The State of New Mexico plans return-to-work support payments for those who secure jobs over the next four weeks. For people who can secure jobs and keep them from July 4 until Aug. 28th, New Mexico will offer an incentive of up to $1,000, or $250 per week.

According to KOB 4, as of June 29, more than 70,000 New Mexico residents were still collecting unemployment insurance. The move did not go without criticism. 

"So, MLG is STILL accepting the $300 federal unemployment $$ to keep New Mexicans out of the workforce and NOW the State is ponying up $1,000 to pay people to get back to work," said Paul Gessing, president of the Rio Grande Foundation in a post to his Twitter account on July 2. "Makes perfect sense!"

KOB 4 also reported that New Mexico governor Michelle Lujan Grisham said the state plans to keep the $300 extra a month in federal relief money being given weekly in addition to regular state unemployment payments. 

“The state will continue doing what it can to help workers and businesses get back on their feet,” said Governor Lujan Grisham. “If we can make it even just one degree easier for someone to get back to work, helping offset transition costs, then we’ve got to do that – and we can and we will.”

The funding for the plan will come from stimulus dollars from the federal government.