UNM-led trip to Fla. costs more than $20K

A three-day, two-night trip by University of New Mexico, city of Albuquerque and other officials cost more than $20,600, according to documents requested by the Journal.

UNM paid $15,554 of those costs, a spokeswoman said.

The January trip, to Gainesville, Fla., was an exploration of Innovation Square, a collaboration between the University of Florida and the private sector that aims to bring research and economic development together in one place.

It was attended by nine UNM employees and administrators, including president Bob Frank. Also present were Albuquerque Mayor Richard Berry, state Economic Development Secretary Jon Barela, Central New Mexico Community College president Kathie Winograd, Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce president Terri Cole, UNM regent Jamie Koch and others from the private sector.

Frank has been courting government officials and private sector leaders in hopes of one day creating something similar to Innovation Square in New Mexico. Frank has made economic development and UNM’s role in it a priority of his presidency, which began last spring.

“As we look at opportunities to further economic development in New Mexico, we engaged a team of city, county, state and private economic development leaders to travel to Gainesville to see firsthand how a community that brings research and business together inspires people to think bigger,” Frank said in a statement. “Planning for and attending this working conference is a wise investment that has already laid the foundation for collaboration among the University and its economic development partners.”

The two-night stay for everyone except Frank, who stayed three nights, cost $4,868. Roundtrip flights cost $10,138, or about $563 per person. That is the average going price for tickets purchased online, even a month in advance.

Meals, transportation and the cost of a conference totaled more than $5,200.

Berry, in a statement before the trip, said he supported partnerships that create economic opportunities.

“In the past, the city has not leveraged our opportunities with UNM to the fullest extent possible. President Frank and I are working to change that. This site visit is a way to engage best practices and study proven concepts that may very well move our flagship university and our city forward,” Berry said last month.

At a regents committee meeting last week, Frank said the trip had gone well.
— This article appeared on page C1 of the Albuquerque Journal