Traditionally, economic development has been about attracting new businesses.

Often, this is accomplished by offering incentives, usually prorated based on the number of jobs created, but such efforts are zero-sum in the sense that businesses attracted by one community are lost from another community. Moreover, businesses attracted by incentives often lack loyalty and are lost once incentives run out.

Economic development experts are coming to realize that growing local businesses, rather than attracting businesses from the outside, is a more effective means of promoting economic growth. Rather than getting into a bidding war for, say, a new manufacturing plant, the idea is to provide strategic benefits to local businesses thereby promoting job creation.

Get more…

One of the biggest challenges in starting your online store is advancing through the ever-evolving landscape of building a website that converts sales and attracts visitors to the site to purchase.

Knowledge is power in this sense, but testing your knowledge in the real world and learning from others who have done it are much more valuable. You need the mind-set to learn it, and follow through with blind enthusiasm.

Luckily we have resources like Steve at MyWifeQuitHerJob.com to share his experience and insight on how to create a profitable online store that supports a family oriented and free lifestyle. Get more…

When you need to get everyone in the same place at the same time, it is a difficult task. And when you’re in business, it is often incredibly difficult to organize a meeting where everyone is physically close enough to attend. Some customers or employees may not even be in the same country the same day and therefore, many subjects can not even be discussed properly. And that’s the main reason why so many companies now use modern CCOMM Video Conferencing systems.

Negotiation over a large area is a brilliant way to keep a large customer base, but the downside is that much of your time is spent on traveling from one place to another. While video conferencing is a realistic response to the difficulty in obtaining all the people involved and when it matters most.

Depending on the type of video conferencing you look for, there are all many kinds of different formats to choose from. Get more…

Andrea Tawney has been named the assistant dean for development at New Mexico State University’s College of Business. She brings several years of experience in successful development and grant writing work with her to the university.

“I am pleased Dr. Tawney has accepted our offer to join us at the College of Business,” said Garrey Carruthers, dean of NMSU’s College of Business and vice president for economic development. “She has a long history of development work at Texas Tech University and just recently completed her Ph.D.”

Tawney has eight years of experience as both an administrator and a faculty member while at the University of Arizona and Texas Tech University’s Health Sciences Center. She served as a fundraising and grants consultant for a number of colleges, universities and hospitals. She started i

Get more…

If you have a good idea for a product or technology, you could win some valuable help in turning your concept into a viable business.

Arrowhead Center’s Technology Incubator at New Mexico State University is holding its first Innovation Incubation Competition. The competition is aimed at converting innovative ideas and technologies into successful commercial ventures. The winner will receive one year of furnished office space in the incubator, which currently is being renovated. Along with the office space, the winner also will receive business acceleration services. The package is worth approximately $7,500.

The competition is open to New Mexico State University faculty, staff and students. A jury made up of entrepreneurs and private investors will select the winner. T

Get more…

New Mexico State University was ranked among the top 100 universities in the United States in conferring graduate degrees to minority students in 20 categories of study by Diverse: Issues in Higher Education magazine in the July 6 edition of the publication.

In the Hispanic master’s – physical sciences category, NMSU ranked sixth, the highest spot for the university in any category. Of the 20 categories in which NMSU was ranked, the Aggies made the top 25 in eight of them.

The lists containing total degrees for each and all minority groups include 100 institutions. The lists for specific disciplines contain typically, but not always, 50 institutions each. A g

Get more…