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Chile Labor Incentive Program


CLIP funding is no longer available. All funding has been issued.

August 10, 2022 – Effective August 14, 2022, all growers, processors and labor contractors must pay their employees, at least, the minimum wage or Adverse Effect Wage Rate  (AEWR)  plus the $4.50 incentive pay, up to $19.50 per hour in order to qualify for CLIP funding. Application support documentation must clearly show the hourly wage to be that of the minimum plus the $4.50 incentive or greater.

The intent of CLIP is to support both the chile farmers and chile processors in their effort to incentivize hiring and retention of the seasonal workforce necessary to harvest and process New Mexico chile crops from the 2021 harvest season through the 2024 harvest.

Examples:

  1. Employee is paid $12.00 per hour. Hourly wage - $4.50 = $7.50 per hour without incentive.
    Not Eligible. Employee is earning less than minimum wage with the incentive included.

  2. Employee is paid $16.00 per hour. Hourly wage - $4.50 = $11.50 per hour without incentive.
    Eligible for the Chile Incentive Program.

*Under AEWR the employee must earn at least $19.29 for the employer to be eligible.

AEWR hourly rate of $14.79 + $4.50 = $19.29.


March 14, 2022 – The State of New Mexico is providing $1 million in financial assistance to the New Mexico chile industry through the Chile Labor Incentive Program (CLIP). These funds will be administered by the New Mexico Department of Agriculture (NMDA). The intent of CLIP is to support both the chile farmers and chile processors in their effort to incentivize hiring and retention of the seasonal workforce necessary to harvest and process New Mexico chile crops from the 2021 harvest season through the 2024 harvest season, or until funding has been exhausted.


Questions?

CLIP contact information
NMDA Marketing and Development Division
clip@nmda.nmsu.edu 
575-646-4929