FOR IMMEDIA TE RELEASE
January 14, 2007
Contact: Julie Habiger (505) 662-8083
Los Alamos, NM -On November 6, the Los Alamos County Council approved award of a contract to the Regional DevelopmentCorporation (RDC) to prepare a regional economic development strategic plan for the Northern New Mexico I'Progress through Partnering" alliance. On January 10th, the RDC and the County hosted a large kick-off event at Mision y Convento in Espariola to
celebrate the new alliance.
The event was well attended with over 50 representativesfrom the six regional partners (City of
Santa Fe, City of Espar1ola, Town of Taos, Santa Fe County, Rio Arriba County and Taos County)
plus other community leaders at the state and federal level.
Espanola Mayor Joe Maestas welcomed attendees to the celebration and to his community "We all share a
"This is a very significant event for the whole region," Maestas vision for a diversified economy for the region."told the audience.
Maestas introduced a local authority familiar with the artists and beautiful artwork inside the facility,
which is a replica of the original Spanish mission built in the heart of the town. He spoke to the
audience about the significance of the murals and carvings, including a panel depicting the times
and economic developmentof the valley, some history of Northern NM, and finally, a mural that
depicted World War II and the Manhattan Project that was the reason for Los Alamos' creation -
tying the murals together to the Jan. 10 event and the fact that all of the communities
together to create a new history and new future.
Following the informative presentation,Los Alamos County AdministratorMax Baker gave an
overview of the County's objectives for the REDI (Regional Economic DevelopmentInitiative)
program, and voiced his desire for the plan to be a vision that turns into reality in the years to
come.
"This will give us a strategic plan to guide us for the next 20 years," Baker said, adding that even if
many of those in the room might not be around in 20 years for the next celebration, he hoped that
future leaders would look back and remember today as "the day it all started".