Terry Brunner: Helping tribal communities build an economy

There is a growing movement in regions around the state of New Mexico to help citizens take control of their local economies. USDA Rural Development has helped establish an avenue for these efforts through our Stronger Economies Together (SET) program.

The SET program is a partnership between USDA, New Mexico State University and communities that choose to take control of economic issues in their region and make needed improvements. Using a curriculum developed by NMSU, Utah State University and Mississippi State University; the SET program makes available to communities the latest economic data and tools to help them assess where their economy stands and what they can do to improve. Five regions in the state have used or are using the SET program: Southwest New Mexico, Northeast New Mexico, The Trail of the Ancients in Northwest New Mexico, the Northern Tribes of Picuris, San Ildefonso and Nambe, South Central NM, and the region of Lincoln, Otero Counties and the Mescalero Apache Tribe.

There are several unique aspects to the SET program. First, communities are asked to plan as a region and include their neighboring towns. Traditionally, many communities plan only for themselves. However, when you eliminate the restrictions of jurisdictional borders and encourage citizens to engage with their regional neighbors the discussion broadens into solutions and possibilities for a regional economy. Second, the USDA and NMSU in no way influence the community’s deliberations and ideas surrounding their economy. The “experts” and their opinions are left out, so to speak, and the community is free to take its own path. This promotes community buy-in and, I believe, the likelihood for success.