The capital outlay dollars were skimpy at best when this year’s legislative session ended.

However, in January before the session started Gov. Bill Richardson said he would support $4.2 million in funding for the Tucumcari Main Street project and Mesalands Community College.

On Friday, Richardson recalled his January visit to Tucumcari and his pledge.

"Early before the Legislature met, I made some commitments to you. I am conscious of that based on the fact that the racetrack did not come here. I will do those. There just wasn't any capital for anyone (in the last session)."

Tucumcari and Coronado Partners, headed up by businessman Don Chalmers, sought the state's last race track and casino license to develop a track off of East Route 66 near Interstate 40.

When Tucumcari lost its bid to Raton in 2008, Carole Keith, president of the Tucumcari/Quay County Chamber of Commerce, led a delegation of area leaders, including Patrick Vanderpool, executive director of the Quay County Economic Development Corp., to meet with the governor.

After that meeting, Vanderpool said Richardson expressed support for the following:
l A cost sharing arrangement with a solar manufacturer considering locating in Tucumcari
l Multi-million dollars for renovations to downtown Tucumcari
l Funds to complete the wind turbine at Mesalands Community College
l Funds to build new dormitories at Mesalands
l Consideration in the placement of major electric transmission lines consistent with the wind resources in Quay County
l A review of the designation of U.S. 54, which bypasses Tucumcari’s Main Street
l Creation of a statewide Route 66 Film Festival to be held annually in Tucumcari