Spaceport America

Las Cruces, NM – Spaceport America and the New Mexico Spaceport Authority (NMSA) congratulate Dr. Pat Hynes and the New Mexico Space Grant Consortium at New Mexico State University (NMSU) for being selected as the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Center of Excellence for Commercial Space Transportation (COE-CST). Winning the nationwide competition to host the COE-CST now enables NMSU to serve as the hub of a minimum $5 million, five-year research coalition addressing key challenges in the development of the commercial space industry.

“It’s a great day not only for education in the state of New Mexico, but also for the emerging commercial space industry and the role that Spaceport America will have in its continuing growth,” said Spaceport America Executive Director Rick Homans. “This COE-CST reaffirms and cements New Mexico’s leadership in the vanguard of commercial space.” Homans said the Center would likely facilitate development of launch vehicle systems, technologies and operations research for Spaceport America. “We commend Dr. Pat Hynes and her team, and are excited to work with her innovative consortium from New Mexico, Florida, Texas, Colorado and California, as well as companies like Virgin Galactic, SpaceX and other members of the NMSU COE-CST industry advisory board.”

In addition, NMSA Chairman of the Board Ben Woods said, “Today’s announcement means the New Mexico Space Grant Consortium at NMSU will be at the center of development for industry enabling technologies such as space launch operations and traffic management, space commerce and commercial human spaceflight for launch facilities like Spaceport America here in New Mexico.”

More information on the COE-CST announcement can be found on the FAA website: http://www.faa.gov/news/press_releases/news_story.cfm?newsId=11737.

Spaceport America has been providing commercial launch services since 2006. The spaceport is the world’s first purpose-built commercial spaceport and is now undergoing construction near Truth or Consequences, New Mexico. This state-of-the-art launch facility is expected to become fully operational in 2011. Officials at Spaceport America have been working closely with leading aerospace firms such as Virgin Galactic, Lockheed Martin, Moog-FTS, and UP Aerospace to develop commercial spaceflight at the new facility. The economic impact of launches, tourism and new construction at the Spaceport is already delivering on its promise to the people of New Mexico.

By Gabriel Vasquez

Not many people know about the West Mesa Industrial Park, a 1,820-acre development located on Interstate 10, eight miles west of Las Cruces. It is home to several companies specializing in light and general manufacturing, and more are coming.

Most recently, Alaska Structures (AKS), a company in Las Cruces for more than 10 years, has expanded from its South Main Street facility into the 180,000-square-foot West Mesa building previously occupied by Rea Magnet Wire.

“I can confirm they are now occupying the old Rea building, and have taken over part of the Parkview site as well,” said Davin Lopez, president and CEO of the Mesilla Valley Economic Development Alliance.

The Parkview Metals site, vacant since 2007, stands at 100,000 square feet. AKS leased all but the office space in the building as it continues to consolidate its El Paso operations into Las Cruces.

“(AKS) will need more employees, but I do not know if they are hiring right now,” said Christine Logan, administrator for the city’s Economic Development Department. AKS designs, engineers and manufactures fabric-building systems for extreme environments for both military and commercial use. It recently was awarded a large contract that called for the expansion. Expected employment for the Rea site is 75 to90 employees, city officials said, with a possible expansion of up to 170 employees once the Parkview site is fully operational.

“It’s safe to say, that any local company that expands at this rate can only be a great opportunity for us,” Lopez said.

Although industrial buildings are still available for lease, space on the West Mesa is becoming more of a hot commodity.

“Don Billings has a 6,000-square-foot spec building available on Trigg Loop and NAI 1st Valley is marketing a 23,000-squarefoot facility on Crawford Boulevard,” Logan said. “Although there are not many buildings available, there are several development ready land parcels available through private land owners and the city.”

Current West Mesa tenants include Samson Equipment, which continues to do well and is looking to acquire additional land for expansion. F&A Dairy Products has completed a significant expansion and has recently upped its employment number to 93.

The Sapphire Energy research and development site continues to grow and now employs 24 full-time and has added several interns from New Mexico State University.

Onion producers Barker Produce have a new facility under construction on the West Mesa and Premier Distributing opened a facility there in February and employs 63 people in the park.

For more information on the West Mesa Industrial Park, a city-owned light manufacturing and industry development, call (575) 541-2286.

Dr. Garrey Carruthers

Dr. Garrey Carruthers, Dean of the NMSU College of Business and Vice President for Economic Development, and Dr. Kevin Boberg, Associate Dean of the NMSU College of Business and CEO for the Arrowhead Center, will speak at the luncheon.  The focus of the presentation will be on the growth and opportunities for small businesses in the Arrowhead Business and Research Park and Arrowhead Center’s Entrepreneurship Institute and TECHSTART Incubator.

Luncheon cost is $20.00 per person, payable by cash, check or major credit card. Due to space limitations, reservations are required. Please confirm your attendance no later than Thursday, September 2nd by sending an email to rsvp@mveda.com or by calling the office at (575) 525-2852. The meeting is open to the public.

Speakers at this year’s conference include:

• Karl Rove, Fox News Contributor
• Joe Lockhart, Political Analyst and Commentator
• Sam Donaldson, ABC News Contributor
• Kay Bailey Hutchison, U.S. Senator
• Sam Nunn, Former U.S. Senator
• Thomas O. Hunter, Sandia National Laboratories Retired President and Director

Registration fee for the two-day conference is $50. Attendees are encouraged to register early and may register online by following this link.

Featuring Dennis R. Chrisbaum
Regional Manager, Export Solutions Group
U.S. Export Assistance Center/SBA

Hosted by
The New Mexico SBA District Office

Subjects
• The National Export Initiative — Double US Exports in Five Years, Create 2 million Jobs
• Where is your next customer coming from?? 95% of the world’s population is outside the U.S.
• SBA/USG resources that can help small businesses begin exporting.
• How counselors can help get more small businesses ready for foreign markets.

How to participate:

1. Dial:1-866-740-1260
2. Key in the access code 3755003 & press #
3. You will be prompted for your name
4. On your computer log on to www.readytalk.com
5. Type 3755003 in the access code field
6. Click on “Join”
7. Enter your name as requested

Fore more information contact:
Ivan Corrales, New Mexico District Office: (505) 248-8227, or e-mail ivan.corrales@sba.gov.

The article mentions Foxconn, Spaceport America, Virgin Galactic, and New Mexico State University. The article and the other counties mentioned are available online by clicking the CNNMoney.com link above.

July 26, 2010

NMSU photo by Harrison Brooks

WRITER: Justin Bannister, 575-646-5981, jbannist@nmsu.edu

CONTACT: Vickie Galindo, 575-646-5265, vigalind@nmsu.edu

The U.S. Economic Development Administration has awarded New Mexico State University’s Arrowhead Center a $1.5 million grant for infrastructure improvements to the Arrowhead Business and Research Park and to expand the newly created Arrowhead Drive.

The Arrowhead Business and Research Park covers 224 acres at the southern end of NMSU’s Las Cruces campus between Interstates 10 and 25. Its goal is to link scientists, technologists and entrepreneurs in developing emerging technologies that contribute to the state’s economic development.

“This funding will help the park continue its expansion and aid us in attracting companies seeking to work with NMSU faculty members and students,” said Pam Wood, research park director.

The university completed a mile-long extension of Payne Street through the research park earlier this year. This new grant will allow the university to expand that section of road, now named Arrowhead Drive, from two lanes to four. The grant will also allow NMSU to finish the park’s wastewater system, to install street lighting and to conduct an engineering study to help better plan for the next stages of development.

The Arrowhead Center won a similar, $900,000 grant from the EDA to help pay for construction on the first part of Arrowhead Drive and its accompanying utilities. Other money for that project came from the state of New Mexico, local road funds, the New Mexico Department of Transportation and NMSU.

“These investments by the Economic Development Administration and other partners are not only making the park more accessible and attractive to new businesses, they’re also helping lay the groundwork for a lot of exciting developments yet to come,” said Vickie Galindo, Arrowhead’s director of business development.

The Arrowhead Business and Research Park’s most recently completed building, Spaceplex 2, is home to General Dynamics and opened last summer. The park’s next building will be more than 8,000 square feet and broken into smaller, 1,700-square-foot pads for businesses intending to establish themselves before jumping into larger spaces. That building is currently under construction and scheduled for completion in the coming weeks.

Other plans for the research park include working with the Las Cruces Public School District to construct an early college high school where high school students could take college-level courses for credit.

Leigh Schutzberger, Project Manager for the New Mexico Small Business Assistance Program, will be the featured speaker. The New Mexico Small Business Assistance (NMSBA) Program allows New Mexico small businesses facing technical or business challenges to access the unique expertise and capabilities at Los Alamos and Sandia national laboratories.  NMSBA technical assistance projects are provided at no cost to the small businesses.  Los Alamos and Sandia national laboratories operate NMSBA as a single program in partnership with the State of New Mexico.

Luncheon cost is $20.00 per person, payable by cash, check or major credit card. Due to space limitations, reservations are required. Please confirm your attendance no later than Thursday, July 29^th by sending an email to rsvp@mveda.com or by calling the office at (575) 525-2852. The meeting is open to the public.

Spaceport America Executive Director Rick Homans will be the keynote speaker. His presentation will be followed by a panel of local business owners who will discuss the impact of Spaceport America on local business.

The panel will be moderated by Charlie Garcia of Trax International.  Panelists include:

• Rob Richardson of Bohannan Huston;
• Gary Aschbacher of Fast Wave;
• Tony Martin of Fourteen30 Production Group; and
• Kari Mitchell of Las Cruces Machine & Manufacturing.

Reservations are not required and the meeting is open to the public.

Arrowhead Center

Dona Ana Community College Small Business Development Center

New Mexico Procurement and Technical Assistance Program

On behalf of all of the sponsors of the 2010 Business Owners and Entrepreneurs Symposium, you are invited to attend this year’s conference!  The Symposium will be held on Friday, August 13, 2010 at the NM Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum.  This will be a half day event, beginning at 7:30am and ending at 2:00pm.

Master of Ceremonies – Dr. Margie Huerta, President, Dona Ana Community College (DACC)

AGENDA:

7:30 a.m. – 8:00 a.m. Registration and Breakfast Networking Opportunity

8:15 a.m. Opening Remarks by Dr. Margie Huerta, President, Dona Ana Community College (DACC)

8:15 a.m. – 9:15 a.m. “The State of the New Mexico Economy: A Small Business Perspective”

Panel Moderator: Mr. William Hett-Dobricky, Procurement Advisor, NM-PTAP

Panel Members:

• Dr. Christopher Erickson, Professor of Economics, New Mexico State University
• Dr. Ken Martin, Professor of Finance, New Mexico State University
• Dr. James Peach, Regents Professor of Economics, New Mexico State University

9:15 a.m. – 9:45 a.m. “Commercial and Residential Real Estate Markets: A Local Perspective”

• Ms. Connie Hettinga, President, Realtor’s Association of New Mexico
• Mr. John Hummer, President, Steinborn & Associates Real Estate

9:45 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Break

10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. “Business Owners Panel: Issues and Best Practices in Small Business”

Panel Moderator: Dr. Kevin Boberg, CEO, Arrowhead Center

Panel Members:

• Mr. Bryn Davis, Sapphire Energy
• Mr. Mike Beckett, Owner, Coas Bookstore
• Ms. Dana Kyle, Attorney at Law
• Danny Osborn, Vice President of Operations, BroCon, Inc.

11:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. “SBA Recovery Act and Lending Programs”

• Mr. John Woosley, District Director, U.S. Small Business Administration, NM District Office

11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. “Healthcare Reform: How it affects New Mexico’s Small Businesses”

• Dr. Beverlee McClure, President & CEO, New Mexico Association of Commerce and Industry

12:30 p.m. – 12:45 p.m. Buffet Lunch Serve

12:45 p.m. – 1:45p.m. Luncheon and Keynote Address

Introduction of Speaker: Jim Berry, President, Greater Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Bill Gilmer, Vice President, El Paso Branch, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas

1:45 p.m. – 2:00p.m. Closing Remarks Speaker: Dr. Garrey Carruthers, President, Arrowhead Center

Event registration is $49.00 per person. You may register on-line by clicking the icon below. For more information please contact the DACC Small Business Development Center (575-527-7676).