Senior Bush Administration Official Delivers $2.5 Million in Federal Funds to New Mexico to Boost Business and Job Growth
Assistant Secretary for Economic Development Also Delivers Keynote Address at the 32nd Annual New Mexico Town Hall Meeting in Las Cruces

April 14 - U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development David A. Sampson today in New Mexico presented $2.5 million in Economic Development Administration (EDA) investment checks to help boost business development and job growth in New Mexico.

The investments include:

· $850,000 to the city of Las Cruces, N.M., to help expand the West Mesa Industrial Park and help attract businesses to the Park. Assistant Secretary Sampson and Congressman Steve Pierce presented the investment check in Las Cruces.
· $750,000 to the Science and Technology Park Development Corporation of Albuquerque, N.M., to help establish a high-speed-data-switching center that will provide a communications system for the Sandia Science and Technology Park, as well as extend services to rural areas in the state. Assistant Secretary Sampson and U.S. Senator Pete Domenici presented the investment check in Albuquerque.
· $150,000 to the South Central Council of Government of Elephant Butte to continue a comprehensive economic development planning program.
· $150,000 to the Eastern Plains Council of Governments of Clovis to continue a comprehensive economic development planning program.
· $150,000 to the Southeastern New Mexico Economic Development District of Roswell to continue a comprehensive economic development planning program.
· $150,000 to the Mid-Region Council of Governments of Albuquerque to continue a comprehensive economic development planning program.
· $150,000 to the North Central New Mexico Economic Development District of Santa Fe to continue a comprehensive economic development planning program.
· $150,000 to the Northwest New Mexico Council of Governments of Gallup to continue a comprehensive economic development planning program.
· $51,000 to the Southwest New Mexico Council of Governments of Silver City to continue a comprehensive economic development planning program.
· $50,000 to New Mexico State University of Las Cruces to support the University Center economic development technical assistance program. The University Center program provides local government and nonprofit organizations with resources to better analyze the economic needs of local communities.

“The Department of Commerce is pleased to partner with the people of New Mexico. These investments are great examples of Senator Pete Domenici and Congressman Steve Pearce’s commitments to help the Bush Administration empower local communities with the necessary tools to grow their economy, attract investments and create jobs in New Mexico,” said Sampson.

Assistant Secretary Sampson is also slated to deliver the keynote address at the opening dinner of the 32nd Annual New Mexico Town Hall Meeting in Las Cruces tonight. The Assistant Secretary will discuss growing an entrepreneurial economy for small and emerging businesses.

EDA serves as a venture capital resource to meet the economic development needs of distressed communities throughout the United States. EDA partners with states, units of local government and community nonprofit organizations in economically distressed areas, regions and communities in order to alleviate conditions of poverty and substantial and persistent unemployment and underemployment.

Additional information on how EDA investments are helping distressed communities create a positive and sustainable economic future can be accessed at: http://www.doc.gov/eda.