10-12-2026 10:23am

Tuesday Alamogordo Commission to Decide Fate of Last $1 Million in LEDA Funds

Chris Edwards Editor

The Alamogordo City Commission will decide Tuesday how to spend roughly $1 million in Local Economic Development Act (LEDA) money — the last the city expects to have, now that the gross receipts tax that funded the program has been rededicated.

City Manager Robert Stockwell is asking commissioners to pass over all five business applications and instead put the money toward cleaning up and demolishing dilapidated buildings, chiefly along White Sands Boulevard. His fallback option is to give the entire remaining balance to one applicant, the Pymo Bistro & Hotel downtown.

The regular meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 13, in the Donald E. Carroll City Commission Chambers at City Hall, 1376 E. Ninth St.

Cleanup or a single award

Stockwell's agenda report gives the commission two choices:

Direct the city manager to work with the Chamber of Commerce and the Sacramento Mountains Foundation on a joint project to clean up — and where appropriate demolish — dilapidated and deteriorating buildings, with all remaining LEDA funds going to that effort. White Sands Boulevard would be the top priority, followed by East Tenth Street, East First Street and residential properties next to commercial zones.
Award the remaining LEDA funds to Pymo Hotel and Bistro.

In his report, Stockwell wrote that LEDA projects in Alamogordo have generally had limited success, with minimal sustained job creation or revenue growth. He said stakeholders discussing the city's economic future repeatedly point to its image, and that White Sands Boulevard makes Alamogordo look rundown to would-be investors.

He noted the Sacramento Mountains Foundation has committed to funding cleanup efforts alongside the city. Pairing the $1 million with private foundation money, he argued, would allow cleanup and demolition on a far larger scale than public money alone. Foundation dollars also face fewer restrictions when spent on privately owned property, which he said could free city funds for code enforcement. His report states that such expenditures are allowed under LEDA.

Because the funds will not be replenished, Stockwell wrote, he believes they should address the deteriorated conditions slowing development rather than fund any of the proposals.

The five applicants

Five businesses applied for the funds, together seeking about $3.6 million. Stockwell concluded that most of the proposed jobs pay below a living wage in Alamogordo and that only Pymo would significantly affect gross receipts tax revenue.

Pymo Bistro & Hotel is seeking $1.3 million to finish renovating the historic Avis Building at 923 New York Ave. into a bistro and bar, brewery and canning operation, nine-room boutique hotel and two rooftop patios. Applicant Dr. Dan Moezzi projects 22 positions and about $435,000 in payroll the first year, growing to 40 to 45 jobs and more than $800,000 by year five, with wages from $2.50 an hour plus tips to $36. Stockwell called it the proposal most likely to boost gross receipts tax and noted the owner has already invested heavily, though most of its jobs fall below a living wage.

Xtreme Amplitude, a gymnastics, cheer and fitness gym founded in 2018, is asking for $1 million to buy and renovate the former B&W Transfer and Storage building at 1210 U.S. 70 West. It would add part-time instructors and staff at $13 to $15 an hour and expects annual revenue to grow from about $300,000 to $400,000. Stockwell said hosting competitions that draw out-of-town families is its only potentially significant economic benefit. This is a repeat application and has been subject to scrutiny due to ties to commissioner Burnett and mentioned in prior litigation and investigations of potential conflicts of interest.

Golden Hearts Home Care wants $650,000 to buy its leased office at 1018 E. Tenth St. for $450,000 and renovate it for $200,000, adding a caregiver, CNA and phlebotomy training center. The company says it would retain 50 jobs and add 15 caregivers at $14.50 an hour plus two educators. Stockwell said the jobs are mostly non-living-wage and the expected demand doesn't match the city's minimal population growth.

Cottonwood Christian Fellowship is requesting $542,000 to open a 110-child day care center at its church at 3453 Las Palomas Road, with 25 jobs and about $300,000 in annual payroll at $12 to $24 an hour. Stockwell said the jobs would not pay a living wage and that the demand it anticipates from the state's universal childcare plan has no implementation process yet.

ACUASTIC, the Alamogordo Counter-UAS Training and Integration Center, seeks $95,000 for a first phase and up to $250,000 later to launch a drone and counter-drone assembly and training business. It proposes using city land south of West First Street along the Charlie Lee relief route and projects 10 to 12 jobs in its second phase at $18 to $60 an hour. Stockwell called it the most speculative proposal, saying the team has not shown the experience to carry it out.

Several applications are incomplete. Pymo's packet says financial information "will be provided in person," and its two versions disagree on staffing — 22 positions in one, 30 full-time jobs at opening in the other — and list a July 2026 opening date. Pymo's $1.3 million request also exceeds the roughly $1 million available. ACUASTIC's operating company, High Desert Defense LLC, has not yet been formed.

Youth commission members to take pledges

The first order of business after the agenda is approved will be pledges for members of the Mayor's Youth Advisory Commission. Mayor Sharon McDonald, Municipal Judge David Overstreet and will lead the swearing in ceremony.

Dowhanik-Baron's department submitted the item, which is listed as a presentation only. It carries no fiscal impact and requires no vote. The packet does not name the incoming members, how many will be sworn in, which schools they represent or how long they will serve. The unveiling of those individuals will be on Tuesday.

Alamogordo has not had a formal youth voice in city government for years. A 2010 New Mexico Senate memorial named Alamogordo's mayor, along with those of Rio Rancho, Santa Fe and Farmington, as having created a governmental role for young people. That memorial urged youth councils to weigh in on issues such as curfews, truancy, skate parks and underage drinking.

Also on the agenda

Sept. 22 minutes. The consent agenda includes approval of minutes from the last regular meeting. That meeting approved a golf course management contract with Maxim Golf Solutions 6-0-1, with Commissioner Al Hernandez abstaining. A motion to take further action on a code of conduct complaint against Hernandez failed 2-4, closing the matter.
Closed session on litigation. Commissioners will go into executive session to discuss threatened or pending lawsuits brought by Blalock, Collier, Cuellar, Hubbard, Miller, Romero, Romo and Stonecipher against the city. Clinton Nicely, risk services director for the New Mexico Self-Insurers' Fund, is listed on the item.

The city attorney position remains vacant.

How to attend

Residents who want to speak during public comment must sign up with the City Clerk in advance of the meeting by 630; speakers typically get three minutes, though the mayor may adjust that depending on turnout. The chambers are wheelchair accessible, and other accommodations should be requested at least 48 hours ahead through the City Clerk's Office at 575-439-4100. The full agenda packet is posted on the city website.

Sources

City of Alamogordo, Regular Meeting Agenda and Packet, Oct. 13, 2026, including Agenda Reports No. 1 and No. 3 and the five LEDA applications
Draft minutes, Alamogordo City Commission regular meeting, Sept. 22, 2026
New Mexico Senate Memorial 34 (2010)