Socorro Consolidated School District is one of three New Mexico school districts selected for the federal Project AWARE grant. The district will receive $332,279 annually for five years to fund three new positions: community project manager, a clinician and a peer navigator. They will train school personnel to detect and respond to mental health issues, connect youth with mental health providers and develop infrastructure to sustain mental health services after funding ends.

Socorro County awarded four more business grants using American Rescue Plan funds, including one to County Commissioner Glen Duggins’ farm. El Camino Real Housing Authority received $50,000, San Antonio Bar and Restaurant LLC received $50,000, Five Star Chile received $50,000 and Puerto Seguro received $14,000. The commissioners do not determine who receives the grants. A separate committee vets applicants.

Socorro County’s Road Department will add two positions: an operator and a laborer. The new positions will cost the county approximately $65,000. The eight person road department is so behind repairing storm damaged roads, that the county had to ask for an extension on state funded repaving projects. Road Director Art Gonzales said his staff sometimes refuse to work overtime because they are so burned out and he himself has not taken a vacation in five years.

Cathy Cook | El Defensor Chieftain Editor