Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), along with U.S. Representative Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.) Monday welcomed over $227,000 in federal funding from the Federal Aviation Administration to the Portales Municipal Airport for necessary upgrades and long-term development.
The funding was made possible through the Infrastructure Law.
Portales Community Services Director Kelly McClellan oversees airport operations.
McClellan said Tuesday she will be working with Mayor Mike Miller in specifically identifying how the money will be spent.
“We’ll be doing infrastructure upgrades. We’ll be doing roof work, hail storm repair, equipment upgrades. Just basic stuff, putting that money to good use,” McClellan said.
“Local airports in New Mexico, like the Portales Municipal Airport, are essential to keeping our communities and loved ones connected and boosting our state’s economy,” said Luján.
“Our small airports are important beacons in their communities. They create jobs and economic opportunity,” said Leger Fernández.
Earlier this month, the New Mexico delegation successfully secured five fiscal year 2024 congressionally directed spending projects for Portales.
One was $495,000 for the City of Portales Fire Department to purchase a new rescue engine.
However, Portales Fire Chief TJ Chathey said, “This is the second time the city has been awarded funding for this vehicle but we can’t afford the match money for the engine.”
Cathey noted the engine costs $1 million, fully equipped with everything that needs to go on it, “but the city can’t afford the $505,000 match.”
“We really haven’t had talks about what we can afford because of the situation with the city manager,” Cathey said.
The other four funding packages are:
• $430,000 for the City of Portales to complete planning and design for needed sewer line and manhole upgrades.
• $275,000 for the Roosevelt County Detention Center to plan, design, and complete necessary electrical and plumbing upgrades.
• Senator Luján secured $120,000 for a drainage improvement project in Portales.
• Representative Leger Fernández secured $500,000 for the City of Portales and Eastern New Mexico University to make street improvements.
