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New Mexico Economic Development Course
--April 21, 2008
How can a community cost-effectively promote business growth and create
jobs? This is the topic of the 16th annual New Mexico Economic Development
Course (NMEDC) in Silver City from May 18 through May 23.
The one-week intensive offers college credit and Continuing Education units for
economic development professionals and students. A faculty of fourteen
present from their professional experience as well as academic theory,
giving seminars in such subjects as:
- attracting businesses to a community
- marketing a community
- site location analysis
- business retention
- community/neighborhood development
- the arts and cultural entrepreneurship
- the university's role in economic development
- border development and international trade
- real estate development
Western New Mexico University and the WNMU Small Business Development
Center partner every May with the New Mexico Economic Development
Department to present the Course, which is certified by the International
Economic Development Council. Attendees have the option of receiving 3
hours of graduate or undergraduate college credit, or opt for Continuing
Education Credit. Although the emphasis is on economic development efforts
in New Mexico, attendees have come from throughout the country as well as
from abroad. One of the side benefits is the creation of a network of
individuals who will assist one another after they leave the classroom.
In addition to classroom presentations, Course members will tour the
Skinner Furniture Manufacturing plant in Palomas, México. Special events
are to include a dinner at the Buckhorn Saloon and Opera House and a lunch
in Silver City Museum with a presentation about MainStreet USA, followed
by a guided tour of Historic Downtown Silver City.
The course shall accept a maximum of 40 people. To register go to the New
Mexico Small Business Development Center network website, nmsbdc.org, and
go to State Calendar, then to May 18. A limited number of scholarships are
available; to apply contact Linda McArthur at the Western New Mexico
University Small Business Development Center at (575) 538-6320, or email
mcarthur@wnmu.edu.
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Center Helps Veterans
--April 28, 2008
The newly opened Veterans Business Resource Center makes it easier for New Mexico veterans to learn about all the opportunities available to them.
The Veterans Business Resource Center provides the information, training and guidance they need to reap the benefits of new mandates, which state 3 percent of federal government prime contracts and subcontracts be awarded to small businesses owned and controlled by service disabled veterans. John Garcia, Cabinet Secretary of the New Mexico department of Veterans' Services said "...the partnership that we have with the Small Business Administration and the Small Business Development Centers, is working to help veterans succeed in terms of business."
This collaboration with the state Department of Veterans' Services, the SBA and others got under way in 2005 with the establishment of New Mexico's Veterans Entrepreneurial Training Program, or VETPro, the first state program of its kind. Since then, other states have followed suit. New Mexico also is beating the national average when it comes to awarding the new Patriot Express loans for veteran business owners, too. "Our department ... has never focused on vets in biz until we partnered with the SBA and the Small Business Development Centers," Garcia said.
For more infomation on the N.M. Veteran Business Resource Center, visit nmvetbiz.org or call Lloyd Calderon at 505-841-2956.
Leaders of Small Businesses Honored
--April 28, 2008
New Mexico Small Business Week award winners will be honored at the 2008 New Mexico Small Business Week Awards Luncheon from 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. on Thursday at the Hotel Albuquerque at Old Town, 800 Rio Grande NW.
The New Mexico award winners being honored are:
- New Mexico Small Business Person of the Year, Sergio O. Bermudez, president & CEO of El Mezquite Market in Albuquerque.
- Jeffrey Butland Family Owned Small Business of the Year, Luis Gonzalez, president, and Jorge Fernando Gonzalez, vice president of Sequoia Landscaping Inc. in Albuquerque.
- Small Business Exporter of the Year, Carlos Perea, CEO and Ioana Engstrom, director of international sales, of MIOX Corporation in Albuquerque.
- SBA Young Entrepreneur of the Year, Jack T. Vigil, president & CTO of Harmonix Technologies Inc. in Albuquerque.
- Region VI and National Prime Contractor of the Year, Richard J. Lara, president of Classic Industries in Doña Ana.
- New Mexico SBA Loan Volume Leader, First Community Bank.
- NM SBA Loan Dollar Leader, Wells Fargo Bank.
- New Mexico SBA Rural Lending Leader, Bank of the Southwest.
The New Mexico Small Business Champions Award winners are:
- New Mexico & Region VI Financial Services Champion of the Year, Lt. Gov. Diane D. Denish.
- Home-Based Business Champion of the Year, Debbie Maestas-Traynor, principal, Maestas Consulting in Albuquerque.
- Minority Small Business Champion of the Year, Joan F. Fulkerson, director of Small Business Programs at KAFB and Air Force Research Laboratory in Albuquerque.
- Veteran Small Business Champion of the Year, Merritt Hamilton Allen, president & executive director of VOX Optima LLC in Albuquerque.
- Women in Business Champion of the Year, Robin Dozier Otten, president & CEO of RDO Strategic Consultants LLC in Albuquerque.
- Small Business Journalist of the Year, Kevin Robinson-Avila, staff reporter with the New Mexico Business Weekly.
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