Exercising provisions within the "Laboratory Partnership with Small Business Tax Credit" passed by the State Legislature in 2000, the New Mexico Laboratory Partnership increases the level of expertise and resources both labs can devote to communities and small businesses facing technical challenges and other obstacles to economic growth.
"This is an important step toward creating the partnerships and business climate needed to ensure strong and vibrant regional and state economies, said Lillian Montoya-Rael, director of Los Alamos National Laboratory's Community Programs Office. "It's a perfect fit to our Community Commitment Plan, which emphasizes economic development, education, and charitable giving. This collaboration will certainly add traction to our future efforts."
"This is also a very clear demonstration of the governor's and state legislature's commitment to leveraging the presence of national labs in New Mexico and to building a brighter future for the entire state, added Montoya-Rael. This program mirrors the New Mexico Small Business Assistance (NMSBA) program first established by Sandia National Laboratories in 2000.
The purpose of the Memorandum of Understanding is to document the relationship between the parties and recognize the collaborative effort to bring technology and expertise of the national laboratories to small businesses in New Mexico by developing a joint NMSBA program.
"This MOU creates one program using the resources of two national labs," said Victor Chavez, manager of the Supply Chain Resources and Development Department at Sandia National Laboratories. "Sandia's NMSBA program has made a significant impact around the state. I envision even greater successes as we join together with our colleagues at Los Alamos."
Invitees for today's signing at the New Mexico State Capitol Rotunda include John Stitchman, deputy director of Sandia National Laboratories; Richard Van Bynum, principal associate director for operations at Los Alamos National Laboratory, State Senator Michael Sanchez, majority floor leader; State Representative Ben Lujan, speaker of the house; Lillian Montoya-Rael, director of Los Alamos National Laboratory's Community Programs Office; Lenny Martinez, vice president of enterprise transformation at Sandia National Laboratories; and Victor Chavez, manager of the Supply Chain Resources and Development Department at Sandia National Laboratories.
For more information, contact Carlos Chacon of Los Alamos National Laboratory's Community Programs Office at (505) 667-2194.
Los Alamos National Laboratory, a multidisciplinary research institution engaged in strategic science on behalf of national security, is operated by Los Alamos National Security, LLC, a team composed of Bechtel National, the University of California, The Babcock & Wilcox Company, and Washington Group International for the Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration.
Los Alamos enhances national security by ensuring the safety and reliability of the U.S. nuclear stockpile, developing technologies to reduce threats from weapons of mass destruction, and solving problems related to energy, environment, infrastructure, health, and global security concerns.