0001|                          A JOINT MEMORIAL
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0002| RECOGNIZING THE CONTRIBUTION OF SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTERS TO
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0003| THE STATE ECONOMY AND SUPPORTING AN INCREASE IN FUNDING FOR THEIR
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0004| EXPANSION.
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0005|                                  
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0006|      WHEREAS, the commission on higher education administers the
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0007| eighteen small business development centers, which are located in
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0008| various cities around the state, including Carlsbad, Grants and Los
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0009| Alamos; and
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0010|      WHEREAS, the purpose of the small business development centers is
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0011| to strengthen the economy of New Mexico by providing direct
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0012| assistance, entrepreneurial education and resource references to help
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0013| the creation and expansion of new businesses; and
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0014|      WHEREAS, some of the services provided by the centers include
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0015| technical assistance in creating business plans, minority business
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0016| development, access to capital, marketing methods and many other
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0017| services focused on helping the small business owner succeed or expand
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0018| his business; and
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0019|      WHEREAS, the success of the small business development centers is
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0020| impressive; from January to June 1996, the centers were responsible
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0021| for the opening of one hundred twenty-two new businesses, which
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0022| created four hundred twenty full-time jobs and one hundred thirty-
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0023| eight part-time jobs, enhancing the economy and quality of life for
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0024| all New Mexicans; and
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0025|      WHEREAS, funding for the small business development centers has
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0001| remained constant, while costs and demand for services have increased
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0002| dramatically;
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0003|      NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF
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0004| NEW MEXICO that the legislature support an increase in funding for the
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0005| small business development centers, which will in turn directly
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0006| contribute to a healthy state economy; and
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0007|      BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the commission on higher education
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0008| and the state director of the small business development centers
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0009| report the status of the centers to the appropriate interim
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0010| legislative committee by October 15, 1997; and
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0011|      BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be sent
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0012| to the commission on higher education, the state director of the
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0013| small business development centers and the secretary of economic
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0014| development.                                           
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