New businesses to get LEDA aid

QCS Staff

The Tucumcari City Commission Thursday gave preliminary approval to providing assistance for two new businesses with plans to start or expand in Tucumcari.

The assistance comes from the Local Economic Development Act (LEDA), which operates through a city ordinance in accordance with a state statute. The commmission still must hold a public hearing on the ordinances that will release LEDA funds and give them final approval.

The commission gave final approval to using $50,000 in LEDA funds to help establish Rugged, Inc., which will manufacture a multi-function flashlight for emergency first-responders and some outdoor enthusiasts. The commission also approved $10,000 in LEDA funding to help Dale Harapt, a Las Vegas naturopathic doctor, expand his Las Vegas-based naturopathic medical practice to Tucumcari.

Harapat said that in Tucumcari, he plans to consult patients in herbs; naturopathy; iridology, measuring health through the iris of the eye; and massage. His store in Tucumcari will also sell medicinal herbs and New Mexico gifts.

Adam and Kim Nichols, Tucumcari, are the owners of Rugged, Inc. Adam Nichols is the inventor of the flashlight device, which will include will have several functions related to survival, he said, but that he could not discuss in detail.

Nichols said he plans to hire three or four employees at first to help in assembly, shipping and bookkeeping. LEDA documents said the firm plans to employ up to five persons in its first year, and pay $13.49 per hour to start.

Harapat said he is establishing an office in Tucumcari because “I have quite a few patients from Tucumcari, Logan and Amarillo,” he said, “and I think Tucumcari will be a nice, pleasant place to work.”