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Tuesday, January 16, 2007

Economic Division Incurs Unplanned Costs for Design Week

Journal Staff Report
    The city of Santa Fe Community Economic Development Division incurred $38,000 in unplanned costs for Design Week 2006, according to a December 26 memo issued by city economist Craig Fiels.
    Design Week, held last year from October 22 to 29, is a city-sponsored economic initiative consisting of workshops, panels, lectures and exhibits which promote various design disciplines.
    The city's Economic Development Division's costs for Design Week were originally projected at $285,000. That amount was allotted this summer to marketing group Grace Communications to stage the event.
    Final expenses for the Division were $323,320, however. According to Fiels' memo, "unexpected problems involving the venue (El Museo) resulted in higher costs for venue rental, security, transportation and parking."
    The total budget for the event was $446,000. In addition to the Economic Development Division's contribution, approximately $103,500 was garnered from corporate, business and individual sponsorships— more than double the city's initial fundraising expectations. Around $24,000 came from in-kind donations.
    Other income included $15,000 from exhibitor booths— half the amount of original projections— and $19,000 from advertising sales.
    An evaluation of Design Week will be completed by the Bureau of Business & Economic Research at the University of New Mexico by the end of the month.
    A partial list of Design Week sponsors:
   

$10,000 contributors: Blue Energy; City of Santa Fe Water Division; New Mexico Energy & Minerals Department, Thornburg Companies, New Mexico Department of Financial Administration-Transit Oriented Development Grant, Santa Fe Area Home Builders Association.
   

Other sponsors: New Mexico Tourism Department, $8,000; New Mexico Economic Development Department, $6,000; La Puerta, $5,000; PNM, $5,000; The Lofts, $5,000; New Mexico Bank and Trust, $2,500; American Clay, $2,500; Dahl Plumbing, $2,500; McCune Foundation, $2,000; Gaye Dillingham/Living Green, $1,500; Los Alamos National Bank, $1,500; Architects, Designers & Contractors Referral Service, $1,500.