Eddy County Commission Approves Millions in Housing Funds

During the November 10 Special Commission Meeting, the Eddy County Board of Commissioners voted to move forward with the Municipal Housing Partnership Initiative, which allocates over $15 million to efforts by Eddy County’s municipalities—Carlsbad, Artesia, Loving, and Hope—to create new housing.

Each municipality will first propose housing projects to the Eddy County Commission, with the goal of being awarded a portion of the allocated Municipal Housing funding. The Commission will consider each proposed project on a case-by-case basis, closely analyzing each proposal to ensure any approved funds would be used to their maximum potential. Once any project is approved, the goal is to break ground as soon as possible.

“We have quite a few shovel-ready projects right now that we would use this money for,” said Artesia Mayor John Henry at the October 21 Eddy County Commission meeting, “…to better Artesia, which, in fact, would better Eddy County.”

“The housing costs are definitely much higher in our part of the world than in others,” said Commission Vice Chairman Bo Bowen. “If we can get these projects going and have the ability to bring people in, then it not only helps the city, the county… It brings in affordable housing for a labor force to come along with it.”

Carlsbad’s Mayor Rick Lopez touched on the city’s growth during the October 21 Commission meeting, listing several of the city’s in-progress infrastructure projects and noting housing availability. “Our goal is to provide a three-bedroom home for $220,000 to our workforce,” he said. “That house is not available right now.

“I believe one out of three people that we try to hire and bring into this area turns the job down. They can’t afford to move here. Wages are great—can’t afford the housing,” Mayor Lopez continued. “This money would hugely benefit the city of Carlsbad.”

Commission Chairwoman Sarah Cordova and Commissioner Ernie Carlson also voiced their support for this initiative. “We’ve talked about it and talked about it and talked about it. Now this is our opportunity to do something about it,” Commissioner Carlson said.

Chairwoman Cordova touched on the impact this initiative would have on new, hard-working families. “If we can encourage people to own something and build generational wealth, to make an investment for themselves and their families, it’s going to sustain them for many years to come,” she said. “I want families to have that opportunity.