July/August 2011
Mind Your Business
A Publication of the Los Alamos Commerce and Development Corporation
WHAT’S INSIDE: LACDC
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SBDC
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CHAMBER
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MAINSTREET 8, 9 LAMVB
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Destination Business program comes to Los Alamos Six local business people have returned from Destination Business Boot Camp, ready to infuse their own and other businesses with fresh energy to make improvements in their businesses.
Melanie Bennett of UPEX and Bennett’s Jewelry, Kent Pegg of Los Alamos Fitness Center, Denise Lane of The Hill Diner, Don Taylor of Don Taylor’s Photography, Brad Burk of Hot Rocks Java Cafe and Steve Watts of Los Alamos Cooperative Market made the trip to Jon Schallert’s Destination Business Boot Camp in Longmont, Colorado, along with SBDC Director Don Wright and Chamber member services coordinator Katy Korkos. They have returned full of inspiration, with ideas about developing a strategic vision for their businesses, featuring unique products, improving marketing and the appearance of their businesses, engaging their employees, and making their businesses into true destinations. Schallert classifies destination businesses as those who create their own traffic, and pull customers from beyond the local area. “If you’re content to just draw from your local
marketplace, that’s fine, but that’s not what we’re talking about here,” Schallert said. “Shop Local is a great idea, but you can’t let it affect your strategy.” Schallert will visit Los Alamos August 10 and 11. He will give a condensed version of the workshop to all interested businesspeople and Chambers of Commerce throughout New Mexico the morning of August 10th at the Best Western Hilltop House. Registration is available on the calendar of the Chamber of Commerce website, www. losalamoschamber.com. Later that evening from 4:30 to 6 p.m., the entire community is invited to learn about the challenges local businesses are facing in the current economy and how every citizen who values our local business community can help. The trip to Schallert’s Boot Camp was sponsored primarily by the LACDC and LANB. LA Fitness, UPEX/Bennett’s Jewelry, Hill Diner, Don Taylor’s Photography, Los Alamos Coop Market, Hot Rocks Java Café and Film Festival also supported the project. Sign up now for the “condensed version” of the Destination Boot Camp at www. LosAlamosChamber.com
FAN Club
July 13th UNMLA 5:30 pm to 7:00 p.m. August 22nd Chamber hosted by United Way and Blue Window Bistro Contact Katy Korkos 505.661.4816 or email katyk@losalamos.org
LACDC News N
ine Chamber members have taken advantage of an innovative Chamber of Commerce project that matched youth ages 16-24 with summer internships. The Chamber recruited and pre-screened interested youth using WorkKeys, a work skills assessment product administered by ACT (the same ACT that tests for college placement qualifications). More than 30 candidates took the three-hour battery of tests to establish their “readiness to work” in skill areas such as math, reading for comprehension, finding information, and reasoning. Participating businesses provided job descriptions that were classified using ACT guidelines to determine the minimum scores in each area that a candidate would need to be considered qualified for the position. The Chamber then provided a qualified candidate pool to each interested business for them to use in hiring one or more interns. Each young person who passed the tests received 2
Members Take Advantage of Summer Intern Programs a national “readiness to work” certificate signed by Gov. Martinez. Member businesses and organizations who have hired or are in the process of hiring an intern are Terranear, Enterprise Computing Systems, Family Council, Strategic
Management Solutions, Best Western Hilltop House Hotel, Pajarito Mountain Ski Area, KRSN AM1490, Los Alamos Fitness Center, and the Fuller Lodge Art Center. The Chamber is helping the member businesses and organizations to be able to participate by reimbursing up to half of the wages paid to the intern. The Chamber obtained the resources to be able to do this project through
a partnership with Innovate-Educate New Mexico and the Kellogg Foundation’s New Options project. “We still have great young candidates available to businesses looking for summer help,” says volunteer project coordinator Shari Jobe. “Just let the Chamber know if you want to take advantage of the prescreened candidate pool.” Contact Katy Korkos at 505.661.4816 or Don Wright at 505.661.4854
Los Alamos Commerce and Development Corporation
New Way to Gain Visibility
The Chamber is introducing a new way to help organizations, businesses, and events to increase their visibility. An electronic poster system has been tested with signs at the Teen Center and the Small Business Center during the past several weeks. The testing has provided the opportunity to practice use of the software and hardware involved. The Chamber will now begin placing electronic signs in additional locations around the community. The electronic posters provide an eyecatching and attractive display and are being used to promote community events and activities.
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Host locations will be able to put their own electronic posters on the system. A host must be able to provide a high visibility location with an available electric outlet and either WiFi or wired internet connectivity.
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If you are interested in hosting an electronic sign at your business or organization, please contact Katy Korkos or Kevin Holsapple to discuss whether you location could be a good fit.
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Each electronic sign is capable of hosting its own unique playlist, so messages will be customized to the audience at the venue hosting the sign.
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The Chamber anticipates providing the ability for member businesses and organizations to place their posters on the system in the near future.
Electronic Poster as seen at the Teen Center
To Purchase or for more information, visit the Los Alamos Chamber of Commerce, call 661-4815, or go to LosAlamosChamber.com
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UNMLA Small Business Development Center Support Young Entrepreneurs
Want someone to wash your dog this summer? Or maybe mow your lawn or pick up and deliver your groceries? These are just a few of the services offered by young entrepreneurs that received Youth Business Grants recently. Six young men and women ranging in age from 13 to 19 were awarded grants from $250 to $400 by the judges to partially fund the projects. All candidates went through an interview, presented a min- business plan and described how they would be successful and make money. The award winners include Issac Martinez, 14 of Espanola, who is a repeat winner and will again offer his lawn services. Primary services of Raw Energy will be mowing and trimming. He can be reached at 505-901-0734.
Ashley Garduno, Garduno’s Weaving, Chimayo, is also a repeat winner and offers hand woven place mats, table runners, coasters and other products. She wants to carry on the tradition of hand weaving of the Chimayo Valley. She will take orders at 505-614-5082. Miles Mojica- Freeland, the third repeat winner is providing a new business service this time. He will offer dance lessons with a target market of 13 to 19 year olds. He just completed his first year of college at New Mexico State and is pursuing a Dance major. Contact number is 505-412-0541. D’View is the name of the business chosen by Derek Selvage, 13, and his logo is “Seeing Los Alamos through a Teenager’s Eyes. Derek plans to offer framed photos he has taken of the surrounding area at different business locations in White Rock and Los Alamos. He will also make postcards from some of the selected prints. Additional information is available by calling 505-412-1715. “Grocery Deliverance” is the chosen name for the business chosen by Luke Johnson, 18 of White Rock. He will offer buying and delivery of grocery and or pharmacy products from area stores to residents of White Rock and Los Alamos. Phone number for Luke’s services is 505-470-8982.
If you want someone to wash or sit your dog, Spencer Lauritzen, 13 of Los Alamos plans for his business, “Spencer’s Pet Sitting” to offer these and other pet services. Spencer really likes animals and a school project this past year was to help raise money and supplies for the animal shelter. Call 505-672-4089 for these services.
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Los Alamos Commerce and Development Corporation
Chamber Business Spotlight
Blue Window Bistro
Nearly 30 years after first opening its doors, the Blue Window Bistro is now owned and managed by Melissa Paternoster. Melissa bought it in her senior year at UNM one year ago and has been busy making innovations to offer more to the community through events and services.
Melissa Paternoster, owner of Blue Window Bistro
Melissa graduated from Los Alamos High School and attended the University of New Mexico where she studied business. She then focused in on pursuing an Environmental Science degree with an emphasis on Sustainability Studies. In her last semester, she heard that the restaurant was for sale, and by June of 2010 she took ownership. In her first year, Melissa has instigated several new events, including winetastings and jazz nights. A website was created, new staff trainings and service standards have been instituted, and a Sunday brunch service and off-site catering have been established. Additionally, the menu has been expanded (and changes seasonally) to include new specials and new flavor combinations in old favorites. As for the future, Melissa has ambitions to continue to expand sustainable practices, buy more food and service products locally, and to expand partnerships with other local businesses. “I care about how I run my business,” she says. “I work to keep my spending in town and to change the attitude that you have to go off the hill for a nice evening out.” Website: labluewindowbistro.com Hours: Lunch 11 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Monday – Friday Dinner 5 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Monday – Thursday, 5 p.m. – 9 p.m. Friday – Saturday Sunday Brunch 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
July/August 2011
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Chamber News The Chamber of Commerce Golf Tournament to benefit United Way is now cancelled. Please stay advised as to upcoming event to benefit United Way. Will need volunteers... Los Alamos Chamber of Commerce
Golf Tournament nd July 22 , 2011
Black Mesa Golf Course, Espanola NM Registe
r online wwwand .Losgrowing Katy's Corner - Three hundred members at: Ala 100% mosC
ham er TAX .coorganization For more than three years now I have introduced the Chamberbas an of nearly 300 memm DEDUCTIBLE bers. I’ll have to change my tune, now that we have surpassed that mark. All the credit for growth of the
Chamber is due to you, the Chamber members. You have kept your businesses strong in a tough economy. You have innovated, you have tightened your belts, you have fallen back on your entrepreneurial spirit and opened new businesses, you have spruced up and taken on more work, you have learned to use new technology, and you have kept your businesses strong.
Chamber strong.
The new members come from many different business segments- from large to small, from non-profits to building contractors to real estate agents to counselors. It takes all of you to make a community and a
All Proceeds to benefit:
The growth of our chamber is counter to the experience I hear from many Chamber executives from around the State and the West. It’s true that we are blessed with being the home of Los Alamos National Laboratory, but having that one large economic engine can be a mixed blessing at times. It makes our community hypersensitive to the news from Washington, and it trickles down to even the smallest business. Thanks for being part of a great Chamber, and let’s keep up the good work.
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Los Alamos Commerce and Development Corporation
Welcome New Members!
Business Name Contact Name Phone Type of Business A.D.A.P.T. and Recover Bobby Coyne 505-661-9700 Health & Medical American Legion, Post 90 Kenneth Nadeau 505-662-7772 Club Automotive Collision Experts Miguel Terrazas 505-661-2522 Automotive CHRISTUS St. Vincent Medical Ctr Bernardine R. Padilla 505-913-3043 Health & Medical DorMoni’s Hair Studio Boutique Doreen Archuleta 505-662-5800 Beauty & Personal Care Georgina Williams, LPCC Georgina Williams 505-695-0233 Health & Medical HDR Constructors, Inc. Gary Binger 816-522-7700 Contractors Los Alamos Little Theatre, Inc Bobbie Simpson 505-662-5493 Entertainment Real Estate Associates PVW, LLC Pamela Skotnicki 505-662-7717 Real Estate
July
Chamber Member Anniversaries
Business Name
Date Joined
Atomic City Cleaning 2005 Burns and Roe Enterprises, Inc. 1997 COMPA Industries, Inc 2008 EMV Studios:Michael Young Photography 2008 Fund Raising Solutions, LLC 2007 Kiwanis Club of Los Alamos 1978 LANL Community Programs Office 1996 Los Alamos Concert Association 2006 Los Alamos County Government 1997 Los Alamos Fitness Center 2003 Los Alamos Retirement Communities 2002 Los Alamos Youth Soccer League 2008 Mandy Marksteiner Writing and Editing 2008 North Wind, Inc. 2005 P B Americas Inc. 2010 Pajarito Environmental Education Center 2003 Performance Maintenance Inc 2010 Royal Crest Manufactured Homes 2006 Sage Cottage Montessori School 2001 Smith’s Food & Drug 2006 Templeton Design & Custom Homes LLC. 1997 The Santa Fe New Mexican 2009 Title Guaranty & Insurance Co. 1984 Tritium Roofing 2009 Village Arts 1989 Virtual Los Alamos 1995
August
Business Name
Date Joined
Adobe Pines Bed & Breakfast 1998 Assets in Action 2007 Creative Consultants 2009 Eye Associates of New Mexico 2003 Fran Berting 1998 Gordons’ Concerts 1993 J. Robert Oppenheimer Memorial 2005 Los Alamos Chiropractic 1997 Los Alamos Orthodontics 2008 Los Alamos School of Gymnastics 2010 Lynn M. Finnegan, P.A. 2000 Merrill Lynch 2010 Names & Numbers Telephone Directory 2001 Polk Oil Company 1980 Primak Builders 1995 River Mediation Services 2007 Stewart Central Title, LLC 1998 Waddell & Reed 2009 CONGRATULATIONS TO: Kiwanis Club of Los Alamos - 33 years Polk Oil Company - 31 years Title Guaranty & Insurance Co. - 27 years Village Arts - 22 years These businesses will celebrate their anniversary month as Chamber Members for twenty years or more!
July/August 2011
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MainStreet News & Events
For more information on the MainStreet Program please contact: Suzette Fox Phone: 505.661.4844 E-mail: suzette@losalamos.org www.LAmainstreet.com
August 13th - Fair & Rodeo Parade Save the Date for Fair & Rodeo Weekend - August 12-14th! If you would like to participate in the Parade, go to www.fyiLA.com under events to register, the more - the merrier! Parade starts at 10 am on Central Ave. Be sure to participate in all the events for the weekend including: Count Fair Exhibits, Festival and Fair, Arts and Crafts Show, LA Concert Series and Rodeo of course! 8
Los Alamos Commerce and Development Corporation
Los Alamos Creative District Steering Committee •
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Los Alamos Creative District Plan Welcoming The World To Experience Los Alamos’ Unique Creativity Did you know that that one of New Mexico’s six Arts & Culture Districts (ACD) is designated right here within downtown Los Alamos? The designation was made in 2009 and keeping it depends on Los Alamos County adopting a plan to guide the development of the district. The proposed plan was discussed by the County Council at their work session on Tuesday, July 26th in White Rock. A decision on County adoption of the plan is anticipated a few weeks later. What is at stake? The State designation brings with it tax advantages for historic properties within the district, a commitment to develop State resources within the economic development, tourism, cultural affairs, and historic preservation departments to assist the ACD’s, and the ability to use provisions of the State’s Local Economic Development Act (LEDA) to aid in implementation of the district. In other words, retaining the designation will provide a greater range of tools and resources to be put into play to enhance cultural and downtown vitality. Want to know more? You can read the full article and the plan with other supporting documents and materials at www.creativenm.org. Contact a member of the steering committee that you know, or Kevin Holsapple, 661-4806, Kevin@losalamos.org for more information.
July/August 2011
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Nancy Bartlit, Historic Statues Master Plan Committee Chair, Fuller Lodge Historic Districts Advisory Board Nona Bowman, Los Alamos Concert Association Board Linda Deck, Bradbury Science Museum Suzette Fox, Los Alamos MainStreet Russ Gordon, Gordon’s Concerts Marlane Hamilton, Los Alamos Arts Council Kevin Holsapple, Los Alamos Commerce & Development Corporation Stephani Johnson, Los Alamos County Community Services Department Barbara Judy, Bandelier National Monument Charlie Kalogeros-Chattan, Los Alamos County Library System Katy Korkos, Los Alamos Chamber of Commerce Steve Laurent, Los Alamos County Community Development Department Carolyn Mangeng, Los Alamos Master Gardeners Heather McClenahan, Los Alamos Historical Museum Carol Meine, Los Alamos County Library System Ken Nebel, Fuller Lodge Art Center Martha Perkins, Los Alamos County Community Development Department Lisa Rosendorf, LANL Communication and Government Affairs Kelly Stewart, Los Alamos County Jim Trump, Union Development Corporation, Build New Mexico Holger Waschinski, New Mexico Dance Theater
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LAMVB News Calendar of Events July 2011
August 2011
6 LACounty Rec Movies in the Park – Hoodwinked White Rock branch library presents Celtic Dancers 7 LA MainStreet Farmers Market - Mesa Public Library Solo Art Exhibition at Karen Wray Gallery Mesa Pubic Library - Get Your Kicks on Route 66 8 Fuller Lodge Art Center Reception - Kinesis Iguanas - LA Summer Concert Series - Rover Park 12 Bradbury Science Museum - Adventures in History and Science! 13 LA County Rec Movies in the Park – Little Giants at Ashley Pond 14 Los Alamos Farmers Market at Mesa Public Library 15 Uncle Lucius - LA Series at LANB Van of Enchantment: A Mobile Museum on an RV! at Mesa Public Library parking lot 16 Los Alamos Skateboard Competition at Skate Park 19 Historical Museum-Adventures in History/Science 20 LACounty Rec Movies in the Park – Megamind at Urban Park 21 Los Alamos Farmers Market at Mesa Public Library 22 Red Elvises - LA Concertr Series at Ashley Pond Atomic Theatre Festival at UNM-Los Alamos Mesa Public Library presents Mt. Kilimanjaro talk 23 7th Annual Mud Volleyball Tournament at North Mesa Volleyball Pits 26 Summer Adventures in History and Science! At Bradbury Science Museum 27 Los Alamos County Recreation Department presents Movies in the Park – Yogi Bear at Rover Park 28 Farmers Market at Mesa Public Library parking lot Authors Speak Series - Travelers’ Tales at Mesa Public Library 29 Tony Furtado - LA Concert Series at Entrada Business Park 29 Manhattan Glass at the Los Alamos Little Theater 29 Atomic Theatre Festival at UNM-Los Alamos
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LACounty Rec Movies in the Park – Tangled at Urban Park 4 Farmers Market at Mesa Public Library parking lot 5 Los Pinguos - LA Summer Concert Series 6 Southern Rockies Natural Bodybuilding Competition at Duane Smith Auditorium 10 LACounty Rec Movies in the Park – Toy Story at the Aquatic Center 11 Farmers Market at Mesa Public Library 12 LA County Fair and Rodeo at North Mesa Rodeo Grounds Thomas Mapfumo & the Blacks Unlimited LA Summer Concert Series at Ashley Pond 13 Fair and Rodeo Parade 10 am - Central Ave. Jimmy Stadler - LA Concert Series at Ashley Pond 18 Farmers Market at Mesa Public Library 19 Fuller Lodge Art Center Art Opening Reception Summer Art Camp Showcase 19 Carolyn Wonderland - LA Summer Concert Series at Del Norte Credit Union 20 Fundraiser: Taste of Los Alamos at Senior Center 20 LA County Rec presents Los Alamos Triathlon: W. Jemez Rd. by Fire Station 1 21 LA County Rec presents Los Alamos Kids Triathlon 22 Historical Museum-Adventures in History/Science 22 Mesa Public Library Exhibit: Ursonate by Jack Ox 25 Farmers Market at Mesa Public Library 25 Authors Speak Series: Shelby Tisdale at Library 27 Los Alamos Sportsman’s Club Gun Show at Los Alamos Public Schools Pueblo Complex
Go to fyiLA.com for a complete and detailed list of events. 10
Los Alamos Commerce and Development Corporation
The LAMVB, a program of the Los Alamos Commerce and Development Corporation, operates the Visitor Center in Los Alamos and the White Rock Tourist & Information Center (WRTIC). The LAMVB also produces and distributes advertising and marketing materials such as the Los Alamos Visitor Guide. We also maintain the online visitor guide at visit.losalamos.com.
Thank you Volunteers!!! Cindy completed 10 years with LACDC. As such, she was granted a sabbatical for an entire month! There were many, many, MANY volunteers that pitched in to help with the everyday tasks. We would like to thank all of those that stepped in. We could not have done it with out all of your help! Cindy’s Sabbatical...she states: “For one month, I was out of the door and never looked back. I was a model sabbatical taker. I never ran out of things to do, places to go or friends to hang out with.
Host a FAM tour at your location! Why host a FAM tour (FAMiliarization Tour)? With volunteers staffing our visitor centers half of the time we are open, it is a good idea to have them familiar with our attractions. They are usually the first to see our visitors and we like them to be informed about all there is to do in our community. The best way to describe your destination to our visitors is with experience! Host a FAM Tour today!! For information on how to host a FAM Tour, contact Cindy at 661-4815 or email cindy@losalamos.org
Volunteer SpotLight - Shari Jobe
I packed up my un-air-conditioned car with poolside apparel and headed south to Las Cruces. I spent the first night in Socorro, which actually was a lot smaller than I had imagined. In Las Cruces, I discovered a fabulous used book store with room after room of every type of book you can imagine. A book lover’s fantasy! I also gained a tolerance for wayward tourists. I will no longer get impatient with drivers who can’t quite decide which lane they want to be in. Lazing by the hotel pool with a “new” used book was totally luxurious! Las Cruces mid-May temperatures were just perfect. I also enjoyed a quick buzz from a cup of “Day of the Dead” coffee in Mesilla. A great plus to having time off was getting to know friends better because I had so much more time to do things! That was probably the best thing to the month off – better friendships. All in all – one good time!” July/August 2011
Shari at the Reception for LAPS Fractal Challenge
A special ‘thank you’ goes out to Shari Jobe for her help in facilitating the Fractal Challenge through Los Alamos Public Schools for the Next Big Idea Festival - teaching science and math through art. Shari continues the effort with the Science and Math Based Art Program - another element of the Next Big Idea.
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ChamberFest
Newsletter Managing Editor: Suzette Fox - 505.661.4844 email:suzette@losalamos.org Contributions by: Suzette Fox, Kevin Holsapple, Katy Korkos, Claire Roybal, Cindy Whiting & Don Wright
PRSRT STD U.S. Postage
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LOS ALAMOS, NM
Permit No. 152
P.O.BOX 460 LOS ALAMOS, NM 87544
Special Supplement Resuming Business after the Las Conchas Fire Planning for Business Resumption • Prepare a to-do list to help you organize your thoughts about resuming business. • Contact your insurance agent if you believe you may have coverage for business interruption or other consequences of the evacuation. Find out what records and data you should be gathering and keeping in the event you can make a claim. • Contact creditors to see if they can allow a grace period or delay on payment obligations to give yourself maximum slack in terms of cash flow. • Be in touch if possible with key staff; if you can't be in touch, consider how and when you will re-establish communications. • Be in touch with vendors/suppliers who will be key to resuming your business. Help them understand your situation, needs, and expectations once you resume business. • List your key customers/clients (or categories of them). Consider when the right time will be to touch base or initiate contact with key customers/clients; the better you are prepared and able to reengage once you resume business the more effective you will be able to be in generating/resuming sales. Consider whether any special marketing or promotion will be useful and begin planning this now.
Key Contacts: Katy Korkos, Chamber of Commerce Member Services Coordinator, 661-4816, katyk@losalamos.org Don Wright, Small Business Development Center Director, 661- 4854, donw@losalamos.org The UNM-LA Small Business Development Center (SBDC) offers confidential, no-charge assistance to area businesses and organizations wanting to take advantage of assistance programs related to the Las Conchas fire. The SBDC partners with the SBA to provide small business assistance. The SBDC is always available to assist with business needs and issues. For an appointment in Los Alamos, phone 661-4803, 662-0001 or email chamber@losalamos.com Special assistance programs relating to the Las Conchas Fire: • No interest loans to assist with shortterm cash flow needs • Small Business Administration Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program (EIDL) • Deadline extensions for New Mexico business taxes
The Chamber will be running ads in the Los Alamos Monitor featuring special offers from our consumer serving members. Complete and return the form below to be included. There is no charge to be included in this promotion. Act now to take advantage of this promotion. Questions? Call Katy at 661-4816 or email chamber@losalamos.com
Business Name _________________________________________ Contact Name ________________________ Phone ____________ Email Address __________________________________________ Special Offer Start Date: _______________________________ Special Offer Expiration Date: ____________________________ Publishing Options: Publish in Web/Email/LA Monitor Offers (for locals & visitors) Publish in Printed Coupon Book (for visitors/tourists) One sentence description of your special offer: ____________________ _____________________________________________________________ Disclaimer/Limitations (i.e. hours of day, day of week, etc.): _________ _____________________________________________________________ Having your logo or other image to use with the coupon will make it much more eye-catching. Please email 200x200 pixel logo/image to chamber@losalamos.com Check this box if you want to provide an image to use as your full coupon. (Text above is used for meta tags, not displayed). Email 540x540 pixel image to chamber@losalamos.com (Only .jpg and .gif file extensions allowed) Max. Allowed File Size is 2MB Drop completed form by the Chamber, or FAX to 662-0099
Los Alamos Creative District Plan Welcoming the world to experience Los Alamos’ unique creativity Did you know that that one of New Mexico’s six Arts & Culture Districts (ACD) is designated right here within downtown Los Alamos? The designation was made in 2009 and keeping it depends on Los Alamos County adopting a plan to guide the development of the district. The proposed plan will be discussed by the County Council at their work session on Tuesday, July 26th in White Rock. A decision on County adoption of the plan is anticipated a few weeks later. What is at stake? The State designation brings with it tax advantages for historic properties within the district, a commitment to develop State resources within the economic development, tourism, cultural affairs, and historic preservation departments to assist the ACD’s, and the ability to use provisions of the State’s Local Economic Development Act (LEDA) to aid in implementation of the district. In other words, retaining the designation will provide a greater range of tools and resources to be put into play to enhance cultural and downtown vitality. Los Alamos MainStreet has led the process of applying for the designation, forming a steering committee of stakeholders, and meeting a series of requirements of the State program leading up to developing the plan for the district. A wide variety of organizations have partnered with the initiative including the County itself. A nationally prominent consultant that specializes in cultural planning, the Cutural + Planning Group of San Diego guided the development of the plan under the direction of the steering committee. The consultant was hired using State grant funding obtained by Los Alamos MainStreet. The planning process entailed multiple public meetings and input gathering sessions over the past year and a half. You can read the plan and supporting materials on the web at www.creativenm.org The plan establishes goals, strategies, and an implementation in six key areas: programming (ongoing activities and events that reflect the cultural identity of the community); branding and marketing; physical development and facilities; economic development; management; and funding. The initial boundary for the district was the subject of considerable discussion. To receive State endorsement of the plan, it was critical to link the boundary to clear strategies for implementing a cultural district. Without this, the State indicated they would not be willing to accept the plan. The State has fully endorsed the plan that is proceeding for adoption by the County Council. The plan includes the idea that success within the designated boundaries could lead to enlarging the district at a later date if there were a reason to do so. Cultural districts are being implemented throughout the country and are a proven method of increasing tourism traffic and revenues, while simultaneously supporting local economic and cultural development. Districts create a stronger argument for coming downtown, by promoting a stronger mix of local businesses, cultural activities, visitor amenities, and successful urban design. Districts enhance the attraction of a walkable
downtown area, so they serve residents as well as visitors, and generate greater synergy among the unique elements of a place. Los Alamos MainStreet is anticipated by the plan as the lead implementing organization and the manager of the district process. Los Alamos County would be the source of funding to begin the implementation process. Longer term funding sources would be a proposed downtown tax increment development district (TIDD) and a proposed elective 1/16 GRT increment. TIDD resources would be used for physical and facilities improvements. The GRT increment would be used for programming, marketing, and support of cultural organizations. The TIDD would require no change to tax rates or impose any additional tax burden on local individual taxpayers. The GRT increment could only be established by a successful general referendum indicating support for the initiative. Want to know more? You can read the plan and other supporting documents and materials at www.creativenm.org. Contact a member of the steering committee that you know, or Kevin Holsapple, 661-4806, Kevin@losalamos.org for more information.