44TH LEGISLATURE - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - FIRST SESSION, 1999

DECLARING MARCH 16, 1999 AS "STAND UP FOR RURAL NEW MEXICO DAY".

WHEREAS, the following eleven nonprofit community-based development groups are hard at work to improve housing and economic conditions in New Mexico rural communities, while preserving their natural and cultural heritage and the values and quality of life that define rural New Mexico:

A. home education livelihood program, Albuquerque;

B. tierra del sol housing corporation, Las Cruces;

C. siete del norte community development corporation, Embudo;

D. Navajo townsite community development corporation, Navajo;

E. habitat for humanity of Valencia county, inc., Belen;

F. Sandoval county economic opportunity council, Bernalillo;

G. eastern plains housing development corporation, Clovis;

H. tseikiin community development corporation, Grants;

I. helping hands, inc., Mora;

J. neighborhood housing services of Santa Fe, Santa Fe; and

K. Taos county economic development corporation; and

WHEREAS, New Mexico's nonprofit community-based developers have been duly recognized as leaders in development in New Mexico and their effort and determination are appreciated by members of the New Mexico legislature and the one million seven hundred thousand New Mexico residents they represent; and

WHEREAS, over a third of rural New Mexico residents live in substandard, overcrowded housing, or housing which costs more than they can afford and at least forty percent of rural New Mexico residents live in poverty, which has led to the distinction that New Mexico is the poorest state in the nation; and

WHEREAS, New Mexico community-based developers have demonstrated their ability to address these issues and the needs of New Mexico's rural population for affordable housing, economic development and essential services; and

WHEREAS, in furtherance of these efforts, New Mexico community-based development groups support the "Stand Up for Rural America" campaign, a national initiative to strengthen rural community-based development organizations and secure additional federal, banking and philanthropic resources to help them do their work; and

WHEREAS, to promote greater awareness of the needs of rural New Mexico, New Mexico community-based development organizations and "Stand Up for Rural America" are recognizing March 16, 1999 as "Stand Up for Rural New Mexico Day";

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that March 16, 1999 is declared as "Stand Up for Rural New Mexico Day", a day when all New Mexico residents celebrate the accomplishments of these community developers, recognize the need for more private and public support for their efforts and call on the federal government, banks and philanthropies to invest more resources in helping these groups help New Mexico residents help themselves; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the New Mexico legislature support the federal funding of the United States department of agriculture's Section 525 rural community development initiative that will provide capacity building funds to nonprofits involved in rural community development; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the New Mexico congressional delegation.