Rep. Gabe Vasquez Makes Federal Government Work for New Mexicans, Bringing $1.85M Home for Rural Workforce Training in Silver City and Town Hall Upgrade in Mesilla

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last week, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) secured nearly $2 million in federal funding for workforce training in rural areas surrounding Silver City and town hall upgrades in Mesilla. After over a year of advocacy, Rep. Vasquez secured this Community Project Funding to grow the local economy and bolster constituent priorities in his district. Rep. Vasquez continues to fight for the 13 other projects that he submitted which still await passage into law. 

Vasquez is bringing home $850,000 for Frontier Food Hub to construct a Community Garden and Workforce Training Center in Bayard, NM and $1 million to construct a public meeting space and multi-use community area for Mesilla Town Hall. 

• The Frontier Food Hub Workforce Training Center will serve as the only training infrastructure of its kind across the rural, geographically isolated Catron, Grant, Hidalgo, and Luna counties.
• The Mesilla Town Hall addition will build a dedicated boardroom for local stakeholders and community leaders to publicly and transparently convene with local government officials, ultimately leading to more informed and representative governance. Designed to host everything from town meetings and public forums to educational workshops, this new space will anchor civic engagement and strengthen community life.

“You all sent me to Washington to make the federal government work for you, and that’s my north star every day,” said Vasquez. “I am thrilled to have secured these federal resources for our community, and I know they will have a meaningful impact on folks’ lives back home. This workforce training facility will grow our local workforce and economy in some of the most rural parts of our district, and these new community spaces in Mesilla will bolster community connection and transparent, participative governance.”

“The National Center for Frontier Communities expresses its deep gratitude for Congressman Vasquez and his team's support for the construction of an Agricultural Workforce Training Center in Bayard, New Mexico,” said Johannes Lencer, Chief Operating Officer of the National Center for Frontier Communities. “This investment will support our work to train a new generation of farmers in a remote town that lacks economic opportunities for young people, increasing prosperity, resilience and health outcomes for the whole community. Trainees will learn how to grow nutritious food using regenerative and innovative tools that will allow them to gain valuable skills while also feeding their communities. This project is the outcome of years of community engagement and stakeholder-led work that recognizes the importance of uplifting the champions in our communities who are already out there working to sustain their families and neighbors and demonstrates NCFC's commitment to investing into our rural and frontier communities and their future leaders.”

“The renovation of Mesilla Town Hall is more than just a building project — it’s an investment in our community’s future,” said Russell Hernandez, Mayor of Mesilla. “With a new versatile multi-use space for residents, we are creating a hub where ideas can be shared, decisions can be made transparently, and everyone feels welcome. This project brings us one step closer to a stronger, more connected Mesilla, where civic engagement and community connection are at the heart of everything we do.”

The Congressman submitted these community projects for FY26 funding to the House Appropriations Committee back in May 2025. More details about Rep. Vasquez’s newly funded community projects can be found below: 

Frontier Food Hub Workforce Training Center

Recipient: National Center for Frontier Communities

Amount Approved: $850,000

Project Description: The National Center for Frontier Communities will construct a workforce training center in Bayard, New Mexico. The proposed center represents a critical investment in infrastructure for a 17,000-square-mile frontier region that currently lacks permanent facilities dedicated to agricultural education and food system training. Once completed, the center will be the only site in the area specifically designed to support beginning farmers, controlled-environment agriculture, and resilient, community-based food systems.

Mesilla Town Hall Renovation 

Recipient: Town of Mesilla

Amount Approved: $1,000,000

Project Description: The Town of Mesilla will build a meeting room and multi-use community area in the town hall. This flexible space will be utilized for a wide range of activities, including town hall meetings, educational workshops, and social gatherings. The Mesilla Town Hall Renovation project represents a significant step forward in Mesilla’s efforts to build a stronger, more connected community where everyone feels welcome and valued. 

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