Wednesday, April 30, 2008

2008 NAFTA Institute/Supplier Meet the Buyer Conference

The New Mexico Economic Development’s Office of Mexican Affairs, the City of Juarez, the Mesilla Valley Economic Development Alliance, the New Mexico Small Business Development Network, Western New Mexico University, and the International Business Accelerator have joined together to co-host the “2008 NAFTA Institute/Supplier Meet the Buyer Conference,” which will take place on June 26 and 27, 2008 at the Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino in Sunland Park, New Mexico. Detailed information on the agenda can be found at www.nmiba.com. For questions or specific information, please contact the International Business Accelerator at 505-589-2200 or info@nmiba.com.

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

MVEDA Regional Economic Development Forum - Friday, May 9, 2008

As a reminder, the MVEDA Regional Economic Development Forum will be held on Friday, May 9 from 8:00am until 1:00pm at the Hotel Encanto. Registration is $25.00 per person and registration is required by Friday, May 2. You may register by phone (credit card payment) by calling the MVEDA office, 525-2852.

Mesilla Valley Economic Development Alliance
505 S. Main, Ste. 134 – PO Box 1299
Las Cruces, NM 88004-1299
Tel: (575) 525-2852 – Fax: (575) 523-5707
www.mveda.com

Business on the Border Forum - Tuesday, May 6, 2008

The May meeting of the MVEDA Business on the Border Forum will be held on Tuesday, May 6, 2008 from 11:30am until 1:00pm 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.

May’s program will feature representatives from the Physical Science Laboratory’s Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Technical Analysis and Applications Center (TAAC). TAAC regularly conducts UAV flight operations from the Las Cruces International Airport.

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: (575) 525-2852 – Fax: (575) 523-5707
www.mveda.com

Monday, April 14, 2008

Wilderness Proposal Reception

How important are wide, open spaces to you? A few years ago, country singer Dan Seals sang, "God must be a cowboy at heart. He made wide, open spaces from the start. ..."

I’ve always liked that song ... even more since I moved to Las Cruces.

You are undoubtedly aware of the Citizen’s Proposal for Wilderness which would protect thousands of acres of open space in Dona Ana County from development and destruction. For those ranchers who think it will deny them access, the Wilderness Act of 1964 actually protects their grazing rights.

To date there have been hundreds of businesses, government leaders, educators, and ranchers who have endorsed the Citizen’s Proposal. It has the support of the majority of residents of Dona Ana County. However, there is a small group of ultra-conservative ranchers who are vehemently opposed to the proposal.

Our opponent’s agenda is not about land – wilderness or otherwise. If it were, they’d be happy to sign on since their ranching rights are all but guaranteed.

Our opponent’s agenda is about control. While public lands belong to each and every one of us, this small group seems to think they alone have the right to these public lands and are doing everything they can to stop the Citizen’s Proposal. And they have some big money behind them – namely the ultra-conservative Paragon Foundation. If you have access to the Internet, take a look at the kind of propaganda Paragon is pushing. Take a look, also, at the Baxter Black column I’ve attached. It’s from the April 11 edition of The Las Cruces Bulletin. Notice how much of the information provided is slanted, inaccurate, devoid of facts. These are the same people opposing the Citizen’s Proposal.

Then ... if you favor wilderness areas surrounding Las Cruces, join me.

I am hosting a reception with the New Mexico Wilderness Alliance at the Southwest Environmental Center at Main Street and Las Cruces Avenue, Wednesday, April 23. The reception will begin at 7 p.m. and last about an hour. While we’ll all have a chance to meet and talk with Alliance personnel, the key to this reception is a brief presentation on the status of the Citizen’s Proposal.

If you favor wilderness, you won’t want to miss this. I’ll be there. Please mark your calendar and join me – April 23, 7 p.m., Southwest Environmental Center.

Thanks ... Bud Russo