Chamber Director Karl Terry talks events, new stadium

Editor’s note: The following is one in a series of continuing question-and-answer sessions with area leaders. Karl Terry is the director of the Roosevelt County Chamber of Commerce.

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Question: Is the Peanut Festival still on this year given the not-so-positive state of the area peanut industry?

Terry: “Yes. They still are getting peanuts here. It’s been quite a while coming (to the current state of things).

“It’s still very much part of our heritage and our history. It’s a fall festival. Not everything is totally connected to that.

“We’re going to continue the food fair portion, the fun run, the kid’s art galleries that are kind of connected to peanut. We’re going to keep them in place.”

Q: Have there been thoughts or discussions on how to monetize Eastern New Mexico University’s new football stadium?

Terry: “We’ve already got a restaurant going out there (Bird’s Nest) and there’s been some talk about another motel in that area. Those are the immediate growth things we’ll see.

“It’ll just help grow the gross receipts tax all the way around.”

Q: Can you provide an update on new business or any major renovations going on?

Terry: “The main thing I would say in that vein as far as activity for businesses is we’ve almost got our downtown back in shape. We had portable buildings in front of the courthouse for a long time and those are gone and that’s helped relieve the parking crunch.

“And we’ve just been seeing a steady growth from Cannon (Air Force Base). A lot of people are discovering Portales as a place to live so we’re steadily growing business that way and ENMU has had some good times as well and they’re increasing their student population and faculty.

“As far as new businesses moving in, it’s been mostly mom and pop type businesses.”

Q: Can you provide an update on some of the things going on with the Chamber?

Terry: “We had a great year with Leadership Portales in our first year and we’re now recruiting for our second year.

“Our goal is to build the leaders of the future. Some of these people are already in leadership roles or right on the cusp of it. They just need a little more acclimation to the community and the community’s needs and a forum to interact with other people

“The magic that we saw happening last year was great. We had some outstanding discussions on water and we had some good tours and workshops.

“The other thing we’ve done is our Portales Military Affairs Committee.

“We do several events through the year. We did Party with Portales in June, which is a dorm-type party that is held in the pavilion near the dorms. So it’s aimed at the people living on base. Just networking them with our businesses and showing our appreciation.

“In August, we have a golf scramble where we pair two community members with two military members at Portales Country Club. And that’s always been popular.

“And then we do our Cannon Appreciation Day in Portales at Alta Terra every year. This year it will be in September.

“And we partner with ENMU to do a Cannon appreciation at an ENMU football game and we also host military members at a POPS concert.”

Q: What, as Chamber director, has you excited and most nervous looking forward?

Terry: “I think one of the most exciting things is Leadership Portales. It shows we have lots of people that are concerned about the direction we’re going in and, by-in-large, they’re people who haven’t stepped forward yet.

“They’re going to be the people who are going to shape our community.

“We’ve had a lot of budget problems with the county and city government. We’re going to face some challenges in funding government for the next few years.

“That’s one of our main concerns, is that we have good leadership going through; that and make sure our community stays engaged in a positive way as they tackle those problems.”

— Compiled by Rick White, correspondent