More Handouts for Company Owned by Former Economic Secretary – Keyes Gets $143,388 From Her Old Agency’s New Boss

Second member of Michelle Lujan Grisham’s Cabinet provides more state money to the Governor’s former Economic Department Secretary’s start-up, as her company gets significant share of $3.2 million “Project Velocity.”

There seems to be no end in sight for financial help a former Secretary of New Mexico’s Economic Development Department can get from high ranking friends in the Lujan Grisham administration.

Apaluma is a company founded by former Economic Development Department Secretary Alicia Keyes. Keyes is also the CEO of Apaluma.

Over the last week, The Candle reported that New Mexico Environment Secretary James Kenney directed his staff to amend an existing contract with an IT company named Speridian in a manner that required Speridian to engage AI company, Apaluma, as a subcontractor.

The amendment increased the contract by $499,990.00 – from $1,801,300.00 to $2,301,290.00.

Two month after the inclusion of Apaluma as a subcontractor via the amendment of the existing contract with Speridian, the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) executed another contract with Speridian in the amount of $977,354.17, for what the agency refers to as “Project Velocity.”

According to records received by The Candle, the amendment and the second contract that includes Apaluma as a subcontractor increased the spending authorization associated with Project Velocity to at least $3,278,644 of state funds.

The Candle is requesting invoices and related documents to determine more accurately the state spending Apaluma receives, however in reviewing the contracts and information from the New Mexico Sunshine Portal it is reasonable to conclude Apaluma’s share of receipts could be north of $1 million.

But that is not all of the benefit received by Apaluma.

Another Cabinet Secretary of the Lujan Grisham Administration has added to the pot of money set aside for Keyes’ company.

Economic Development Secretary Rob Black approved two job training grants for Apaluma, totaling $143,388 to subsidize part of the salaries of three employees, each making about $170,000/year. The grants are for “training” the employees through the state’s Job Training Incentive Program (JTIP).

According to information from the Economic Development Department (EDD), Apaluma Inc., of Albuquerque, received an award of $50,751, in November of 2025, and another $92,637, in January of 2026.

According to a press release about the state subsidies for job training, EDD Cabinet Secretary Rob Black recently stated, “JTIP is paying off in dividends as businesses continue to grow and expand operations here and hire and train New Mexicans across the state.”

Well, JTIP, a program Alicia Keyes used to oversee, is certainly paying off for her company, especially as Apaluma is also receiving what appears to be a boatload of state funds from NMED’s Project Velocity.