6th Annual Mesilla Jazz Happening

The 6th Annual Mesilla Jazz Happening will take place in Old Mesilla October 6th and 7th. The annual event offers free live music, a wine garden, jazz dancers and a relaxed atmosphere. The festival will provide a weekend of great family entertainment in beautiful Mesilla.

Proceeds from the two day event benefit the Old Mesilla Association, a non-profit organization created to celebrate and promote the historic and cultural aspects of the Old Mesilla. The event would not be possible without the generous support of many sponsors. Price’s Creameries is the presenting sponsor for this year’s event. Other sponsors are: La Posta, Old Mesilla Association, New Mexico Tourism, Southwest Abstract and Title, Southwest Cash and Carry, Pepsi, Bank of the Rio Grande, Las Cruces Bulletin, the Town of Mesilla, Innovative Touch, and St. Claire Winery.

Music, and lots of it, will grace the stage on Saturday, October 6, from noon – 9:00 pm and on Sunday, October 7, from noon – 7:00 pm. Local talent representing all musical genres will keep you entertained throughout the day. Entertainers include: Billy Townes & Modern Session, Guitar Slim, Border Jazz Quintet, the Creole Dixieland Jazz Band, the Ruben Gutierrez Quintet, Rio Duende, JazzWorks, and Nosotros.

Accompanying each stage will be a wine garden featuring a variety of New Mexico wineries including: St. Clair, DH Lescombes, Blue Teal, Luna Rossa. For only $10, festival goers may purchase a souvenir wine glass and sample wines from all the wineries. Wine will also be for sale by the glass, bottle or case.

For additional information, contact Helping Hands Event Planning at 505-522-1232, email Lauren@HelpingHandsEvents.com.

Business on the Border Forum - Las Cruces New Mexico

The October meeting of the MVEDA Business on the Border Forum will be held on Tuesday, October 2, 2007 from 11:30 AM until 1:00 PM at the Best Western Mesilla Valley Inn Columbus Conference Center. The meeting will begin with a hot entree buffet followed by an update from MVEDA staff.

Former Governor Garrey Carruthers, NMSU Vice President for Economic Development and Dean of the College of Business will provide an update on current and future plans for the Arrowhead Research Park. He will be joined by Kevin Boberg, CEO, and Kathy Hansen of the Arrowhead Center, Inc.

Luncheon cost is $10.00 per person, payable by cash, check or major credit card. The meeting is open to the public and reservations are not required.

Mesilla Valley Economic Development Alliance
505 S. Main, Ste. 134 – PO Box 1299
Las Cruces, NM 88004-1299
Tel: (505) 525-2852 – Fax: (505) 523-5707
www.mveda.com

A Discourse in Social Entrepreneurship - NMSU - Las Cruces

SEPTEMBER 28, 2007

NMSU CORBETT CENTER SENATE GALLERY

2:15 to 3:30 p.m.

The Garrey E. and Katherine T. Carruthers Chair in Economic Development continues this academic year with the theme “ A Discourse in Social Entrepreneurship” focusing on the understanding that one need not choose between for-profit enterprise and socially responsible behavior.

Kevin Johnson, President of the Platforms & Services Division of Microsoft, is the first speaker in this series. Johnson has overall responsibility for product development, marketing, and strategy for the Windows and Online Services businesses and along with Bill Gates, Steve Ballmer and five other senior executives, serves on the Senior Leadership Team that sets overall strategy and direction for Microsoft.

Free and Open to the Public!

For additional information please call the Arrowhead Center at 646-1434

Mesilla Valley Economic Development Alliance
505 S. Main, Ste. 134 – PO Box 1299
Las Cruces, NM 88004-1299
Tel: (505) 525-2852 – Fax: (505) 523-5707
www.mveda.com

Allstate Brings 200 New Jobs to Las Cruces

LAS CRUCES, N.M. – September 14, 2007 – Allstate Insurance Company announced today that it plans to open a new claims office in Las Cruces by January 2008, a move that will bring more than 200 new jobs to southern New Mexico. The new office is part of Allstate’s expansion of its “Express” claims handling model, which is focused on improving customer service and eliminating redundancies in the company’s claims organization.

The Las Cruces Express office will be one of nine current or planned Express offices in the U.S. Allstate Express office employees serve as the first point of contact for the vast majority of Allstate customers. Allstate expects to begin hiring for the Las Cruces office in December 2007. The Las Cruces office joins two Allstate offices in New Mexico, where the insurance leader employs 79 and has 108 exclusive agents. Las Cruces Mayor William Mattiace said, “The City of Las Cruces is thrilled with the decision by Allstate to expand their operations into the Mesilla Valley. Allstate is a growing company that will create excellent jobs that the citizens of Las Cruces are ready to fill. We are proud to have them in our community.”

The Allstate Express office will occupy 33,000 square feet of a building now under construction at 170 Roadrunner Parkway. The entire second level of the new building will be built out for the new Allstate office. The building is locally owned by George Rawson, President of Pueblo Builders, represented by Randy McMillan of NAI 1st Valley Realty.

2007 Workforce Summit in Las Cruces

Doña Ana Community College will host its 2007 Workforce Summit on October 11, 2007 at the Hotel Encanto. Betty Sparrow Doris, the NM Secretary of Labor, will be the featured speaker. For information or reservations call 505-527-7776 or see the attached flyer.

Mesilla Valley Economic Development Alliance
505 S. Main, Ste. 134 – PO Box 1299
Las Cruces, NM 88004-1299
Tel: (505) 525-2852 – Fax: (505) 523-5707
www.mveda.com