Feb. 26, 2008 Business Digest

New pet store to open in Clovis

Petsense, a pet food and supply store, is scheduled to open next month in Clovis, the store’s regional manager said.

Tom Luba, manager for the stores in Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma, said the two-year old company looks to establish stores in towns of 30,000 or more population with “large pet populations and people who take care of their pets.”

“Clovis jumped right off the radar on all those things,” he said.

The store will not carry live pets, but will work with the local animal shelter and adoption groups to help find homes for pets, he said.

As far as pets go, “they’re always welcome to come into the store and bring their owners with them,” Luba said.

The 4,000 square-foot store at 3924 N. Prince St. will employ nine to 10 people, he said.

Xcel recognized for citizenship

Xcel Energy has been named one of the "100 Best Corporate Citizens" for 2008 by Corporate Responsibility Officer Magazine, according to a news release.

Xcel Energy is ranked 29 on the CRO list.

Xcel Energy employees, matched dollar-for-dollar by the company, contributed $15,000 to United Way of Eastern New Mexico in its latest funding campaign, said Wes Reeves, spokesman for Xcel Energy.

Xcel Energy also has a foundation that provides small community grants. Reeves said $8,000 was awarded to non-profit organizations in Clovis last year.

CRO magazine ranks large-cap, U.S.-headquartered, public companies based on efforts and performance in the areas of climate change, employee relations, environment, financial, governance, human rights, lobbying and philanthropy.

Seminar coming on base contracts

Clovis Community College is hosting a seminar on changes in doing business with the Air Force from 1-3 p.m. Wednesday in the CCC Town Hall.

The forum, sponsored by CCC’s Small Business Development Center, is for any business that bids, or intends to bid, on government contracts in relation to Cannon Air Force Base.

“The larger contracts are going to be (awarded) out of a regional office in San Antonio,” said Gordon Smith, a business specialist at CCC. “Right now, the contracts are awarded at Cannon.”

Topics covered will include reasons the Air Force is changing procedures, and how deadlines and application processes would be affected by the change.

Information: SBDC at 769-4136.

Business Digest is compiled by CNJ staff writer Sarah Meyer. She can be contacted at 763-6991, or by e-mail:

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