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The City of Las Cruces supports shopping local by investing in infrastructure for local businesses.
Celina Morales, deputy director of Economic Development, said the city is “deeply committed to building a more vibrant community.”
One example of that is the Downtown Las Cruces Tax Increment Financing Industrial District, or TIFID, as its commonly referred. Morales said the City’s Downtown TIFID plays a “critical role” and helps to recruit small businesses and has helped to make downtown a destination spot once again.
Penny Peace, owner of Mad Hatter Gallery, 221 N. Main St., Ste. C, told the Bulletin that when she chose her downtown location, it was because of the City of Las Cruces.
“I selected the location for my new business and art gallery because of the attention the City of Las Cruces pays to its Main Street and the support of nearby businesses,” she said.
Morales said that the city’s efforts to encourage small businesses in Las Cruces pays off.
“National data says that for every $100 spent on a local business, $73 stays in the local economy. Local businesses circulate nearly 50% in the community more than the national chains,” Morales said.
Morales said the city works with local partners, such as the Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce and the Las Cruces Small Business Development Center on shop local campaigns to encourage residents to shop in locally owned stores.
“Supporting hardworking business owners makes the city unique,” Morales said.
Morales said another way the city supports local businesses is through its MRA program, designed to entice more businesses to locate into areas that have previously been neglected.
She said a state statute allows the municipality to designate certain areas as an MRA, which becomes a mechanism to trigger that a portion of the Gross Receipts Tax and property taxes go back to that area.
One such MRA is the S. Solano Dr. and El Paseo Ave. corridor, which the city council recently voted on a plan to revitalize. Morales said there are seven other designated MRA’s, although it will take time before all seven will see future focus and investment. She said the one that’s up next will be West Picacho St. Some of the future ones will be Amador Proximo and the Historic Mesquite District.
