Rep. Vasquez Helps Secure $2.9 Million for Infrastructure Upgrades and Economic Growth in Luna County

WASHINGTON, D.C. - On July 31, 2026, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) announced that he helped secure $2.9 million in new federal funding for Luna County to make critical infrastructure upgrades for Columbus and Deming and grow its economy.

A 2017 Luna County planning study found that growing trade between the United States and Mexico had strained regional ports of entry and increased heavy freight traffic through downtown Columbus and Deming on aging roads not designed to carry that weight. This $2.9 million in Department of Transportation funding will help Luna County advance plans to develop an industrial park near the Columbus Land Port of Entry, improve roads to protect truckers and residents, and better connect local businesses to regional trade networks.

"Luna County has a great opportunity to grow its international trade with Mexico and create more jobs and revenue, but the county's roads and infrastructure must be improved. I've been working to ensure Luna County has the funding it needs to grow its economy without sacrificing the safety of local residents and truckers alike," said Vasquez. "I'm proud to have brought home this $2.9 million infrastructure investment for Luna County, and I look forward to continuing to work with the County to strengthen regional trade, create good-paying jobs, and build a stronger future for Luna County."

"With this BUILD award, we can continue to move forward with our regional plans for a future industrial park at the Columbus Land Port of Entry and the Village of Columbus, and Luna County can set the stage for the largest strategic expansion and development the County has ever seen, resulting in additional trade, thousands of new jobs, and increased financial benefits to the community. With patience and persistence, that dream is closer to reality than ever before." said Chris Brice, Luna County Manager.

This year, Rep. Vasquez has already brought home millions in federal funding for critical infrastructure improvements across the district, including $9.9 million in Community Project Funding for public safety and infrastructure improvements.

This legislation builds on Rep. Vasquez's long record of supporting road safety and surface transportation improvement:

• Rep. Vasquez is a cosponsor of the Agricultural and Rural Road Improvement Program Act, which would establish a program to provide $275 million annually in federal highway funds to repair and enhance rural roads and bridges.
• Rep. Vasquez is a cosponsor of the Bridges And Safety Infrastructure for Community Success Act or the BASICS Act, which would increase funding for vital transportation programs, continue robust federal investments in bridges, give local communities access to annual bridge and safety funds, and increase funding for planning and design in urban and rural areas.
• Rep. Vasquez is a cosponsor of the Stop Underrides Act 2.0, which would prevent fatal truck-trailer crashes by mandating side underride guards on new commercial trucks. It requires the DOT to finalize rules, update crash data, and restart the Advisory Committee on Underride Protection.

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