Date:
5/9/2002
Contact: Wendel Sloan at 505.562.2253
Reporter: Donna Gutierrez
ROSWELL – For the third consecutive year, Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell has been awarded $100,000 to support a university-based economic development initiative. The funding was awarded through the University Centers Program of the Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration (EDA). The program provides funding to colleges and universities throughout the country to assist local communities with various economic development projects. Each college receives approximately $100,000 in funding annually.
U.S. Senator Pete Domenici worked with New Mexico's congressional delegation to establish the University Centers Program at ENMU-Roswell. "Over the past three years, this economic development initiative has helped local businesses throughout Roswell and southeastern New Mexico grow," Domenici said. "Students enrolled in work-study programs at the university that are coupled with area businesses also benefit from a great learning experience involving economic development operations," he said.
"We are very pleased that the EDA has confidence in the resources and staff at ENMU-Roswell to allow this funding to continue," said Dr. Judy Armstrong, ENMU-Roswell provost. "With these funds, we can carry on with one of our campus goals to become a catalyst for economic development in this part of the state," she said.
As a University Center, the college can receive up to $100,000 a year to expand its reach and serve as a technical assistance center for southeast New Mexico. By creating a University Center, employees from throughout southeastern New Mexico will be able to receive skills training through ENMU-Roswell. The college will also be able to aid community planners in attracting new businesses.
In March 2000, Domenici was informed that the U.S. Economic Development Administration was looking for a new community in which to locate its University Centers Program, which was previously housed at the University of New Mexico. Domenici urged New Mexico EDA and Department of Commerce officials to consider ENMU-Roswell as the new home for the University Centers program.
Grants and cooperative agreements awarded under the University Centers Program help colleges and universities in using their own and other resources to address the economic development problems and opportunities for their service areas. Proposals funded under the basic University Center Program must focus on providing technical assistance to clients outside the sponsoring institution.
For information on the University Center program, contact Robert Rhodes, director of the Center for Economic Development for Eastern New Mexico, at 624.7336.