Amos Atencio, President

P.O. Box 400
Embudo, NM 87531

Phone: (505) 579-4217
Fax: (505) 579-4206

amosatencio@cybermesa.com

Counties Served: Guadalupe, Mora, Rio Arriba, San Miguel, Santa Fe, Taos

Incorporated: 1973

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Photo by Sandy Rosenblith

STRATEGIES & ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Since its founding, Siete has implemented a wide range of community development programs that have emphasized economic and business development, provision of health care and other social services, services to the elderly, youth education and training, community service (through its AmeriCorps Program), drug prevention, and advocacy.

Housing Development
In 1995, Siete began looking at ways to address the serious housing needs within its service area. Siete successfully secured Low Income Tax Credits for the Bella Vista Project. This 40-unit multifamily project in the Town of Taos was completed in 1999. Siete received HUD’s “Best Practice” award in 1999 for Bella Vista. Following that successful tax credit project, Siete was successful in its 2000 application for tax credits to develop a 60-unit rental project in Las Vegas, NM. The Villas Las Vegas project completed construction in 2001, and was completely leased-up in March 2002. Also, in 1998, Siete received $272,500 of HOME funding from the New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority to implement a model demonstration program in Mora County. The program, called Village $aver, included three components: homebuyer, rental, and owner occupied rehabilitation. In 1999, Siete began developing the housing rehabilitation program. To date, Siete has completed 15 rehab projects using almost $1 million.

Over the years, Siete has established significant real estate holdings which provide opportunities for both residential and commercial development. Siete owns over 43,700 square feet in commercial and residential space. This includes one facility which houses a subsidiary residential alcoholism treatment program, a primary health care facility, a dental clinic, Siete’s administrative offices in Embudo and rental units in Embudo.

Other holdings include:

• A 1,000-acre ranch near Las Vegas, which is held in such value by the community that it will never be sold;
• A 32,000 square foot industrial building in Espanola, which has recently been renovated and is partially leased-up; and
• An 18 acre parcel in Los Luceros, for which Siete requested and received a Recoverable Grant in 1999 to develop single-family homes. Ground has yet to be broken, and the project appears less certain than in 1999. This site, too, appears to be on the verge of being offered for sale

The overall goal of Siete throughout its programs is to achieve "Una Vida Buena y Sana" (a good and healthy life). This means that all programs need to incorporate activities with a view to improving living conditions in general. Since problems and issues are often inter-related, strategic and holistic planning is necessary to achieve a good and healthy life.