The program is free of charge, with monthly classes and workshops administered by the New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion (OBAE) and paid for by the U.S. Congress. Building Industry Consulting Service International (BICSI) will provide lab equipment, workbooks, tools, and all teaching equipment. The funding for the three-year broadband workforce program comes from a $1.99 million federal grant New Mexico received from the 2024 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Act. Last year, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham asked state agencies in 2024 to address the critical need for infrastructure development in the state, including telecommunications.
In a city where summer heat outpaces shade, Pittsburg is taking steps to expand its urban tree canopy to ensure that every neighborhood, especially those impacted by rising temperatures and air quality issues, benefit from more trees. Thanks to a $2 million federal grant awarded by the U.S Department of Agriculture's Forest Services in February 2024, Pittsburg has embarked on its first-ever long-term Urban Forest Management Plan to bring more trees, cleaner air, and help improve the quality of life of its more than 75,000 residents.