New Mexico
Goodwill Industries of New Mexico bringing thrift store, job services to Carlsbad
Store plans ribbon cutting at end of February and grand opening in March
About 17.6% of New Mexicans lived in poverty as of 2022, according to the latest data from the U.S. Census Bureau.
That’s the fourth highest poverty rate in the nation, after Virginia at 17.9%, 18.6%in Louisiana and 19.1% in Mississippi.
That rate equated to 364,725 people in New Mexico living below the federal poverty line, defined last year by an individual income of $14,580, gradually increasing to $50,560 a year for a family of eight.
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Poverty can put people at risk for mental illness, chronic disease, higher mortality and lower life expectancy, read a report from the U.S. Center for Disease Prevent and Health Promotion.
“Poverty is a multifaceted issue that will require multipronged approaches to address. Strategies that improve the economic mobility of families may help to alleviate the negative effects of poverty,” the report read.
In Carlsbad, a statewide organization is bringing one possible solution to Pierce Street, where Goodwill Industries of New Mexico plans to open a thrift store by the end of February.
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Construction at the location, 1108 W. Pierce St. was underway with a ribbon cutting scheduled for Feb. 29.
The building will be 23,000 square feet and occupy the space previously housing Union Home and Industrial.
The store will employ 18 local workers, said Goodwill Chief Executive Officer Shauna Castle, and will sell donated, lightly used home goods and clothes to fund the nonprofit’s free workforce programs also held at the location.
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The Carlsbad store will be Goodwill’s 18th location in New Mexico, and if it’s successful Castle said another could be opened in Hobbs.
Goodwill already has stores in Chaves and Curry counties in eastern New Mexico, along with six other counties in the northwest region of the state.
The organization’s services are also available in every other New Mexico County, except Doña Ana, Otero, Lincoln, Sierra, Grant, Luna and Hidalgo counties in the southwest region.
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Goodwill’s programs put 1,550 people into jobs as of 2023, Castle said, and helped 21,000 others through its other services.
“We’re really excited to be able to come to Carlsbad,” Castle said. “We want to be sure we’re serving the entire state.
Chief Services Officer Sesha Lee said Goodwill’s “Good Jobs” program will help find jobs through the Carlsbad location for anyone 16 and older.
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She said as Goodwill’s operations get started in the city, these programs will be tailored to the unique needs of the community.
That will also include various worker and life skills training, Lee said, and support services for veterans including rent help for homeless vets.
Goodwill presently offers training for production assistants for TV and film, along with other job readiness programs, a reintegration program for unhoused veterans and employment aid for low income seniors aged 50 and up.
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“Employment is a need across the board,” Lee said. “Services will continue to be developed, customized things for particular industries.”
In Carlsbad, that could include help finding construction jobs, work in the oilfield or even at restaurants in the city.
Castle said Goodwill executives planned to meet with Carlsbad and Eddy County officials and business leaders in the coming weeks to determine what is needed in the community and how the organization can meet demand.
“Through our services, people can rise up out of poverty,” Castle said. “While there are some great jobs in the oilfield, a lot of people are still not finding jobs.”
She Goodwill was also interested in partnering with Southeast New Mexico College, which recently established its independence from the New Mexico State University system, in an apparent move to focus on workforce training.
“That would be a relationship we would want to develop,” Castle said. “There is this big shift from the four-year degree to the trades. It’s how do we bridge that gap.”
Adrian Hedden can be reached at 575-628-5516, achedden@currentargus.com or @AdrianHedden on the social media platform X.
New Mexico’s famous Carlsbad Caverns National Park draws about 400,000 visitors each year, and is home to the largest accessible cave chamber in North America. Before or after a visit to the caves, the underrated city of Carlsbad makes a perfect base to recharge. With a peaceful setting along the Pecos River, Carlsbad entices visitors with river walks and wildlife. In the center of this metropolitan city is a rare gem: a riverfront beach park with soft sand, swimming areas, and even a small waterpark.
Formed by a dam on a portion of the Pecos River, the unique public space has an array of activities for park goers, ranging from beach volleyball to kayaking and boating. Spanning 125.6 miles, the Lake Carlsbad Recreation Area provides an urban oasis for residents and visitors alike, just steps away from all the attractions and dining options in Carlsbad. For a perfect combination adventure, visitors can spend time at Lake Carlsbad, or explore a nearby golf course, zoo, and both state and national parks.
Attractions in and around the Carlsbad Recreation Area
The Carlsbad Recreation Area has something for everyone, including five miles of walking paths lined with pecan trees for a relaxing stroll while soaking in the river views. Families can gather in picnic areas with barbecue pits, or take in a game of racquetball or mini golf. There’s also a beach and pavilion, swimming areas, and boat launches for a full day spent on the water. Kids will love the playgrounds, hockey rink, and skatepark. The city-run waterpark within the recreation area has six different small waterslides, a lazy river, children’s play areas, and lounge areas for a nominal entry fee of $5.
Less than five miles from the lake park is the Living Gardens Desert Zoo and State Park, which features hiking trails with amazing views of the valley, wildlife viewing, and educational tours. There are several lodging options for visitors, including tent and RV sites or rustic cabins at the Carlsbad RV Park or camping at Brantley Lake State Park. Right in the city, the Trinity Hotel offers an elegant stay in a historic building that dates back to 1892, or the highly-rated Fiddler’s Inn provides charming accommodations and a cozy atmosphere.
To get to Carlsbad, the Cavern City Air Terminal has a small number of commercial flights to Albuquerque and Phoenix. Or, for more flight options, the El Paso International Airport is the next best option, and is about a 2.5-hour drive from Carlsbad. For further exploration of under-the-radar attractions, about 50 miles outside of Carlsbad is the breathtaking Guadalupe Mountains, which is somehow one of the least-crowded national parks.
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