By Mary Alice Murphy

Three featured speakers at the Friday, June 19, 2015 Gila Economic Development Alliance Roundtable spoke about the economic impact of non-profits, arts and culture, and area events.

The Gila Economic Development Alliance, whose purpose is to foster economic development in the area by retaining and expanding businesses and jobs, is made up of business leaders in Grant County.

The first presenter was Lisa Jimenez, an independent consultant, who manages the Non-Profit Resource Group for the National Center for Frontier Communities. The NCFC was organized in 1997, with specific goals to represent rural and frontier communities on the policy level.

"I am here to talk about non-profits and how to build resilient non-profits," Jimenez said. "We are a hybrid, providing consulting to non-profits and acting like a chamber for non-profits."

She said the model the NPRG uses is based on solid research. "We take an organization and build on its assets. We do a 90-minute facilitated assessment process. Then, we come back to the organization with our findings and we create a roadmap for the organization. We have a 23-member pool of consultants to address capacity gaps."

Jimenez said the group assigns a consultant, who is paid on a sliding-fee scale, usually between $25 and $45 an hour, with the full rate being $75 an hour.

She said the group has worked with LifeQuest to revamp its processes. "We are now working with the Guadalupe Montessori School, and we have worked with an Eddy County non-profit for road safety. We are helping the Silver City Public Library with its assessment and strategic planning."

"A very popular service is our free Wednesday morning Curbside Consulting, which helps non-profits get off to a good start," Jimenez said. "We ask questions such as can you raise funds and be sustainable? Can you manage a board of directors? If the non-profit does not have the capacity, we can connect them with another non-profit for their good idea. We have one right now that will dissolver with parts going to other non-profits."

She noted that non-profits are naturally collaborative, especially in rural and frontier communities.

"We do a yearly assessment survey, which helps the non-profits and helps us set up needed trainings and workshops," Jimenez said. "We've done a training conference on a Friday. Next time we do it we want to attach it to an event, so people stay in town an extra day or two."

She said the group is working on developing an executive director roundtable to create a support group and maybe develop a shared services model, for back office support for non-profits.

Jimenez said a House Memorial was passed last session to look at state contracting with non-profits. "There are large barriers, such as a lot of paperwork, red tape and getting paid in a timely manner."

She said she is also part of the Grant County Community Foundation and Give Grandly, which raised almost $94,000 in 24 hours for local non-profits.

"It's hard to get a handle on the economic impact of non-profits," Jimenez said. "The most recent report was done by UNM Bureau of Business and Economic Research in 2006. This is a conservative estimate of statewide numbers. One out of 20 paid workers works for a non-profit, creating about 17,000 jobs and paying $468 million in wages and salaries. In Grant County, about 9 percent of the workforce works in non-profits bringing in nearly $25 million into the community. This money stays locally. Beyond the numbers, it's impossible to determine how much events bring in.

"Non-profits provide services that governments can't and private entities won't because they can't make a profit," she continued. "Non-profits support the arts and culture, health and safety, concerts, protect the environment, teach literacy and education for young kids. They form our social safety net. It's about the quality of life and standard that makes a place attractive to come to and maybe relocate a business to. And the value of volunteer hours is figured at $20 an hour. Non-profits are deeply connected to the community. They are natural collaborative partners, and they are innovative and creative."

Gila EDA Chairman Jeremiah Garcia noted that non-profits are partners to businesses. "Almost all of us are part of a non-profit."

The next speaker was Faye McCalmont, Mimbres Region Arts Council executive director. "I've been here 20 years, but the arts council was founded 35 years ago. I thank all the businesses for their support. Without the support of businesses, we couldn't do what we do. And without the volunteers, it would not be possible."

"The Arts Council programs are very strong and will continue after I leave in a couple of weeks," McCalmont said. "The board is searching for the next executive director. The organization is in a strong position, with about $325,000 annually in revenues. We have a diverse income stream, including grants, memberships, merchandise sales and business sponsorships.

"We just wrapped up the best Blues and Bikes Festival ever," she continued. "It brought a lot of money into the community. One downtown person said it was the best day ever for the business. We expanded the event this year, and it will continue. Pickamania! is set for the second weekend of September. The musical arts programs are in place. I hope, with this strong foundation, that fresh eyes can come in and build the organization. We have the Folk Series, the Fine Arts Fridays sponsored by PNM, which serves all the Grant County, Deming and Lordsburg schools. We have Chocolate Fantasia, the Black Tie Ball, and the Youth Mural Program, which now has more than 50 murals in the county. It fosters pride in the community."

She congratulated Fred Barraza for his appointment to the New Mexico Arts Commission. "We will have two arts commissioners from Grant County, with John Rohovec being the one already on the commission. Eric Renner and Nancy Spencer for their pinhole photography have been awarded the Governor's Excellence in the Arts Award. We have five or six who have received it from this community."

McCalmont said events would continue to grow. "Paul Leetmae of Lawley Toyota has seen the vision we have and will be the premier sponsor of Pickamania! The event has the potential to be as large as the Blues Festival."

"And now what I will be doing next," McCalmont said. "I will be the special assistant for cultural affairs, working for Western New Mexico University and with the arts council."

Bruce Ashburn of PNM, which sponsors Fine Arts Fridays, and he is also a member of the MRAC Board, said he has seen first hand what Fine Arts Fridays do. "They kids were restless before the program, but as soon as the music started, they calmed down. After one session, a kid stood up and yelled: 'We need to do this every day.' We reach about 10,000 students for $1.70 each."

George Julian Dworin, Silver City Arts and Cultural District and Tourism director, said his group manages the Murray Ryan Visitor Center. "I was looking out the door, when a student who worked on our mural brought her family to see it. When they left, I saw her touch the mural like it was a spiritual moment."

Leetmae asked when the new MRAC director would be announced.

"I've never been part of as exhaustive a search as we've done," Ashburn said. "We've spent 100s of hours. We may have a candidate we will introduce to the community, in, we hope, no more than a month, and it could be as quick as a couple of weeks."

Maureen Craig, MRAC board member, said a task force has been planning the next stage, so the arts council would be prepared when Faye made her decision. "Kudos to that small group that has been working since a year ago May."

Kevin Cook, Freeport-McMoRan community development manager, said he would put on his funder's cap. "When we get a request to help fund an event, we see the short-term impact, but we also look at the long-term sustainability. Do you capture the numbers of those you said say: 'We've been coming to the Blues Festival for 16 years and we plan to retire here?"

"We catalogue it," McCalmont said, "but it's hard to quantify. We have anecdotal evidence that many move here and some even bring in their businesses. There are so many ways that the arts draw in people."

Ashburn said MRAC asks the hotels to gather the information of whether people have come for the event and what their zip code is.

"Congratulations, Faye on moving on," Arlene Schadel, Gila EDA coordinator, said. "I've been a part of Fine Arts Fridays. You don't hear much about the program, but the kids love it. I'm so thrilled to be a part of it, because it's so important to these kids and thanks to PNM for sponsoring."

L.J. Lundy, Realtor with Enchantment Realty, said Realtors always ask how people found out about Silver City. "We're not tracking it, but we could."

Ted Pressler said the area has wonderful festivals, "but there's never a recap of what happened. We need more after the event."

Garcia said he was glad the McCalmonts were not moving away. "You have the support of your silent partner, Floyd. He had been beside you the whole way."

Skip Thacker of the Gila EDA board asked that McCalmont's successor be introduced to the Roundtable.

The third speaker was Lee Gruber, co-owner with her husband David DelJunco of Sygyzy Tile and director of the Clay Festival, said she would love to come back to the Roundtable in July to tell more about the festival, since time was running short at this meeting.

"I see arts and culture as a real economic driver," Gruber said. "As a business owner, I think about development and how to get a festival off the ground and figure out the sustainability. To me arts and culture foster pride in the community, more in a way that children and the community can understand and even more when a student and family can feel a piece of clay.

"I think of collaboration," she continued. "I ask for sponsors, and this year I worried about charging fees for workshops. They filled within a month.

"We can bring an internationally known potter like Jack Troy, who has a six-page résumé," Gruber said. "He gives international workshops. He will come to Silver City and when he goes back to his community, he will spread the word about this community. "

She said this year's Clay Festival would kick off again with the Poker Tournament. "Whether you play or not, come and be there. To have business owners beside hippies and students and professors, it's special. The best chips are made of clay, you know."

"The workshops, speakers, tours and demonstrations begin on July 27 through Aug. 2," Gruber said.

She explained that potter Jack Troy, and because of his status, in collaboration with Western, the workshops will be held at the Ceramics Department, with a rebuilt kiln. "We had a limit of 16 people, and we have a waiting list. It's a five-day workshop from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for $250 each. Troy will also have an exhibition at Bear Mountain Lodge."

Chelsea Hotchkiss, owner of Insurance First said she has started an additional business. "Boutique Air flies into Grant County Airport, but there is no one there to pick up people. I started a business just in Grant County to take anyone from the airport for $40 one way, even to Cliff if they want. We prefer reservations at least an hour in advance, but if the person is willing to wait, we can be there in about 20 minutes."

Schadel congratulated Hotchkiss and said it was great to see young entrepreneurs see a need and fill it.

Garcia said he had a challenge for Grant County. "I see commercials on television on Carlsbad, T or C, Santa Rosa. Why don't we have commercials?" He asked Dworin if funding could be sought for TV commercials.

"In the Visitor Center, we have a new 50-inch monitor," Dworin said. "We have nine different segments we show about Silver City and the area. They have aired in a market that reaches all of New Mexico and into Texas. They were made for the New Mexico True campaign. They have yielded results, and we have had some exposure."

He invited peopled to attend the following Monday, June 29, from 6-7:30 p.m., at the WNMU Global Resource Center, a forum on the Future of Tourism for Grant County. "A lot is already in place, but we want to look at tourism through the eyes of the visitor."

Schadel said they had a new RV. "I was Googling campgrounds in the area. And nothing is listed except for City of Rocks. We need to promote the Gila National Forest."

Dworin said the ACD and Tourism have grant funding in partnership with the GNF, as well as with the state Tourism Department, National Parks and others making up five groups.

"There are 401 national park associated locations in the U.S.," Dworin said. "The Cliff Dwelling is one of the least utilized."

The owner of 360 Computers and Satellite has moved to a new location next to Daylight Donuts.

Gruber announced she had received a grant to put a green space parklet in front of Syzygy Tile. "We will lease the area from the Kennedy family for $1 a year."

Christine Logan, New Mexico Economic Development Department regional representative, said a conference was coming up that would combine civil engineers and community planners to push economic development. "Emily Schilling of the COG and I did a presentation to site selectors. Priscilla Lucero of the COG gave a presentation on water issues before the FundIt group, made up of many state agencies and COGs. The Economic Development Department has lots of money for capital improvements. They must be economy-based in that you are exporting a product or service, manufacturing anything that you export to bring in other people's money. You need to export more than 50 percent out of state. It excludes extractive industries."

Thacker announced the Bridge Community, which is planning a facility with a continuum of care from assisted living to hospice, would have a booth at Gough Park on July Fourth.

Ashburn reminded people the parade would take a different route, down Hudson Street from the bridge project to Daylight Donuts.

Jane Janson, Small Business Development Center director, announced the New Mexico Economic Development Course, which will take place July 19-23.

Pressler announced the Southwest Festival of the Written Word would take place in October. "We are asking for sponsors. The event covers writing by southwest authors."

"It's amazing the slate of brilliant and timely authors," Lois Fuller of the SWFWW said. "I feel this is a major contribution to the Silver City economy."