Posts Tagged ‘Southern New Mexico’
Commercial Space Exhibit Hall Grand Opening and Growing Partnership Luncheon on October 18th
You are invited to attend the Commercial Space Exhibit Hall Grand Opening and Growing Partnership Luncheon on October 18th at the Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum, 11am – 2pm. This event is part of the International Symposium for Personal and Commercial Spaceflight (ISPCS) where leaders from the commercial space industry meet, listen, talk, and collaborate.
Growing the community partnerships is an essential activity as we continue on the path of leading the commercial spaceflight industry here in Southern New Mexico. At the luncheon you will:
• Attend Grand Opening of Commercial Space Exhibit Hall
• Meet commercial space entrepreneurs
• Enjoy lunch and keynote speaker Allan Lockheed
• Tour Commercial Space Exhibit Hall
The Grand Opening of the Commercial Space Exhibit Hall will be hosted by the Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce Conquistadors. (This event is free, 11:00-11:30)
Allan Lockheed Jr., son of aviation pioneer Allan Lockheed, will describe how the commercial space transportation industry parallels the development of the airline industry. This event is sponsored by Steinborn & Associates Real Estate and the Las Cruces Bulletin. Registration is required for luncheon.
Visit NASA’s Exploration Experience display. This is a visual journey through the past, present and future of space exploration, using the latest in 3-D imagery.
To register for the luncheon, please visit www.ispcs.com.
ISPCS 2011 will be held Oct. 19-20 during Space Week in New Mexico.
ISPCS is organized by the New Mexico Space Grant Consortium, a member of the National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program, administered by NASA.
Sapphire Continues On With Expansion
Las Cruces Bulletin photo by Samantha Roberts
Article courtesy of the Las Cruces Bulletin
By Samantha Roberts
You have to see it to believe it. The research on algae biofuel at Sapphire Energy could change the world, literally. Research and development measures at the compound could lead to replacing millions of gallons of transportation fuel a year with pond scum. Currently, New Mexico is a leader in the world in terms of algae-based production because of its environmental conditions.
“Algae like the hot weather and lots of sunshine,” said Tim Zenk, vice president of corporate affairs for Sapphire Energy. “It even likes the slightly cooler temperatures during a New Mexico winter.”
“Algae also like brackish water,” said Denise Gitsham, Sapphire’s director of corporate affairs and legislative council. “Southern New Mexico has an abundance of salty water perfect for algae growth. And we are only using land that can’t be used for other purposes. We are not competing for drinking water or agricultural land. “We are creating the first above-ground renewable oil field.”
These reasons have led Sapphire Energy to name Las Cruces as its research and development facility, a component that will remain when the Columbus, N.M., site, which is currently under construction, is completed. Sapphire Energy started in 2007. The company has 155 employees across three facilities and more than 50 employees in Las Cruces.
“Sapphire purchased 10 acres at market value and promised to invest $6 million and create 30 jobs in three years,” said Christine Logan, economic development administrator for the City of Las Cruces. “In exchange, the city made 90 acres available at no cost. Sapphire surpassed their (promise) short of a year and a half.”
Las Cruces serves as a testing and development center, operating plot farms. The area is small in comparison to commercialization of the algae product and what will be done in Columbus but large by world standards, Zenk said. “We understand the business principles to make commercialized algae biofuel successful,” Zenk said. “We know we have to be concerned about crop protection, (fuel) extraction and crop yield as well as the biology and engineering behind the process. “Historically, 99 percent of crude oil has come from diatoms and algae. If Mother Nature can do this naturally, then so can we in petri dishes. And then take that to small ponds, to large ponds and to commercialization.”
Currently, the Las Cruces facility is operating at four different levels – petri dishes, small ponds, runway ponds and large ponds. The Columbus facility will have more large ponds connected back to back. “Our (final) goal is to produce 5,000 gallons of oil per acre per year,” said Bryn Davis, New Mexico operations manager.
Once the biofuel is capable of being produced on a large scale, Zenk said Sapphire’s initial target client will be the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD). “The DOD has led the way for every energy change,” Zenk said. “There is strategic planning going on right now for the next (energy) transition. There will be an opportunity to be at the forefront of this technology, and a big proposal will soon be released by the U.S. Navy asking for large scale efforts to supply biofuels.”
The Navy is going to look at communities with the technology and the community support. They don’t want to push a technology on a community that doesn’t want it. Therefore, it is very important for the Las Cruces community and southern New Mexico to rally around our efforts and see the benefits for all sectors.”
Zenk said the request for information was due at the end of September. “The (request for proposal) will be released around the beginning of next year,” he said.
The Columbus site is expected to open by the spring or summer of 2012 with 100 acres and will spread over 300 acres upon final completion in 2015. Columbus is expected to produce 100 million gallons of diesel fuel per year. At phase three, the Columbus site will be a demonstration facility that Sapphire hopes to use as an example, attracting investors.
“At that scale, the site will demonstrate operations for a larger facility,” Davis said. Davis said there is little time to talk about algae because developments are happening so quickly. “We are competing with other nations,” he said. “When we broke ground in Las Cruces, I was already shopping for the land in Columbus. We have to think about the next step because there is not a lot of time.”
“China’s No. 1 objective is to develop a new source of energy,” Zenk said. “It is us versus them. We can fight over energy or develop a new source. It is the only hope for our military.”
New Mexico State University also has a large role to play in Sapphire’s success.
“Our goal is to create a center of excellence with advanced biofuels,” said City Councilor Nathan Small.
Currently, more than $15 million has been invested into the Las Cruces community, and Sapphire Energy has hired more than 50 people – many NMSU and Doña Ana Community College graduates – for the Las Cruces facility. Spin-off business will also be created through growth of Sapphire and commercialization of the algae biofuel.
“We use a large amount of CO2,” Zenk said. “To produce one gallon of algae fuel, we use about 20 to 25 pounds of CO2. Finding a consistent source of carbon dioxide is crucial. The pipeline in Lea County is very valuable to us. I can also see a business in managing CO2.”
Gitsham said she expects to see more graduates of NMSU and DACC staying in southern New Mexico as a result of the work at Sapphire.
“We are still at the dawn of the algae business,” Zenk said. “The biology is only four years old, and there is still a lot more ahead of us. If someone told you they knew everything about algae biology, they are probably lying.”
New Mexico Film Office Announces Statewide Film Industry Town Halls
Release courtesy of the New Mexico Economic Development Department
SANTA FE—The New Mexico Film Office today announced a series of Town Hall meetings scheduled to take place across the state, beginning with Southern New Mexico in October. Director Nick Maniatis will discuss the state of the New Mexico film industry – including an update about 2011 legislation, the outlook going forward, and opportunities and training available to New Mexicans. The meetings are also intended to provide an open forum for the new Director to learn about educational programs, film related businesses, and issues of concern for each community. The Town Halls are free and open to all, including students, local filmmakers, businesses and the general public.
The first three Town Hall meetings will take place October 17, 18 and 19 in Las Cruces, Ruidoso and Roswell, respectively. The New Mexico Film Office will take questions from the audience and will collaborate with local chambers of commerce and schools in conducting these events.
“We are working to make sure that New Mexicans across the state have a chance to be a part of this exciting and growing industry,” said Nick Maniatis, Director of the New Mexico Film Office. “Through these town halls, we are reaching out to residents around New Mexico to create a dialogue about how we can help each other in representing our communities.”
The first series of these meetings will take place as follows:
LAS CRUCES: Monday, October 17th – 6:30pm
Doña Ana Community College Auditorium
2800 N. Sonoma Ranch Blvd, Las Cruces, NM 880012
Contact: Matthew Byrnes at mbyrnes@nmsu.edu
RUIDOSO: Tuesday, October 18th – 6:30pm
Spencer Theatre
108 Spencer Rd., Alto, NM 88312
(575) 336-4800
Contact: Dirk Norris at dirk@dirknorris.com
ROSWELL: Wednesday, October 19th – 5:30pm
Roswell Chamber of Commerce
131 West 2nd Street, Roswell, NM 88201-4703
Contact: Kathleen Curtis at kathleen@roswellnm.org | (575) 623-5695
“We have a strong and vibrant independent film industry throughout the state, with a top-notch digital media circuit in Southern New Mexico. We look forward to learning more about their work and supporting their efforts in any way we can,” said Trish Lopez of the NM Film Office.
There is no RSVP necessary to attend any of the Town Hall meetings and the NM Film Office encourages the surrounding communities to come out and participate in the discussion. The expected time frame for each is approximately two hours with Q&A. Future Town Hall meetings will be scheduled in other cities in early 2012. The New Mexico Film Office conducts regular visits to communities across New Mexico each year during conferences, seminars, and as part of its annual tour of winning films through its NM Filmmakers Showcases.
For more information on the 2011 Film Industry Town Hall meetings and other NM Film Office announcements, please visit www.nmfilm.com or call (505) 476-5611.
Southern NM Economic Development Groups Work Together
Article courtesy of the Las Cruces Sun-News
By Brook Stockberger/Business Editor
How difficult is economic development in southern New Mexico? For one thing, liqueur licenses are too expensive, some with purchase prices as high as $700,000, said Mike Espiritu, executive director of the Otero County Economic Development Council.
“I cannot get a grocery store in Alamogordo because of the price of a liqueur license,” Espiritu said. “A liqueur license is an economic development issue, (but) the legislation hasn’t been changed since the early 1980s.”
Davin Lopez, CEO and president of the Mesilla Valley Economic Development Alliance said that competition is intensifying in the Southwest.
“Arizona has put its flag in the sand and said, ‘We’re back in business,’” Lopez said. “And, on the other side, we have Texas (working hard.)”
So what should the state with the lowest population in the Southwest do to build momentum in job creation? Here in southern New Mexico, a spirit of cooperation has taken hold among competitors. And while it’s not exactly Macy and Gimble shaking hands in “Miracle on 34th Street,” Lopez, Espiritu and John Mulcahy, executive director of the Sierra County Economic Development Organization, have made the effort to work together for the good of the region.
The three men spoke about economic development during MVEDA’s monthly luncheon on Tuesday at Hotel Encanto de Las Cruces.
“We devote time to regional development,” Lopez said. “While I’d rather not lose a deal, I’d want to lose it to these guys rather than Arizona or Texas.”
Lopez said that MVEDA has recently finished one of its best fiscal years ever for capital investment and in other areas. Still, there is a lot of work to be accomplished, including efforts for Spaceport America.
“Virgin Galactic has been using our office for a series of companies they’ve been meeting with,” Lopez said.
“Davin and I have been working on spaceport needs,” Mulcahy said. “We met with contractors last week.”
Brook Stockberger can be reached at (575) 541-5457
SNM Economic Development Update – September 6, 2011
The September MVEDA Business on the Border Forum will feature a Southern New Mexico economic development update. A panel of regional economic development professionals will discuss recent changes in the area’s economy. The meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 6, 2011 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.
Featured panelists will include:
Davin Lopez is the President/CEO of the Mesilla Valley Economic Development Alliance (MVEDA), in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Davin serves on the board of directors of New Mexico Partnership, the private economic development business attraction arm of the State of New Mexico.
John Mulcahy is the Executive Director of the Sierra County Economic Development Organization (SCEDO) in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico. John is currently the Co-Chairman of the Spaceport America Regional Economic Development Group working with Dona Ana County and the Spaceport America Director and staff.
Mike Espiritu is the President/CEO of the Otero County Economic Development Council (OECDC) and the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce in Alamogordo, New Mexico. Mike serves on the board of directors of the New Mexico Industrial Development Executives Association (NMIDEA).
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 1 by sending an email to rsvp@mveda.com or by calling the office at (575) 525-2852. The meeting is open to the public.
