U.S. Senator Tom Udall got a preview of future downtown plans, saw the completed Downtown Plaza, and met with business owners on Main Street.
Udall says he wants to help continue the downtown revitalization plans by supporting the Main Street program and federal programs that help people develop and grow their communities.
“What we have going on here is a completely redone Main Street,” Udall says. “You have a plaza that didn’t exist, this is a new plaza, this is a new space, its attracting cross-cultural and border activities. This is something that people love, seeing something like this.”
Udall is also working to increase economic development by introducing the CREATE act to help a community’s artistic influence grow into businesses.
“What the CREATE act does is set up a structure,” Udall said. “So that people that are interested in art and culture, and those types of activities, then can move forward with a business, start a business, be supported in a business, to try to build the creative economy, and it’s something pretty special.”
Udall says with a demand for more retail downtown and the cultural influences, the CREATE act could help open more businesses downtown.
“What’s happening here is the revitalization of downtown,” Udall said. “We’re seeing, dramatic movement of people downtown, so people want to be in on the action. So, you see art galleries here, yoga studios, and people moving their retail establishments because they want to be a part of the action.”
Udall says by helping develop of the creative economy, and it can also help tourism, another important industry in New Mexico.
