 workers

The New Mexico Economic Development Department’s Job Training Incentive Program approved funding for 18 companies to hire, train and upskill 398 workers in the first quarter of 2026.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham
Cabinet Secretary Rob Black
Deputy Cabinet Secretary Isaac Romero

Contact: Chris Chaffin
Chris.Chaffin@edd.nm.gov
(505) 490-7962

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
March 23, 2026

New Mexico invests up to $8M to train 398 workers

18 companies approved for job training funds in first quarter 2026

SANTA FE — The New Mexico Economic Development Department’s Job Training Incentive Program approved funding for 18 companies to hire, train and upskill 398 workers in the first quarter of 2026.

These awards support key growth industries, including intelligent manufacturing, aerospace, value-added agriculture, green energy, and film and media.

“Companies choose New Mexico because we have invested in our workforce from cradle to career,” said Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham. “By investing in job training across our target industries, communities all across the state are benefiting from local business growth and new jobs.”

JTIP funding covers at least 50% of trainee wages for up to six months. The reimbursement percentage is higher for jobs located in rural and frontier areas, companies hiring New Mexico graduates, and other criteria that encourage local hiring.

“Each month, these companies prove that New Mexico is truly open for business,” said EDD Cabinet Secretary Rob Black. “JTIP is paying off in dividends as businesses continue to grow and expand operations here and hire and train New Mexicans across the state.”

Highlights from the first three months of 2026 awards include:

• Five of the 18 companies awarded are first-time JTIP applicants — four approved in March alone.
• Funding will go to companies in Albuquerque, Alcalde, Corrales, Las Vegas, Moriarty, Portales and Taos. Navitas Global in Portales plans to hire 38 new local employees.
• PPC Solar is taking advantage of JTIP’s Step Up program for the 13^th time to upskill current employees for potential promotion. PPC has been approved to train 98 employees to date, filled 84 of those positions, and 83 are still employed at the company.
• With support from other EDD programs, companies like Mantis that have recently relocated to or expanded in New Mexico and are already using JTIP funds to train and hire local workers.

The 18 companies approved for JTIP funding from January-March 2026 are:

1. 3D Glass (Albuquerque) designs, prototypes and produces next-generation glass micro-devices, circuits and bio-arrays. In February, it was approved to train one employee at an hourly wage of $79 for a total award of $44,994 (amended from previously awarded amount).
2. ABB Installation (Albuquerque) is a manufacturer of underground cable connections and accessories for electrical distribution grids, fault circuit indicators and current sensors. In February, it was approved to train 77 employees at an average hourly wage of $24 for a total award of $534,174.
3. ABC Technology Group (Albuquerque) is an advanced technology company delivering solutions in AI, robotics, quantum computing, data engineering and more. In March, it was approved to train 111 employees at an average hourly wage of $48 and 18 interns at an average hourly wage of $43, for a total award of $3,376,345.*
4. Apaluma (Albuquerque) is a unified intelligence platform for government data. In January, it was approved to train two employees at an average hourly wage of $83 for a total award of $92,637.
5. B PUBLIC Prefab LLC (Las Vegas) focuses on addressing housing and climate challenges through high-performance building systems, sustainable materials and accessible design. In January, it was approved to train three employees at an average hourly wage of $25 for a total award of $39,266.
6. BlackVe Inc. (Albuquerque) is a privately held defense and space technology company. In January, it was approved to train nine employees at an average hourly wage of $57 for a total award of $295,335.
7. Eden Pharmacy LLC (Albuquerque) is a high-growth sterile and non-sterile compounding prescription pharmacy. In March, it was approved to train 31 employees at an average hourly wage of $40 for a total award of $$641,278.*
8. FishSki Provisions (Alcalde) is a dry food manufacturer, private label manufacturer and co-packer of “adventure-ready meals.” In February, it was approved to train five employees at an average hourly wage of $24 for a total award of $71,874.*
9. halflife* digital (Albuquerque) is a film production and post-production company specializing in commercial work and branded content. In March, it was approved to train six employees at an average hourly wage of $38 for a total award of $133,060.*
10. Ideum Inc. (Corrales) creates educational software exhibits, multitouch tables and touch walls. In March, it was approved to train nine employees at an average hourly wage of $31 for a total award of $202,952.
11. Jaguar Precision Machine Corp (Albuquerque) is a veteran-owned, high-precision manufacturing company, specializing in prototype machining for aerospace, defense and government clients. In January, it was approved to train one employee at an hourly wage of $40 for a total award of $18,264, amended from their November 2025 application.
12. Kairos Power LLC (Albuquerque) is developing a next-generation molten fluoride salt-cooled reactor designed to deliver safe, scalable and cost-effective clean nuclear energy. In January, it was approved to train 25 employees at an average hourly wage of $52 for a total award of $686,470.
13. Mantis Space (Albuquerque) builds orbital infrastructure to grow the space economy. In February (amended from its January award), it was approved to train three employees at an average hourly wage of $88 for a total award of $152,508.
14. Mesa Quantum Systems Inc. (Albuquerque) develops chip-scale quantum sensors and atomic clocks. In March, it was approved to train five employees at an average hourly wage of $51 for a total award of $145,776.*
15. Navitas Global LLC (Portales) produces low-carbon-intensity ethanol fuel along with high-value protein feed additives. In March, it was approved to train six employees at an average hourly wage of $27 for a total award of $713,680.
16. Paradise Power Company Inc. (PPC Solar) (Taos) specializes in the development, design and installation of commercial, utility, and residential photovoltaic systems. In January, it was awarded Step Up funding to upskill 15 trainees with an award of up to $9,651.
17. Sceye Inc. (Moriarty) designs and deploys advanced, solar-powered stratospheric airships to provide connectivity, earth observation, and environmental monitoring. In March, it was approved to train seven employees at an average hourly wage of $60 for a total award of $315,482.
18. Securin Inc. (Albuquerque) provides customers with a suite of security solutions. In January, it was approved to train 12 employees at an average hourly wage of $54 and 18 interns at an average hourly wage of $19, for a total award of $480,632.

* This is the company’s first JTIP application.

Learn more about JTIP at edd.newmexico.gov/JTIP

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