Jeff Bingaman United States Senator from New Mexico

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman today announced that two New Mexico organizations have been awarded separate grants to assist homeless youths in Santa Fe and create new economic opportunities in Southwest New Mexico.

The Department of Labor has awarded $560,000 to the Youth Shelters and Family Services in Santa Fe to help the organization continue to provide educational and community service work to homeless, runaway and street youth.

Southwest New Mexico Council of Governments (SWNMCOG) will receive a $120,000 investment from the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration.  Funding will help the COG, which is comprised of Luna, Hidalgo, Grant, and Catron counties, develop and implement a comprehensive economic development strategy to help bring together the public and private sectors to plan an economic development agenda aimed at diversifying and strengthening the local economy.

"At a time when needs are great but budgets are tight, this federal funding is an important investment in our state," Bingaman said.