Small-Town Development Featured at Rural Economic Development Forum
Date: Sept. 2, 1997
Editor: D'Lyn Ford (505) 646-6528, dlford@nmsu.edu
LAS CRUCES -- The reality of small-town economic development in New Mexico means working mostly with volunteers, striving to show measurable results and trying to help main street businesses survive chain store competition.
The New Mexico Rural Economic Development Forum Oct. 22-24 in Clovis will show ways to succeed.
"Our audience is primarily made up of community leaders who want to be able to do their jobs better, whether they're elected officials, professional staff, business people or volunteers heading committees," said Bob Coppedge, conference chair and economic development specialist with New Mexico State University's Cooperative Extension Service.
The Oct. 23 keynote speaker, syndicated columnist Don Taylor, writes the "Minding Your Own Business" column published in 75 newspapers and magazines nationwide. He also is the author of Up Against the Wal-Marts and Solid Gold Success Strategies for Your Business.
"Taylor has been concerned about how rural communities react when larger businesses like chain stores come in and how rural communities and business leaders deal with it," Coppedge said. "It can have an impact on the business community, especially downtown merchants."
The Oct. 24 keynote speaker, Shanna Ratner, consults with several government agencies, including the U.S. Forest Service. Ratner's expertise is in helping communities with capacity building. "What that means is equipping people and communities to better solve the problems themselves," Coppedge explained.
In addition, Ratner has developed training programs on measuring community progress toward economic development goals. "Showing results is extremely important in an age of accountability," Coppedge said.
The conference will offer five different program "tracks," only one of which is designed exclusively for economic development professionals.
Small business development sessions will feature panel discussions about helping small businesses grow and presentations about business incubator programs in Roswell, Taos and Santa Fe.
The tools and technology track will show strategies for community marketing and creating jobs through recycling, such as Silver City's wood fuel pellet manufacturing and Zuni Pueblo's regional recycling program.
The workforce development track will address the contentious issue of welfare reform and the changes it will bring to New Mexico's small towns.
Community leadership sessions are for "beginner" community representatives in economic development. Topics include working with volunteers and incorporating the national quality movement.
Economic development professionals can sharpen their skills in sessions on the American Economic Development Council track.
"At the conference, we have volunteers, business people, elected officials, state agency people, and professional staff, such as county managers, city managers, city planners and chamber of commerce leaders," Coppedge said. "That makes this a terrific networking opportunity to learn who's who in economic development in the state."
Conference sessions begin at noon Oct. 22 and end at noon Oct. 24. Programs are at Clovis Community College and special events at the Holiday Inn. Registration, which includes all meals, is $125 before Oct. 1, and $145 thereafter.
NMSU's Cooperative Extension Service is among the more than 20 sponsors for the event. For registration information, call Coppedge at (505) 646-4122.
If you are an individual with a disability who is in need of an auxiliary aid or service to participate in these meetings, please call the contact person for the event two weeks in advance.