Barela Outlines New Century Jobs Initiative

Courtesy of the Las Cruces Bulletin, by Richard Coltharp With or without a fiscal cliff, New Mexico, one of the nation’s per-capita leaders in federal jobs, may lose at least some of those jobs both in the near and long terms. “The federal government can no longer be considered a growth industry in New Mexico,” [...]

MVEDA’s Efforts Bring Jobs

Courtesy of the Las Cruces Bulletin, by Richard Coltharp A job a day. That was the goal of the Mesilla Valley Economic Development Alliance for Fiscal Year 2012, to add a job a day to Doña Ana County, or 365 over 12 months. So how about 504? That’s the number of jobs MVEDA was able [...]

Growing Green in the Desert

Courtesy of the Las Cruces Bulletin, by Richard Coltharp An agricultural renaissance is taking place in a Columbus, N.M, field that had lain fallow for 40 years. The field, which once grew chile, is now growing a different kind of green. “Green crude” is the nickname Sapphire Energy has given to the end product of [...]

Warming In the Incubator

Courtesy of the Las Cruces Bulletin, by Richard Coltharp One company provides technology to remotely monitor and distribute water to cattle on New Mexico ranches. One company offers online assistance to new parents concerned about their child’s development. One company provides secure “cloud” data storage. What does this diverse set of businesses have in common? [...]

Sapphire Updates MVEDA

Courtesy of the Las Cruces Bulletin, by Richard Coltharp On 100 acres in southern Luna County, Bryn Davis and his colleagues are trying to start a revolution. The revolution is based on one of the humblest living things on the planet – algae. If everything goes as planned, however, Sapphire will be able to provide [...]

Can Las Cruces Be A High-Tech Center?

Courtesy of the Las Cruces Bulletin, by Richard Coltharp Can Las Cruces be the hub of an economically booming high-technology center? The Mesilla Valley Economic Development Alliance attempted to find answers to that question at its Regional Economic Development Forum Thursday, May 17, at the Las Cruces Convention Center. “If you want to go after [...]

Big Business on the Border

Courtesy of the Las Cruces Bulletin, by Richard Coltharp No matter what business opportunity you have in mind, there’s a way to make it happen in Doña Ana County. At the Business in the Borderplex luncheon Tuesday, May 1, three speakers gave updates on development and plans at Arrowhead Business and Research Park, the West [...]

Local Officials Offer Views on Economic Development

Article courtesy of the Las Cruces Bulletin By Richard Coltharp For City Manager Robert Garza, helping guide Las Cruces in the right direction regarding economic development is a little like driving a car cross country. You have to keep an eye on the gauges of your dashboard. Garza spoke Tuesday, Aug. 2, at the monthly [...]