Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Local dealership in Top 100 — again
High Plains Harley-Davidson of Clovis has been named one of the Top 100 dealerships across North America for retail design and merchandising approaches — for the second year in a row.
Dealernews, a business-to-business magazine for powersports retailers, has named the Top 100 for 14 years.
“It was the toughest competition ever,” said Mary Slepicka, editorial director, in a news release. “These motorcycle and powersports dealers have raised the bar when it comes to unique store designs, retail displays and customer service.”
The winning retailers were honored Feb. 13 in Indianapolis, and their entries will be showcased in the Top 100 Yearbook to be published in July by Dealernews.
The magazine’s Web site is
www.dealernews.com
New business size rules considered
Small Business Administra-tion rules for the sizes of businesses may change, if proposed new rules are instituted, according to an SBA news release.
SBA spokesman Hector V. Barreto said size will be determined by number of employees in almost all cases, and the number of size categories will be reduced from 37 to 10.
“The rules we are proposing today will make all small business owners’ dealings with the government simpler and easier and will help the SBA reach more small businesses,” he said.
The rule change is listed online at the SBA’s Office of Size Standards Web page at
www.sba.gov/size (and click on “What’s New?”)
Agriculture industry sizes will continue to be measured by receipts, as required by law. Size standards for small businesses will range between 50 and 1,500 employees, depending on the industry and the SBA program.
Public comments on the rule change may be sent via e-mail at [email protected], and are due by May 18.
Top jobs poised for growth reported
Fastest growing occupations in New Mexico include computer support specialists and computer software engineers, according to a report from the New Mexico Department of Labor.
Also on the list are social and human service assistants, special education teachers at the elementary level, speech-language pathologists, respiratory therapists, cardiovascular technologists and techs, diagnostic medical sonographers, medical assistants and physical therapist aides.
The most openings are for janitors and cleaners; elementary and secondary school teachers; executive secretaries and administrative assistants; security guards; maids and housekeeping cleaners; counter attendants; laborers and freight, stock and material movers; computer support specialists; and nursing aides, orderlies and attendants.
The unemployment rate in Curry County in January was 3.6 percent, a slight improvement from the 4.1 percent reported in January 2003.
Roosevelt County’s unemployment rate was 2.8 percent in January, unchanged from 2003.
Unemployment in Quay County was 5.6 percent in January, also unchanged from the year before.
Statewide, the unemployment rate was 5.9 percent in January, improved slightly from 6.1 percent reported the same month in 2003.
Details about New Mexico’s economic status can be found on the Department of Labor’s site:
www.dol.state.nm.us
Small business workshops set
Workshops are planned in April and May at Lubbock’s Small Business Development Center at Texas Tech University.
These workshops include “New Taxpayer Workshop,” “Financial Management Series for Small Business Owners,” “SBA Financing Workshop,” “State Contracting,” both English and Spanish versions of “Starting Your Own Business,” and “Ins and Outs of a Home-Based Business.”
For reservations and additional information, call Sandra at 806-745-1637 or send mail to 2579 S. Loop 289, Suite 114, Lubbock, TX 79423.
The business digest is compiled by CNJ Staff Writer Glen Seeber. He can be contacted at 763-6991 or:
