About Us

The South Valley Economic Development Center (SVEDC) is an initiative of the Rio Grande Community Development Corporation (RGCDC), a 501(c)(3) non-profit. The SVEDC is possible because of the public-private partnership between Bernalillo County and the RGCDC.

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01

Program Goal

The South Valley Economic Development Center is dedicated to fostering economic revitalization in New Mexico by being the community hub for new and emerging businesses.

02

Organizational Culture

Actively Inclusive

We celebrate diversity by working, serving and welcoming everyone from our multi-cultural community with the same strong sense of professionalism.

Collaborative

We believe there is no better strategy than when we come together as a community to better ourselves.

Continuously Growing

We will always challenge ourselves to be better every day with a sense of urgency.

Inspiring

We will become the change we want to see in our community and celebrate our community’s success stories because we strongly believe those are the ignition for many more.

03

History of the SVEDC

At the beginning of the Bridge and Isleta Boulevards Revitalization planning sessions in 1996, community residents recommended that a small business incubator be built to address economic development issues in the South Valley. In response to the request, the Rio Grande Community Development Center (RGCDC) developed the Bridge and Isleta Boulevards Revitalization plan. The plan made the development of a business incubator in the South Valley a priority. In addition to traditional business incubation, the plan also identified the economic development benefits of locating a commercial kitchen within the facility. The commercial kitchen would provide value added opportunities for residents involved in local farming and food production.

The University of New Mexico’s Design and Planning Assistance Center (DePAC) provided the initial designs for the project. The project secured funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development through the University’s Resource Center for Raza Planning, then directed by Teresa Cordova.

The Resource Center for Raza Planning also conducted door-to-door interviewing and surveying to determine ongoing community support and to gather suggestions for the facility’s development. Based on South Valley residents’ responses to these surveys and community planning meetings, the community decided to name the project the South Valley Economic Development Center (SVEDC). RGCDC and community based efforts made it possible to break ground for the “South Valley Economic Development Center” in 2003 and construction was completed in 2005. The SVEDC’s Grand Opening took place in the summer of 2005.