A project calling for the construction of a new welding facility at San Juan College is in line for up to $650,000 in state funding.
The school has one of the most successful higher education welding programs in the state, emphasizing the basics of welding, as well as metallurgy drafting and blueprint reading.
The $650,000 is part of a significantly larger $19.5 million in capital outlay funding for San Juan County approved by members of the New Mexico State Legislature in their recently-concluded session.
Funding for the county’s individual projects is now awaiting the hoped-for approval of Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham.
Overall, lawmakers approved more than $517 million in capital outlay projects across the state.
Lawmakers additionally approved up to $300,000 for a variety of infrastructure improvements at San Juan College, which is located at 4602 College Boulevard in Farmington.
Other higher education projects in San Juan County which may receive capital funding include the construction of Dine College’s Agricultural Multi-Purpose Center, which is slated to receive $1.1 million.
Last fall voters approved an initial $1.3 million for the school’s multi-purpose facility as a state-wide General Obligation Bond C project.
Exactly $700,000 was approved by lawmakers for the building of a fire lane, also at the Dine College, located in the town of Shiprock.
A public tribal land-grant college, Dine has three campuses in Arizona, and two in New Mexico, including the one in Shiprock.
By Garry Boulard
