The company that Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham hired to use cell phone data to track New Mexican’s compliance with ‘stay at home’ directives – now wants to borrow tax dollars to pay rent. Santa Fe high-tech startup Descartes Labs is seeking a $750,000 state loan to make lease payments on its downtown Santa Fe office complex for two years in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Descartes Labs has had it’s fair share of big headline contracts and projects in recent years.

From being tasked by the Governor to monitor methane emissions across New Mexico via satellite to ensure compliance with the Energy Transition Act, to using satellite imagery analysis to forecast future crop growth and, now, track consumer and supply chain activities Descartes is frequently tapped by the State to assist in high tech solutions. It’s great to have a homegrown technology company innovating here in New Mexico, but why should they continue to receive LEDA and other miscellaneous economic development funds year after year when other non tech based employers struggle to put down roots. 

It should be noted that Descartes Lab already received over $1.25 million dollars from taxpayer economic development funds over the past few years and currently employs less than 70 employees. Read more HERE.