Cabinet Secretary Sarita Nair cuts the ribbon on the newly renovated ‘America’s Job Center Española’. Courtesy/NMDWS

From left, NMDWS Deputy Secretary Marcos Martinez, Cabinet Secretary Sarita Nair and Area Manager Carmen Lujan in a Net-Zero resource room, during a tour on Friday of the newly renovated ‘America’s Job Center Española’. Net-Zero resource rooms incorporate green technology and efficiency, and feature a place where the public can utilize free access to computers and the internet to apply for jobs, complete online trainings, apply for Unemployment Insurance benefits and complete weekly certifications in a welcoming environment. Courtesy/NMDWS

NMDWS News:

ESPAÑOLA — The New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions (NMDWS) celebrated the reopening of the renovated “America’s Job Center Española” on Friday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by Secretary Sarita Nair.

The renovation, made possible through capital outlay funding from the Legislature and Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, modernized the facility to enhance the services provided to job seekers, employers, and the surrounding community.

Part of the renovation included the establishment of a Net-Zero resource room, incorporating green technology and efficiency. Resource rooms feature a place where the public can utilize free access to computers and the internet to apply for jobs, complete online trainings, apply for Unemployment Insurance benefits and complete weekly certifications in a welcoming environment. Made possible with funding from the Community Benefit Fund, Net-Zero resource rooms serve as a model of the way in which even small investments can drive energy efficiency.

“For a lot of New Mexicans, coming to an America’s Job Center is their first step towards building a better life for themselves and their families,” NMDWS Cabinet Secretary Sarita Nair said. “With the anticipated increase in traffic as people try to comply with Medicaid and SNAP work requirements, the timing was perfect to create a more welcoming, modern, accessible, and environmentally friendly experience for the Española community.”

Located on Paseo de Onate, the AJC Española plays a critical role in connecting residents to employment opportunities, skills training, and career pathways. The renovation underscores the department’s broader mission to educate employers, employees, and enforce in support of New Mexico’s workforce.

Following the ribbon cutting, attendees toured the updated building and resource room and learned about the sustainable features that make the center a model for future AJCNM renovations across the state.

For more information about services available at America’s Job Center New Mexico locations, visit https://www.dws.state.nm.us.