Stronger Results
Steve Vierck, President & CEO
The tide is turning with business relocation/expansion activity levels significantly picking up. We’ve qualified at least five prospects per month since November (see graph). Activity levels have generally been stronger since March 2012 with the exception of a pre-presidential election "freeze" in September and October. An increasing number of companies are also scheduling site visits to New Mexico with upcoming site visits planned by companies in Life Sciences research and production, border logistics, photonics, and bio fuels production.
The expanded schedule of sales missions and trade shows is yielding results. The Partnership participated in eight different trade shows and industry conferences since the start of the fiscal year with five more scheduled: Cloud Connect (information technology), National Association of Broadcasters (digital media), BIO International (life sciences), Call Center Week (customer service centers), and Oil and Gas Technology (energy). In addition, we’ve successfully carried out eight sales missions with five remaining: Cleveland and Detroit, Dallas, Chicago and Minneapolis, and New England.
Those initiatives would not have been successful without the active participation and financial support of local and regional economic development organizations. Seventeen different economic development organizations have participated in one or more events and many have helped to underwrite the costs of exhibits, receptions and dinner meetings.
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Partnership Funding
and New Century Jobs Agenda
HB 75 (Lundstrom/Taylor), a bill to increase New Mexico Partnership funding appears to be progressing in the State Legislature. It includes an additional $300,000 in funding to be added to the current $630,000 in state funding, an amount close to the New Mexico Economic Development Department’s proposed increase for the Partnership, although NMEDD’s increase would be a one-time special appropriation. As the following graph shows, the Partnership’s budget is only about one-half of its historic funding level although we did receive a $30,000 increase for this fiscal year. At a time when New Mexico needs jobs it is vitally important to effectively market for the attraction and expansion of employers.
Although too early to call, many elements of the New Century Jobs Agenda appear to be progressing in the legislature. The Agenda, which has been endorsed by the Partnership’s Board and most economic development organizations, is critically important to improving New Mexico’s competitiveness.
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We Moved!
New Partnership Offices
The Partnership moved into new office space at the beginning of the year. Our new offices are located at
1720 Louisiana Blvd NE, Suite 312 at the southeast corner of Louisiana and Constitution, just one block south of I-40). The improved space is much more conducive to our ability to host clients and carry out our marketing and business development mission. We would not have been able to afford the new office space without the substantial financial support of our new landlord, Rosemont Realty. Special thanks to Rosemont Vice President, Jason Lott, for his personal help in making it possible. We also appreciate the furniture donations that have been received from Public Service of New Mexico (PNM) and their Director of Economic Development and Stakeholder Relations, Carol Radosevich.
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NM Partnership Activities
Marketing
The Partnership has begun to develop new brochures of the state’s assets in collaboration with the New Mexico Economic Development Department, particularly the valuable contributions of Elizabeth Davis who provided the research and copy. The first brochures available include general interest, unmanned aerial vehicles/systems, and logistics, distribution and transportation. We are currently working on an advanced manufacturing brochure that will be available next month, with additional industry brochures to follow.
New Mexico: Moving It Forward
New Mexico: Unmanned Systems
New Mexico: The Smart Move
Sales Missions & Trade Shows
It was an active year for the Partnership at trade shows and on sales missions. Despite our limited resources, by year's end we will have successfully made 13 sales missions, attended 13 trade shows and five professional conferences, gathering leads for each of our targeted industries. Some we walked and a few we exhibited at. Nevertheless, it was important for us to be out there representing New Mexico and discussing the benefits of doing business here. Next year, we hope to have an increased presence at many of these trade shows by exhibiting at and hosting additional events once again.
Sales Missions
Northern California
Denver
New York, New Jersey & Pennsylvania
Houston
Washington, D.C., Virginia & Maryland
Atlanta
Southern California
Phoenix
Cleveland & Detroit *
Dallas *
Chicago *
Minneapolis *
New England *
Trade Shows
InterSolar N.A. – energy & natural resources
AUVSI – aerospace & defense
IMTS – advanced manufacturing
ISPCS Space Week – aerospace & defense
PMA Fresh Summit – value-added agriculture
NBAA Annual Conference – aerospace & defense
UAS TAAC Conference – aerospace & defense
ProMat – logistics, distribution & transportation
Cloud Connect * – emerging technology
NAB Show * – digital media
BIO International * – emerging technology
Call Center Week * – back office & technical support
Gas & Oil Expo * – energy & natural resources
Professional Conferences
NMIDEA Annual Meeting
IEDC Annual Conference
CoreNet Global Summit
IAMC Fall Forum
IAMC Spring Forum *
* Has not yet occurred
Upcoming Events
Here's a quick look at Partnership marketing and business development initiatives in March and April as we near the end of our fiscal year:
Please contact
Allison Smith if you are interested in joining the New Mexico Partnership at future trade shows or on sales missions. They're great opportunities to represent New Mexico and your communities in one-on-one situations. Please note, however, that space is limited as we seek to keep the size of our sales team down to an effective level.
Check the
calendar to see what's coming up!