Los Alamos County hires Red River economic development director

Los Alamos County is bringing in Red River’s tourism and grants strategist to help turn economic plans into tangible growth across White Rock and East Downtown Los Alamos.

The county said Maksim “Max” Khudiakov will start as economic development administrator on June 8, a role built to support existing businesses, attract new ones, and advance work already underway on Local Economic Development Act programs and two Metropolitan Redevelopment Areas. For a county of about 19,000 residents that includes the Los Alamos townsite and White Rock, and is anchored by Los Alamos National Laboratory, three national parks, and more than 200 miles of trails, the hire signals a push to turn assets into jobs, investment, and a broader tax base.

Khudiakov arrives with a resume shaped by small-market economic development. He has been Red River’s director of economic development and tourism since March 2022, after joining the town in 2020. Red River said his portfolio included tourism promotion, downtown revitalization, business retention and expansion, infrastructure planning, and strategic grant acquisition. He also earned the Certified Economic Developer designation from the International Economic Development Council in 2025, a credential held by fewer than 1,250 professionals worldwide, with 22 active CEcDs in New Mexico.

His work in Red River was tied closely to small-business survival. In July 2025, the town used a state LEADS grant to launch a business retention and resilience program in a community where 99% of businesses are family-owned and operated. The statewide LEADS round totaled $258,500 for 12 projects across 11 counties. Red River officials also credited Khudiakov with helping secure more than $5 million in grant funding, and in 2025 the town received International Economic Development Council Gold and Silver Awards for work tied to rural residents, tourism promotion, and small business program development.

That background fits Los Alamos County’s broader strategy. In July 2025, the county was seeking a marketing and public relations agency for a tourism marketing program, a sign that visitor spending is being treated as part of a larger economic development plan rather than a stand-alone effort. Khudiakov also serves as president of the Enchanted Circle Marketing Cooperative, a regional alliance promoting tourism and growth across northern New Mexico.

For residents and business owners, the hire will be judged by results that can be seen on the ground: whether LEDA dollars move projects forward, whether redevelopment areas in White Rock and East Downtown Los Alamos attract tenants and construction, and whether existing local businesses report stronger retention and easier expansion. Los Alamos County is not just filling a post. It is betting that Khudiakov can translate tourism know-how, grant dollars, and redevelopment planning into a more durable local economy.