How Higher Education Bond 3 Will Help New Mexico Build the Skilled Technician Workforce of Tomorrow
If GO Bond 3 passes, there will be no tax rate increase and CNM will receive $15 million toward a cutting-edge workforce development facility to support economic development priorities
Ruth Cuaron started her career as an accountant, but she wanted to pivot to something that would put her on the cutting edge. That’s when she found and enrolled in CNM Ingenuity's 10-week Quantum Technician Bootcamp, which requires no prerequisites.
Just three months after graduating, she landed a paid internship with an aerospace and defense company and is on track for a life-changing career.
Ruth's experience is an example of what's possible when New Mexicans have access to training that connects them directly to quality careers in emerging and high-priority industries. CNM is working to create more opportunities like hers.
On November 3, New Mexico voters will decide on General Obligation (GO) Bond 3, a statewide measure that would provide $15 million toward CNM’s Center for Technical Innovation and Entrepreneurial Development (CTIED). The facility would expand workforce training in advanced manufacturing and related fields that are state economic development priorities, including aerospace, advanced energy, quantum technology, and other emerging industries.
GO Bond 3 would also fund capital improvement projects at other public colleges, universities, and specialty schools across the state with no tax rate increase.
“This bond is crucial for ensuring our colleges and universities can provide the modern and technologically-advanced learning environments our students deserve and need to be successful in the workforce after they graduate,” said CNM President Tracy Hartzler. “A more competitive workforce leads to a more competitive economy for New Mexico.”
The CTIED facility would sit on a 37-acre site near the publicly accessible Sandia Science & Technology Park. It would also be part of the larger CAMINO Collaborative, a partnership between CNM, Sandia National Laboratories, the New Mexico Manufacturing Extension Partnership, and a number of business and industry groups.
The CAMINO Collaborative will bring students, educators, Sandia researchers, entrepreneurs and industry leaders together in a shared environment where career exploration, education, workforce training, business development, entrepreneurship, and employment are closely connected.
“The CAMINO Collaborative represents a bold vision for New Mexico’s future, and CNM is proud to help make it a reality through our highly regarded workforce training and entrepreneurial support programs,” President Hartzler said.
Beyond CNM students, the CAMINO Collaborative will also create opportunities for New Mexicans at every stage of their educational and professional journeys:
- K-12 students from Albuquerque Public Schools, Rio Rancho Public Schools, and districts across New Mexico will be able to explore emerging technologies and discover careers they may not have previously considered.
- Current workers and career changers will be able to gain new skills aligned with specific industries and employment opportunities.
- Employers will have a reliable workforce-development partner capable of quickly updating training as technologies and skill requirements evolve.
- Entrepreneurs will have access to advanced equipment, prototyping technologies, business support, and potential collaborators who can help move ideas into the marketplace.
Zoe Larsen is another example of how CTIED and CAMINO will help create immediate results. She worked as a software engineer, but saw her industry decline because of AI. Concerned about her long-term career prospects, she began looking for a field with growing demand and opportunities to develop new skills.
Quantum technology caught her attention, and CNM's accelerated, immersive 10-week training program offered a way to enter the industry without spending years earning another degree.
After completing the bootcamp, Zoe was hired by Edwards Vacuum, a contractor working at Intel, where she now applies her technical training in semiconductor manufacturing.
“This is what real accessibility looks like—providing New Mexicans from all backgrounds a clear, achievable path to life-changing careers that strengthen families, communities, and our economy,” said President Hartzler.
Key Dates Voters Should Know
- October 6: Early in-person and absentee voting begins
- October 17–31: Expanded early voting
- November 3: Election Day
Learn more about GO Bond 3 and the higher education projects it would support at the HigherEd Bond 3 website.