Features
New Mexico’s International Trade Sets Fall Focus on Europe
The Office of International Trade (OIT) announced a European Business Development Mission called “Focus Europe” planned for the week of September 8, 2008. The office selected MLM International, a German consultancy, to be the primary provider under the Focus Europe Program.
“We are pleased to be able to continue growing our services in the global marketplace,” said Fred Mondragón, Cabinet Secretary for Economic Development. “With robust programs throughout Asia already in place, it’s clear that Europe is where we need to grow our services.”
The Office of International Trade helps develop and facilitate international business for New Mexico companies. In 2007, Germany and the United Kingdom ranked in the top 10 destinations of New Mexico products around the world. In the same year, New Mexico sold over $275 million of products and services to Western Europe. Companies wishing to attend the mission will receive a customized schedule with pre-arranged, one-on-one meetings with potential business partners.
New Web Site Equals Online Ease in Economic Calendar Planning
Making it easier to access the information needed to help schedule and attend events, the Economic Development Department has launched the state’s first online calendar (www.edcalendar.org). Called “Ed,” referring to the sites educational capabilities as well as shorthand for economic development, the calendar seeks to bring professionals and businesses planning events, forums, and educational events together with potential attendees.
“New Mexico’s economic development professionals in the public, private and non-profit sectors will benefit enormously from a single clearinghouse of economic and community development-related events – from seminars and conferences, to town hall meetings and formalized trainings,” said NMEDD Cabinet Secretary Fred Mondragón.
The calendar accepts any business, educational, or training activities and job postings related to economic and community development in New Mexico, with the exception of fundraisers. Additionally, business and community professionals who are looking to obtain knowledge to advance their career, their business or their community can obtain event listings by perusing the comprehensive list.
Site features include a subscription service that will notify subscribers of upcoming events in their field of interest or specified location. Institutions, associations and economic and community development organizations are able to post events easily themselves by creating a user account. The site also includes a search tool that will allow visitors to create a customized list of events that are filtered by characteristics and locations.
The calendar is a strategic initiative of the New Mexico Economic Development Department (NMEDD) the New Mexico Small Business Development Center Network (NMSBDC) and the New Mexico Finance Authority (NMMFA). The calendar was developed and is hosted by New Mexico Community Capital (NMCC), the state’s only equity provider with both social and financial objectives.
New Border Building Breaks Ground
Governor Bill Richardson broke ground on the new permanent New Mexico Border Authority complex in Santa Teresa. The new site, which replaces the 10 year old temporary facilities, will occupy 7 acres and provide 160 new jobs for the state. The complex is scheduled to be completed in fall of 2008.
Governor Richardson commented, “I am committed to investing in southern New Mexico and this new facility will foster international trade, tourism and will benefit residents.” The Governor also noted that $1.5 million dollars in capital outlay has been invested in the project.
The New Mexico Border Authority was created by the Legislature in 1991 to encourage and foster economic development in the state by developing port facilities and infrastructure at international ports of entry.
New Mexico Employment Flowers from JTIP’s April Funding Showers
4 diverse businesses from Santa Teresa, Rio Rancho, and Albuquerque were the recipients $1,427,156 in April funds from the Job Training Incentive Program (JTIP). The money will help create 290 new jobs in the state.
This month’s JTIP recipients are:
- MCS Industries – Santa Teresa – Full-line supplier of wall, tabletop and poster frames, albums and scrapbooks, wall décor and art print products: $46,155 – supporting 15 new jobs
- AeroMechanical Industries, Inc. – Rio Rancho – Federal Aviation Administration and European Aviations Safety Authority certified repair station for composite flight surfaces and mechanical components: $124,050 – supporting 17 new jobs
- IntelliCyt Corporation – Albuquerque – Development and manufacture of high throughput flow cytometry products for life sciences research and drug discovery: $45,000 – supporting 2 new jobs
- Fidelity Human Resources Services – Albuquerque – Investment management, retirement planning, brokerage and human resources benefits outsourcing services: $1,211,951 – supporting 256 new jobs
“The Department has worked very hard to encourage companies in both urban and rural parts of the state to utilize JTIP,” said New Mexico Economic Development Department Assistant Secretary Stuart Paisano.
For more information on JTIP programs and qualifications, visit www.goNM.biz
Municipal Leaders Conference to Hit the Highway
Albuquerque is set to host the annual New Mexico MainStreet Program/Economic Development Departments Municipal Leaders Conference May 29-30 on the campus of the University of New Mexico. This year’s focus will be on the intersection of the state highway system and its effect on New Mexico’s towns, villages, and cities. Additionally, federal funding issues relating to guidelines and “context sensitive design” will be discussed.
Attendance is limited, and the conference has sold out the last two years. Registration information will be available on this site in the coming weeks.
Co-sponsors of the event include the New Mexico Department of Transportation, the Local Government Division of the New Mexico Department of Financial Administration, the UNM School of Architecture and Planning and the New Mexico Municipal League.
Genzyme Expands in Santa Fe
Santa Fe’s Genzyme Genetics is expanding their New Mexico operations, resulting in the creation of as many as 45 new jobs over the next three years. “Genzyme Genetics has been a good neighbor to Santa Fe, and I’m pleased that the company continues to grow and create new jobs for New Mexicans,” said Economic Development Department Secretary Fred Mondragón. Genzyme currently employs 600 New Mexicans, and has been a part of the Santa Fe community for 25 years.
“This expansion is a prime example of how the state is able to provide financial assistance to companies that translates into direct jobs in our communities,” stated Secretary Mondragón. In addition to New Mexico’s high quality workforce, Genzyme has benefited from such programs as the High Wage Jobs Tax Credit, the Manufacturers Investment Tax Credit and the JTIP job training program.
Genzyme, founded in Boston in 1981, is a world leader in medical biotechnology, focusing on rare inherited disorders, kidney disease, orthopedics, transplant, cancer, and diagnostic testing. In 2007, Genzyme was chosen to receive the National Medal of Technology, the highest honor awarded by the President of the United States for technological innovation.
2008 Rural Economic Development Forum Announced
Truth or Consequences welcomes the 2008 Rural Economic Development Forum April 22-24, hosted by the New Mexico Rural Alliance. Helping to improve rural economic viability through training and education, this year’s rural forum theme is “New Frontiers: Preparing for Tomorrows Economic Development Opportunities.”
Featured events will include a pre-conference workshop on April 22 from 2-4 p.m. titled “Preparing to Launch Your Economic Development Organization,” as well as a celebratory dinner Wednesday evening, April 23, to present the 2008 Economic Development Awards. The awards will recognize those communities, organizations and individuals whose work had an extraordinary impact on economic development in rural New Mexico
New Mexico Economic Development Department Cabinet Secretary Fred Mondragón called the Rural Forum, "an opportunity for economic developers to come together with community and business leaders to create new strategies to foster economic growth in every corner of the state."
Online early bird registration is available through March 31. To register, find out more information on the 2008 New Mexico Rural Economic Development Forum, or to access the Economic Development Awards nomination form and instructions, visit www.nmrural.org.
Frame Company Pictures New Santa Teresa Home
Santa Teresa welcomed the addition of 60 new jobs with the relocation of the El Paso distribution warehouse of MCS Industries. The company, a leading manufacturer of picture and document frames, will initially employ 20 people when operations are moved in July 2008. MCS expects to add 20 more jobs within the next three years to their 141,000 square-foot operation located at the Santa Teresa Bi-National Park. At full capacity, MCS expects to employ 60 New Mexicans.
“I want to commend the efforts of the Office of Mexican Affairs and Trade, the Mesilla Valley Economic Development Alliance (MVEDA), the New Mexico Economic Development Partnership and the New Mexico Border Authority for their cooperative recruiting effort,” Secretary of Economic Development Fred Mondragón said. “This is another big win for New Mexico, which will further strengthen our southern economy.”
"Businesses are beginning to notice New Mexico as the bi-national distribution and manufacturing hub of the future,” added Juan Massey, Director of NMEDD’s Office of Mexican Affairs. “The aggressive incentives and attractive business environment created by Governor Richardson and the Legislature are really starting to pay off.”
MCS Industries is headquartered in Easton, PA. The company employs 950 people. In addition to its 225,000-square-foot facility in Pennsylvania, MCS has operations in Juarez, Mexico and Visalia, CA.
Santa Teresa’s Commercial Border Doors Opened More
New Mexico’s Santa Teresa Port of Entry request to extend its weekday commercial crossing hours from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. has been approved by the U.S. government and the Government of Mexico. Governor Bill Richardson along with US Senators Pete Domenici and Jeff Bingaman joined together in the successful push for the expanded hours.
“The additional commercial border crossing hours in Santa Teresa will benefit both countries and means millions of dollars in increased trade and new jobs,” said Governor Richardson. The crossing had seen a record 30% increase in commercial traffic during a 6 month pilot program that had extended the hours until 10 p.m. The successful program, which ended February 29, 2008, helped prove that increased hours were a necessity to continue the development of bilateral trade.
Governor Richardson saw the longer commercial crossing hours as “a great first step,” and looked forward to further expansion. “We’ll continue to monitor the traffic and if, as expected, the volume continues to increase we will push for additional expansion of the hours.”
March Funds for JTIP Recipients
3 businesses expanding in Deming, Santa Fe and Albuquerque welcomed 52 new jobs created by the approval of $411,222 in funds from the New Mexico Job Training Incentive Program (JTIP).
This month’s JTIP recipients are:
- Compass Components, Inc. – Deming – Cable and harness manufacturing and electro-mechanical assembly supporting the transportation, semiconductor, capital equipment and medical industries – $78,807 – supporting 17 new jobs
- Genzyme Genetics – Santa Fe – Complex reproductive and oncology testing, diagnostic and consulting services – $277,372 – supporting 32 new jobs
- ZTEC Instruments – Albuquerque – Design and manufacture of high performance miniaturized electronic instruments for military, aerospace, commercial manufacturing and scientific markets – $55,043 – supporting 3 new jobs
New Mexico Economic Development Department Assistant Secretary Stuart Paisano said, “We are committed to the continued success of JTIP as we put it to work for New Mexico-based companies that hire and train New Mexicans.”