by Amber Knox
Sitting at a table inside Sweetwaters at Landall’s I see a family with several sugar-infused children not able to stay in their seats, raucous teenage boys, and a lone woman working on her laptop. Community on a Monday afternoon in July.
I’m waiting to interview Jodi Diaz who, after spending a decade as the Recreation Director for Portales, became the director of the Roosevelt County Community Development Corporation in May 2022. If your kids were in city sports, then you probably know Jodi.
Landall Goolsby, a long-time business owner and staple in Portales, comes over to say hello and lets me know that Jodi is, “Killing it,” and a grant provided by RCD helped them replace a sign for the business.
As I begin asking Jodi questions about her new position, I quickly learn that she is eager, motivated, and willing to do whatever she needs to do to be a success for the community and her enthusiasm is contagious.
She is taking steps to become a CECD or Certified Economic Developer, traveling to conferences such as the ICSC (International Council of Shopping Centers) in Las Vegas, NV which hosted twenty thousand attendees, is on the PMAC (Portales Military Affairs Committee), holds a seat on the Roosevelt County Chamber, attends the newcomer orientation at Cannon Airforce Base, and in her spare time researches what other small towns in America are doing to flourish yet keep the hometown atmosphere.
Why? Like most of us who choose the small-town life, Jodi wants to see Portales thrive. It is a balancing act between keeping residents and businesses and attracting new ones.
How? By focusing on housing, quality of life, business retention, and new business. Like the phone operators that sat at the switchboard, Jodi is the one who can connect the people who need to be connected. An entrepreneur is looking for a location-Jodi likely knows of a place. A business owner wants to sell-Jodi may know of someone looking to buy. A contractor is looking for land to develop-Jodi probably knows someone with land to sell. An event needs a band-she will go scout.
She recently connected ENMU with donors to get some of the tennis courts at ENMU converted to pickleball courts for the community.
Jodi is also in talks with a company that recruits remote workers to different towns. This would bring in residents without taking away from our jobs market.
If you attended the Heritage Days Street Dance on June 14th, you may have noticed a difference from past years. Usually held in front of the Memorial Building this year it moved to Main Street, featured a new band from Midland, and provided food trucks for attendees to enjoy as well as adult beverages from another new business, 311 Entertainment. With the help of others, Jodi had a hand in these changes.
Communication is the key to success, and this is especially true when it comes to community development. She stressed the importance of feedback from the community.
If you went to an event and think Portales could bring it here, she wants to know about it.
If you want to open a new business but need help getting started, she wants to know about it.
If you want to open a second location for your business, she wants to know about it.
If you have an idea to improve the quality of life, she wants to know about it.
If you want to donate money, she definitely wants to know about it!
The process to make things happen can be slow, but sometimes that first step can be sped up by knowing the right people and Jodi Diaz is the right person to know.
Jodi’s position is backed by a board that includes members from the City, County, ENMU, and CAFB. They vote on grants and projects such as the Façade grants that helped businesses update or replace signs, doors, etc., or the T-Mobile grant which, if they are selected, could help further develop the Lindsey-Steiner Park with shade areas and trees.
Jodi is easy to talk to and eager in her position to do the best job she can, but like most things, it takes a village. So, reach out!
Her office is inside the Roosevelt County Chamber of Commerce at 100 South Ave A. You can stop by or give her a call at 575-356-8541. Visit the website rooseveltcdc.org or the Facebook page Roosevelt County Community Development Corp.
RCCDC is a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation established in 1998.
