LACDC Executive Director Lauren McDaniel speaking June 7 to Kiwanis. Courtesy/Kiwanis

KIWANIS News:

Lauren McDaniel, executive director of the Los Alamos Commerce and Development Corporation (LACDC), spoke June 7 to Kiwanis and explained its goals and activities.

The LACDC is a private, non-profit organization with a sustainable economic development focus with a mission that includes serving the business community, creating and retaining jobs, and diversifying the economy.

She provided a list of programs the group supports. It included the Chamber of Commerce, the Los Alamos MainStreet program, the LA Creative District, Project Y Co-work Space, Discover Los Alamos, and the Small Business Center.

One of their newest programs involves efforts by the LACDC and Los Alamos National Lab to foster science by providing two-year fellowships allowing invested people to work with LANL scientists to commercialize their scientific breakthroughs.

LACDC also sponsors lighter more fun-oriented activities. These include several parades, Science Fest, Trick or Treat on Main Street, Farmers Markets, Newcomers’ Monday Mixers and Tuesdays at the Pond.

She acknowledged the challenges facing the organization which include a population increase and a housing crisis, lack of downtown office space, decline in retail and commercial storefronts, and aging infrastructure. 

McDaniel said that the LACDC “wants to make Los Alamos a place where people want to gather and a place where they want to start a business.”