A capital outlay bill signed into law includes a $10 million revolving loan fund for child care—a resource most transportation business owners don't know exists.
Most New Mexico trucking and transportation business owners have no idea that SB240, the state's capital outlay bill, contains a $10 million revolving loan fund specifically designed to help small businesses and nonprofits build, expand, or improve child care facilities. That's worth knowing—because it may affect your workforce planning and your bottom line.
Section 45 of SB240 (found on page 104) appropriates $10 million to establish a revolving loan fund administered by the New Mexico Finance Authority. Small businesses and nonprofits operating or planning to operate child care facilities anywhere in the state can borrow from this fund at favorable terms to construct new facilities, expand existing ones, or make improvements.
A revolving loan fund works differently from a one-time grant. Borrowers repay their loans, and those repayments cycle back into the fund to support future borrowers. This structure keeps money in circulation and available over time.
Child care access is a documented workforce issue in the transportation industry. Drivers and logistics staff—particularly those in regional and long-haul operations—often struggle to find reliable, affordable child care. Limited options can mean losing experienced employees or difficulty recruiting new ones.
If you operate a transportation company with multiple locations or a large workforce, this fund creates a new pathway: your company could partner with or support a child care provider seeking to expand capacity in your area. Alternatively, if you've considered offering on-site or near-site child care as an employee benefit, this loan fund lowers the financial barrier to entry.
The loans are available statewide, so whether you're based in Albuquerque, Las Cruces, Farmington, or rural New Mexico, the fund applies to your region.
The $10 million appropriation is available for expenditure during fiscal years 2027 through 2030, according to Section 2 of SB240. However, there's a hard deadline: the authorization becomes void if the fund is not certified by the end of fiscal year 2028. In practical terms, that means the New Mexico Finance Authority must have the fund operational and ready to receive applications well before the end of FY28 to ensure the money is actually deployed.
If you're considering a child care project—whether as a business owner, nonprofit operator, or transportation company exploring workforce benefits—timing matters. The fund won't exist indefinitely, and demand may be high once word spreads.
Contact the New Mexico Finance Authority to learn about eligibility, loan terms, application timelines, and how to submit a project proposal. If you're a transportation business owner interested in how child care access affects your workforce, this is a concrete tool worth exploring with your HR and finance teams.
Source: SB240, Section 45, Page 104; New Mexico Legislature.