MVEDA’s Business on the Border Luncheon on March 2nd featured a commercial real estate update.   The discussion shined a positive light on the economic environment surrounding the real estate market and where we can be looking for opportunities ahead.

The panel consisted of:  John L. Hummer, Owner/Broker with Steinborn TCN Commercial Real Estate; Gil Jones, Associate Broker with NAI 1^st Valley Commercial Real Estate; Donnie Brainard, President/Qualifying Broker with Alameda Property Group; and Rick Stoes, Managing Director for Grubb & Ellis.

Economic highlights from the discussion included:

• National and regional retailers are beginning to show activity,
• Improvement in new store openings and slowing of store closures compared to last year,
• Strip retailers are more aggressive on store openings,
• Stabilization of lease rates,
• Growth at Ft. Bliss expected to boost regional economy by $4 billion annually,
• Significant increase in venture capital money looking to be placed. Majority of which is coming out of Mexico, and
• Conventional financing will continue to be difficult to obtain.

The panelists graciously agreed to let us post their presentations and they can be down-loaded by following these links:

• John Hummer’s presentation (PDF - 570 KB)
• Gil Jones’ presentation (PDF - 935 KB)
• Donnie Brainard’s presentation (PDF - 1.5 MB)
• Rick Stoes’ presentation (PDF - 1.3MB)

As for the first two months of 2010, MVEDA’s lead generation activity has been quite high.  Entering the month of March, our lead generation is 176% higher than this same time last year, and our prospect activity is at 111% of our YTD goals.  In the month of February alone, we had over 14 new leads and 5 site visits by companies interested in the region.  Renewable energy continues to lead the way representing 1/3rd of all our new lead generation, followed by manufacturing and logistics firms.  Over the past couple of months we have also seen some increased interest in the aviation and aerospace sectors.

MVEDA’s marketing efforts remain aggressive.  Since mid-January, MVEDA participated in two prospecting missions with the New Mexico Partnership to Southern California and Dallas regions.  We also attended the Medical Design and Manufacturing Trade Show in Anaheim and participated in the National Security Technology Conference that took place in Las Cruces last week.

Although lead generation and prospecting activity is quite high, the difficulty in closing deals and in job creation surrounds financing.  This became a topic at our Business on the Border luncheon and has been a growing challenge over the past year.  As economic developers, we are being asked more and more to identify financing solutions for our clients which as a result is forcing us to identify alternative financing routes, such as through State and Federal programs, or through equity programs and grants.  Suffice it to say that this will be a continuing discussion, but enables us to retool, as well as, rethink strategies that will create new opportunities and future growth in Dona Ana County.

Mexico Now, Mexico’s leading international business magazine, is hosting the “Logistics in Mexico Conference” in El Paso, Texas on Thursday, March 25, 2010. The conference will be held at the El Paso Marriot Hotel, 1600 Airway Boulevard, from 7:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Subject matter covered during the conference will include:

• Customs in Mexico and USA
• Business dynamics of 3PL
• Legal and tax aspects of the logistics industry in Mexico
• State of the art of inventory control
• The role of the federal government to improve the competitiveness of the logistics industry
• The importance of landed-cost, new product development and response to market
• Comparison of Mexico’s logistics industry costs and practices with other low-cost countries
• Industrial real estate and locations
• Local market opportunities
• Major threats to logistics in Mexico

Conference costs for manufacturers, suppliers and services vendors is US $320 plus tax and includes meals, conference materials and activities.

For more information about the event, speakers and to register online, please visit the conference website.

The March meeting of the MVEDA Business on the Border Forum will be held on Tuesday, March 2, 2010 from 11:30 AM until 1:00 PM at the Hotel Encanto de Las Cruces, 705 S. Telshor. The meeting will begin with a hot entree buffet.

The March Forum will feature a panel of local commercial real estate brokers and developers discussing the local commercial real estate market and opportunities in a changing market. Panel members will include:

• John L. Hummer, Owner/Broker with Steinborn TCN Commercial Real Estate;
• Gil Jones, Associate Broker with NAI 1^st Valley Commercial Real Estate;
• Donnie Brainard, President/Qualifying Broker with Alameda Property Group; and
• Rick Stoes, Managing Director for Grubb & Ellis.

Luncheon cost is $20.00 per person, payable by cash, check or major credit card. The meeting is open to the public. A large turnout is expected so reservations are recommended. Please confirm your attendance to ensure proper space will be available by sending an email to rsvp@mveda.com or by calling the office at (575) 525-2852.

The New Mexico Environment Department Air Quality Bureau (NMED-AQB) is hosting a public meeting on Thursday, March 4, 2010 from 2-4pm at the Sunland Park City Hall Chamber.  The purpose of this meeting is to outline the new proposed federal ozone standards and update the public about ozone pollution and “nonattainment” in Dona Ana County.  The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed more stringent national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for ground-level ozone.  EPA will accept comments on the proposal until March 22, 2010.  A direct link to the proposed rule is available here: http://www.epa.gov/air/ozonepollution/fr/20100119.pdf.  Directions on how to submit comments are on the first two pages of the proposal.  More supplementary information on the proposal is available at the EPA website: http://www.epa.gov/air/ozonepollution/actions.html#jan10s.  Please confirm your attendance to ensure proper space will be available by using the contact information below.

Michael Baca

michael.baca1@state.nm.us

Environmental Analyst, NMED AQB

1170 N. Solano Dr. Suite M, Las Cruces, NM 88001

Office: (575) 647-7983

The 2^nd Annual National Security Technology Conference will be held at the Hotel Encanto de Las Cruces on March 2-4, 2010.  The conference is hosted by the National Security Technology Incubator (NSTI) operated by the Arrowhead Center at New Mexico State University. NSTI is funded by the Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration division. NSTI promotes the development of new and expanding technology business in New Mexico.

The conference will introduce companies to major contractors and government decision makers working in the national security sectors. Panels will address various teaming arrangements and potential funding opportunities, and includes a classified session on cyber security. If you are a technology company wishing to do business in this region’s billion dollar industry, you should plan on attending and/or exhibiting.

Detailed information including the conference agenda, speakers and contractors attending, and registration information is available on the NSTI conference website.