It's hard to believe that another school year is just about to begin. Hopefully, we all got in a little vacation before the kids head back to school.

This month we'll be working hard to roll out a school supply drive. Staff at the Laboratory have been so generous in ensuring that the needy kids in our community get the tools they may lack for school. We are also starting a new project called "LANL Laces" that will provide an opportunity to give less fortunate kids a new pair of shoes. The Community Programs Office will work closely with local schools to identify those that are in most need. Both are terrific activities to help ensure that our kids in our community have full backpacks on the first day of school.

Make it a great August!

The Laboratory and its major subcontractors recently had the pleasure of helping boost the regional economy.

In July, the Laboratory's Major Subcontractor Consortium contributed more than $100,000 to strengthen and diversify development efforts in northern New Mexico.

KSL Services, Burns and Roe Enterprises, C/P/E Environmental Services, and Oracle donated the money to a fund that provides grants to youth entrepreneurs (ages 13-22) who are developing businesses and also to providers of technical services.

Also in July, I attended the signing of the Laboratory's first-ever mentor-protege agreement with a small business, Tsay Construction, which is based in Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo.

Our aim is to help Tsay improve its ability to compete for contracts across the U.S. Department of Energy complex, not Los Alamos National Laboratory alone. The Lab will provide Tsay with technical assistance in marketing, proposal development, networking with potential customers, project management, and quality assurance. After demonstrated success, we look forward to entering into mentor-protege agreements with other northern New Mexico small businesses.

Los Alamos National Laboratory is proud to support such efforts. They're helpful to the people of northern New Mexico and, in the long run, benefit the Laboratory.

The first couple of weeks in August will contain a variety of activities to highlight the Laboratory's continued commitment to education. The activities will kick off with a poster session featuring Lab student research efforts and will end with the dedication of the National Science Education Center at the Los Alamos Research Park. Other activities include the following:

• July 26-Aug.10: LANL School Supply Drive, a campaign designed to collect school supplies for local children
• Aug. 1-9: LANL Laces, a new program that gives employees the opportunity to donate shoes to needy kids in our community
• Aug. 6: McDermot Scholars Tour of LANL's Bradbury Science Museum and other Lab sites
• Aug. 6-10: Institute Summer Schools (Materials Design, Engineering, and Information & Technology Institute)
• Aug. 7: Dedication of the National Science Education Center at the Los Alamos Research Park.

Eligible applicants include both public and private entities. Both entities must apply through their local government, and the local government must agree to serve as the fiscal agent. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and can be submitted at any time through the fiscal year.

The Economic Development Department estimates that the size of each grant and the range of the awards will vary according to the nature of the project. Actual awards will be based on proposed activities and the quality of the application.

For additional information about the Capital Projects Fund, please contact Fabian Trujillo at (505) 827-1734 or Fabian.Trujillo@state.nm.us.

"Swarm" is a hybrid computer application between a social- networking and an instant-messaging program. "Swarm" is breaking ground in the web applications area by allowing people to network, chat, and talk to each other all within the same program. It has an extremely powerful user interface, which makes the service easier to use than other instant messaging services or social networking sites currently available.

Through the YBGP, recipients are provided funding to run their business through the summer after they submit their business plans and go through an interview and selection process. At the end of the summer, the youth business is required to provide financial information which shows their profits and/or losses. LANL and the LANL Consortium of Major Subcontractors help support the YBGP.

One session of "CONNECT New Mexico" will be conducted each year and will include 50-65 young professionals within the ages of 25-40 from throughout the state. Each applicant must be nominated by a Leadership New Mexico graduate. For more information contact Leadership New Mexico at (505) 241-4800.

For more information, contact Michelle Hall at (505) 663-5365.

The Academy's first graduating class will be in 2009.

Among those recognized at the conference, were four of New Mexico's own:

• Holman's Inc., "Small Business Technology Firm of the Year"
• Tsay Corporation, "8(a) SDB Small Business Prime Contractor of the Year"
• Frank's Supply, "Small Business Subcontractor of the Year"
• North Wind, Inc., "Mentor-Protege Team Award"

All four businesses were nominated by a LANL contract administrator and are LANL suppliers. Kudos!

The study looked at factors such as ozone pollution and soot levels. Both Santa Fe and Espanola were two of the "Top 25 Cleanest U.S. Cities for Long-Term Particle Pollution."

The writers and editors of Outside magazine also named Santa Fe as the best town in the southwest to live in. It was selected because of its variety of choices for nearby, year-round outdoor recreation.

Travel writer Patricia Schultz also recommends Los Alamos as one of the 1,000 Places to Visit Before You Die. She recommended visiting the Bradbury Science Museum, Valles Caldera Federal Preserve, and Bandelier National Monument.

With this kind of recognition, northern New Mexico will no longer be a secret to the rest of the world!

Through pledges and donations from LANL employees, the 2007 scholarship fund raised $174,000 in contributions. With the LANS matching funds of $174,000, this brings the total raised to $348,000. This is LAESF's most successful campaign!

Business Kudos

• Kudos to all the recent Leadership New Mexico graduates.