5/30 Business digest

Orbit activates wells in Roosevelt County

Orbit Petroleum has activated seven oil and gas wells in its Chaveroo Field in Roosevelt County in the last month, bringing the company’s total active wells in New Mexico to 35, according to a news release from Orbit.

Production increases will be reported after the wells are on for 60 days or more, Mike Hughes, production superintendent for Orbit, reported in the release.

Gilbert Lease Services is under contract to assist Orbit activate 25 wells over the next several months, according to the release.

Orbit Petroleum, based in Oklahoma City, owns 3,500 acres in Chaves and Roosevelt counties, and operates 86 oil and gas wells in the Chaveroo Field.

Loans for small businesses available

Loans are available to help small businesses in Curry, Roosevelt and 31 other New Mexico counties offset economic losses caused by reduced revenue to farmers and ranchers brought on by drought and high winds, according to news releases from the U.S. Small Business Administration and the office of U.S. Sen. Jeff Bingaman, R-N.M.

Small businesses may qualify for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) of up to $1.5 million to help meet financial obligations and operating expenses that could have been met had the disaster not occurred, according to the news releases.

By law, SBA makes EIDLs available when the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture designates an agricultural disaster.

Businesses primarily engaged in farming or ranching are ineligible for SBA disaster assistance.

For information and application forms, call (800) 659-2955 or visit SBA’s Web site at http://www.sba.gov/disaster.

The deadline to apply for the loans is Jan. 18, 2007.

Supervisor named for Prairie Meadows

Doyle Harris, director of nursing services at Retirement Ranch, has assumed additional responsibility as administrative supervisor for Prairie Meadows, an assisted living facility to be built adjacent to the nursing home.

Harris joined Retirement Ranch eight years ago. A native of Blanding, Utah, he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from Eastern New Mexico University in 1998.

Harris, his wife, Ileana, and their five children live in Clovis.

Business Digest is compiled by CNJ News Editor Jean Verlich. She may be contacted at 763-6991, or by e-mail:

[email protected]