MYB Q-III by LACDC

QUARTER III | 2015

THE NEWSLETTER OF THE LOS ALAMOS COMMERCE & DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

ScienceFest – The Secret City Unlocked was a Success! ScienceFest, the signature event of Los Alamos County, took place July 15–19. ScienceFest celebrates Los Alamos’ heritage with history and science-based events for the entire family. Even a little rain on Festival Day didn’t stop the fun. New this year was the New Mexico True Drone Zone, sponsored by the New Mexico Tourism Department and facilitated by the Bradbury Science Museum. Experienced drone pilots brought their own drones and competed in an agility course for a chance to win $500. Nicknamed “The Drone Eater” by competitors, the course proved to be a challenge. Winner Darren Savage

finished the course in 46 seconds. Beginners were also able to get in on the fun by trying their hand at flying mini-drones. Also new this year was the re-creation of the iconic main gate at Entrance Park. The façade was constructed by Los Alamos County and painted by local artist Livy Snyder and her art class from Fuller Lodge Art Center. Designed to be an information booth for ScienceFest visitors, it proved to be quite popular with locals as well. The picture was complete when White Rock resident Ken Uher brought out his 1939 Buick Special Convertible Opera Coupe.

Festival Day also featured interactive exhibits, the Chalk Walk, robot demonstrations, historic walking tours, a one-act play, actors dressed in 1940’s attire, Manhattan Project-era cars around town, a spy-themed scavenger hunt, and of course, the beer garden with live music. ScienceFest wrapped up with Rocket Day, located off-site just north of Espanola. The goals of ScienceFest are to showcase the remarkable community of Los Alamos while drawing people to the central business district and supporting a vibrant downtown. Total attendance for all of the programming was more CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

A Note from the Executive Director Hello, Where has the summer gone? I hope you all have enjoyed it as much as I have. Rain seems to be the theme of Summer 2015. We had a rainy ChamberFest in June and a few sprinkles at ScienceFest in July. The good news is almost all the golfers managed to get off the greens before the rain hit at the Chamber Golf Tournament! A lot of work goes into planning these events but we’re always happy for the rain in Los Alamos. We hope this bodes well for ski season this year! Patrick Sullivan, Executive Director

Events & Reminders •

October 30–31 Halloweekend. Trick or Treat on MainStreet is Friday, October 30, 4-6:30pm.

Alamos Visitor Centers had more than 17,000 visitors in June and exceeded 21,000 in July! Of course all of these visitors are offered information on things to do in the area, as well as restaurants to dine in and businesses to shop at. We’ve been successful offering the 0% interest Facade Loan Program to local

For more information call Suzette

businesses. LACDC has approved three local businesses for loans totaling almost

Fox at 505.661.4844 or email

$50,000. For more information on this program, visit losalamosdevelopment.

Suzette@losalamos.org. Register

com/facade-loan-program or give me a call at 661-4854.

at losalamosmainstreet.com/events/ halloweekend/

•

The rain hasn’t kept visitors away from Los Alamos. The White Rock and Los

November 28 Small Business Saturday. Contact Nancy Partridge for more information nancy@losalamos. org

In the upcoming months, LACDC will begin a comprehensive business visitation program. We’ll be contacting business owners to schedule a time to come talk to you about a wide variety of issues affecting your business, both positive and negative. All of the discussions will remain confidential. Next spring, we’ll give a series of presentations to stakeholders detailing our analysis of the collected data. The business visitations will be an ongoing program. Expect that an

•

December 4–6 Winterfest. The

LACDC employee will be contacting you in the next 60-90 days to schedule an

WinterFest Light Parade is Friday,

appointment. I hope you’re willing to share your thoughts on the local business

December 5 at 6pm followed by the

environment.

Ashley Pond Tree Lighting at 7pm. For more information call Suzette Fox at 505.661.4844 or email Suzette@losalamos.org. Register

As always, LACDC is here to offer assistance, answer questions and to be a resource for you and your business. As school starts and we start waxing up our skis, we

at losalamosmainstreet.com/events/

are busy planning for Halloweekend, October 30–31 and WinterFest, December

winterfest/

4–6. Be sure to get these dates on your calendar and register to participate! We hope to see you there. Thanks, Patrick

Los Alamos Commerce & Development Corporation

Commerce & Development News

ScienceFest GoPro winner Rick Clarke (from Virginia) with Suzette Fox and Ryn Herrmann CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

than 9,500 people. Most importantly, all local attractions and a majority of retailers reported increased attendance and sales. Focusing on the history of Los Alamos and the Manhattan Project-era increased interest in this event. While most attendees were from New Mexico, the number of people that came from outside of Los Alamos went up significantly.

Grant from the New Mexico Tourism Department and also received sponsorship from Google. We would also like to thank our sponsors Los Alamos National Bank, Los Alamos Medical Center, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos National Security, Compa Industry, Christus Health Plan And Richard P. Feynman Center For Innovation.

Los Alamos MainStreet produces ScienceFest, in collaboration with the Los Alamos Creative District and Los Alamos County. New this year, MainStreet was awarded an Event Sponsorship

We would also like to thank the 35 organizations that partnered with MainStreet and the countless volunteers that helped make ScienceFest a success.

Natalie Glass Joins LACDC as New Marketing Assistant Our organization has welcomed Natalie Glass as the new Los Alamos Commerce and Development Corporation Marketing Assistant. Natalie joined the team in May.

print production, marketing communications, art direction, project management, PR, social media, photography, and website design, team management and more. I am excited to join the team at LACDC.” - Natalie

“I cannot remember a day when I was not attracted to colorful and creative endeavors. At an early age, it was clear that my life would revolve around visually stimulating creations. Upon my graduation from high school I lived in Denver, CO and attended The Colorado Institute of Art with a focus in visual communications. I received my degree and began a career as a graphic designer. In 1999 I moved to California to work for Los Angeles based advertising agencies and production companies such as The Integer Group, Saatchi & Saatchi, Ground Zero Advertising, and Christie’s. I have worked with a print production team at an offset lithography printer, and managed my own freelance business. I am nearing the end of my second degree, which I will receive this winter for web design. I am well versed in graphic design, Quarter III 2015

Natalie Glass, Marketing Assistant

Chamber News

The Plateau Properties team wins big!

Plateau Properties wins Chamber Golf Tournament The team from Plateau Properties took first place in the Chamber of Commerce Golf Tournament on Friday, July 31. Mike Lippiat, Bruce Norman, Marti Hill, and Mike McNiel made it official with a score of 57. Second and third place had to be decided with a tie-breaker because both teams had a score of 58. Second place went to Mark Sandoval’s team (Sandoval, Eddie Sanchez, Warren Finch, and Steve Fellows) and third place went to Edgewater Technical Associates (Scott Rizor, Jeff Theesfeld, Joe Kanzleiter, and Mark Rosenberger). In the contest holes, Kristy Ortega won the Women’s Accuracy Drive and Marti Hill won the Women’s Longest Drive. Phil Gursky won the Men’s Accuracy Drive and Johnny Valdez won the Men’s Longest Drive.

Thank you to our major sponsors LANB, Rio Grande Sun, LA Monitor, Christus Health Plan and KRSN. Thank you also to our hole sponsors Great Ideas, Edgewater Technical Associates, Strategic Management Solutions, New York Life, The Finishing Touch, LA Daily Post, Kelly Myers – Re/ Max, Chris Ortega – Re/Max, Ricoh USA, and Griffin & Associates. And a special note of appreciation to our prize donors: Buffalo Thunder, Don Taylor, Metzgers Do-it-Best Hardware, CB FOX, UnQuarked, and Classic Air Medical. We would also like to thank Bathtub Row Brewing, which provided space for our lunch and awards and gave each golfer a free beverage. Next year’s Chamber of Commerce Golf Tournament is scheduled for Friday, July 29, 2016, at Los Alamos Golf Course. It will be a 9 a.m. Shotgun start.

After expenses, the event raised over $4,000 for United Way of Northern New Mexico. 4

Los Alamos Commerce & Development Corporation

Chamber Features Del Norte Credit Union is 37-Year Chamber Member Back in April 1978, Los Alamos Credit Union joined the Chamber of Commerce. Fast forward 37 years to today and the financial institution is still a chamber member, now known as Del Norte Credit Union. The long-time chamber member is a not-for-profit financial cooperative, completely owned by its members. Founded in 1954, DNCU’s roots embrace the culture and family traditions of northern New Mexico. DNCU is a strong, stable credit union that offers a wide variety of quality financial services and is an active proponent for financial literacy. DNCU is dedicated to helping its members achieve their financial goals by providing sound, unbiased financial advice. DNCU actively supports the community by donating funds and employee volunteer hours to many educational, health, and family-related causes. “We believe that improving the lives of our employees, our members and the communityat-large is a cooperative responsibility,” says Chuck Valenti, DNCU CEO/President. DNCU continues to honor its roots by being an active partner in the Los Alamos community: this summer DNCU was a participant in the Keep it CoOp/Gordons’ Concert on July 10th and will be the sole sponsor of the August 28th Gordons’ Concert being held at Rover Park in White Rock. The White Rock concert is scheduled in honor of DNCU building a new office location on the corner of Rover and Highway 4. In addition, DNCU is sponsoring the PEEC Summer Family Evenings, annually collects for LANL’s Gus the Bus back-to-school drive and is the annual sponsor of the Kiwanis Breakfast with Santa. DNCU was the inaugural sponsor of the 1st Annual Water Balloon Showdown at Chamberfest (to be rescheduled due to weather).

(IRAs), Share Certificates, Money Market and Checking accounts. We also partner with Del Norte Investments Services and TruStage Insurance Agency. This partnership provides valuable services to DNCU communities, such as, customized investment strategies and life, auto and homeowners insurance. The technological resources include Tellerphone, Mobile Banking, and Online Banking which includes Bill Pay, FinanceWorks, and TurboTax. Members have 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week access to the DNCU member service center and can access their funds through ATMs and their Visa Check Cards. And in 2013, DNCU joined the Co-op Shared Branching network with more than 3,500 participating credit unions and access to nearly 30,000 ATMs nationwide. Del Norte Credit Union continues to work hard to provide a 5-star experience to DNCU member/owners.

“DNCU’s commitment to Los Alamos naturally extends to the Los Alamos Chamber of Commerce. DNCU recognizes the chamber’s ability to support the community by forging lasting relationships and fostering business opportunities that celebrate the unique nature of Los Alamos,” says DNCU President/CEO Chuck Valenti. Originally called the Los Alamos Scientific Lab Credit Union, it was the first financial institution in Los Alamos and had only 54 members. Today, it has more than 45,000 members and offers Consumer and Real Estate Loans, VISA cards, Individual Retirement Accounts Quarter III 2015

Baxter the DNCU mascot

Creative District Tuesdays at the Pond Tuesdays at the Pond, a summer entertainment series, was started in 2014 by the Los Alamos Creative District. The series was created to bring people downtown on a weeknight for live entertainment. Once there, people also shop at stores, eat at restaurants, and visit museums. In its second year, Tuesdays at the Pond regularly brought more than 200 people per performance to downtown. The free series offered a variety of entertainment. The performances ranged from rock bands, wind ensembles, skits, improve, circus acts, musical theater and more. Los Alamos residents performed many of the acts. The entertainment began the first Tuesday in June and ran through August 18. Tuesdays at the Pond will return next summer.

TUESDAYS at the Pond ASHLEY POND, TUESDAYS @ 7:00

Fourth Fridays Fourth Fridays is in its inaugural year and began in May. The series highlights special activities produced by Bradbury Science Museum, Fuller Lodge Art Center, Los Alamos Historical Society, Mesa Public Library, and PEEC. Programming happens the fourth Friday of every month. The purpose of Fourth Fridays is to encourage patrons to shop and eat locally. During the summer, it is perfectly timed to bring people downtown before the Summer Concert Series takes place at Ashley Pond. Aside from the special programming at local attractions, it can also bring awareness to businesses products or services. Businesses have the opportunity to highlight new products or services, special menu items, etc. For more information, email Nicole Kliebert at nicole@losalamos.org.

Tuesdays at the Pond concert

Los Alamos Commerce & Development Corporation

MainStreet News

Suzette Fox receives Spirit of Preservation award for Los Alamos MainStreet

Los Alamos MainStreet Receives Spirit of Preservation Award Los Alamos MainStreet recently received the Spirit of Preservation Award from The New Mexico MainStreet Program for its advocacy of the Manhattan Project National Historical Park. The Main Street movement has transformed the way communities think about the revitalization of their historic downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts, and helped put historic preservation back in the community revitalization conversation. Cities and towns across the nation have come to see that a vibrant, sustainable community is only as healthy as its core. Our Main Streets are the places of shared memory where the entire community still comes together to live, work, and play. The New Mexico MainStreet Program fosters economic development in the state by supporting local MainStreet revitalization organizations and their work in downtowns and the adjacent neighborhoods. The Program provides resources, education, training and services that preserve and enhance the built environment, local historic culture and heritage and stimulate the economic vitality of each participating community. Since 1985, New Mexico MainStreet has been a powerful force for revitalization of communities across the state. Combining historic preservation with asset-based economic development, New Mexico MainStreet works with local affiliates and partners to re-build resilient Main Streets as the foundation for healthy communities. Quarter III 2015

Established in 1980 as a program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the National Main Street Center is a national organization committed to historic preservationbased community revitalization. Through education, outreach, hands-on training, online resources, facilitating connections and conferences, it has inspired and enabled leaders across the country to build strong communities. The National Main Street Center has equipped more than 2,000 communities with an organizing framework to preserve and revitalize their traditional downtowns and commercial districts. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Los Alamos MainStreet provided support in the advocacy efforts of the Los Alamos Historical Society for the Manhattan Project National Historical Park by mobilizing our citizens via email, mail and phone to contact our legislators to support its creation,â&#x20AC;? said Suzette Fox, Los Alamos MainStreet Executive Director. Los Alamos MainStreet is a program of Los Alamos Commerce & Development Corporation. Los Alamos MainStreet plans community events such as ScienceFest, Trick or Treat on MainStreet and Winterfest. For more information on the Los Alamos MainStreet program, contact Suzette Fox at (505) 661-4844 or email suzette@ losalamos.org. To register to participate in Trick or Treat on MainStreet or Winterfest, visit http://losalamosmainstreet. com/events/. 7

Events Registration for Trick or Treat on MainStreet and Winterfest Parade Now Open Registration is now open for both Trick or Treat on MainStreet and the annual Winterfest Holiday Lights Parade. Trick–or–Treat on MainStreet will haunt downtown Los Alamos again on Friday, October 30th from 4pm to 6:30pm. Main Street and Central Avenue, from 15th to 20th Streets, will be closed to auto traffic and become a safe pedestrian area where local businesses and organizations distribute candy to costumed families. While businesses in the downtown area open their doors to the public, this is also an opportunity for businesses and organizations that are not located in the downtown area to be involved. Last year an estimated 4,000 people took part in the weekend’s festivities. Winterfest Weekend celebrates winter in Los Alamos December 4–6. Numerous businesses and organizations schedule events including ballets, bazaars, shows and sales. The Holiday Lights Parade and the Tree Lighting at Ashley Pond are highlights of the weekend. The parade will march up Central Avenue beginning at 6:00pm Saturday, December 5. The official Tree Lighting Ceremony will follow the parade at 7:00pm at Ashley Pond. Don’t miss your opportunity to promote your business or organization by participating in these popular community events. For sponsorship information, more information or to register, visit: http://losalamosmainstreet.com/events/. See you on MainStreet!

BUSINESS BREAKFAST PRESENTED BY THE LOS ALAMOS CHAMBER

HELPING LOS ALAMOS ATTRACT BUSINESSES

Save the Date!

HALLOWEEKEND Trick or Treat on MainStreet:

Friday, October 30th Saturday, October 31st Pumpkin Glow:

SEPTEMBER 24 7:30am 4000 UNIVERSITY DRIVE BUILDING 2 | ROOM 230 TO REGISTER VISIT: LOSALAMOSCHAMBER.COM FOR MORE INFO CALL: 505.661.4816