Silver City and Grant County

New Mexico Business Journal, Feb, 1998 by Stephen Siegfried

"Most ranchers in this part of the state run cow-and-calf operations, and the past three years have not been good," said David Ogilvie, past president of the Grant County Cattle growers. Beef prices have almost doubled over last year's, and cattlemen are getting about a dollar a pound for stock in markets that the year before brought between 50 and 60 cents. "Numbers are down and the demand for beef is up (nationwide)," said Ogilvie, who expects the trend on higher beef prices to continue. "It's cyclic. We've had some lean years. The good ones usually follow along."

The Silver City/Grant County Economic Development Corp. (SIGRED) is doing its part to boost the economy. "Our efforts to assist existing business and to attract new business are beginning to show tangible results," said executive director Linda Kay Jones. "Recruitment (of businesses considering relocation) is a long-term strategy, but we are seeing more qualified prospects than ever before."

SIGRED, through its Small Business Development Center, actively aids clients interested in starting their own businesses. Located on the campus of Western New Mexico University, SIGRED has other irons in the fire, Jones said. Under its corporate umbrella, it manages the area office of the Industry Network Corporation, which conducts market surveys and feasibility studies for manufacturing businesses and brokers requests for consulting services. Other projects include a NAFTA Institute proposal for a grant to build a $3 million Global Resource Center at WNMU; putting together client packages for industrial prospects considering relocation into the area; and developing acreage for an industrial park.

Cheryl Pink, an economic developer employed by SIGRED, credits the town and county government for taking the steps necessary to lay the groundwork for job recruitment.

"The comprehensive plan and a stronger effort to organize our future growth will help Silver City market for new jobs," Pink said. "Unless we have a plan to accommodate base job growth, we can't effectively recruit."

Revenues from gross receipts taxes and lodgers' taxes - broad-based indicators that evidence a general upward trend for area businesses - have risen steadily during the past four years, said Dennis Hunter, the town's finance director. During the first five months of the 1997 fiscal year, gross receipts received back from the state are up 10.3 percent, Hunter said, "which tells me more money is being spent in area businesses, and suggests we're getting more tourists and residents."

RELATED ARTICLE: Snappy Mart Stores

One enterprise that seems immune to economic cycles is Snappy Mart Stores Inc., a business that started out as a father and son operation with one convenience store 30 years ago. It ranked No, 92 on the 1997 New Mexico Private 100 list.

The company got its start in Silver City in 1964, and now has 10 stores and 80 employees in four southwestern New Mexico communities. "We just kind of grew as the area grew," said president and ceo Steve L, Little. "As far as the future goes, we're staying with that strategy, to add more stores based on growth (in the communities where we're established. We re not looking to move out of the area." Snappy Mart has convenience stores in Silver City, Deming, Hurley and Bayard.