NEWS RELEASE - May 20, 2008

S.E.E.D. is touting city's MVP Status at International Wind Conference

   Though not large in terms of actual population, Sweetwater — and Nolan County in general — is largely recognized as the wind energy capital of the world.
   And at the American Wind Energy Association International Windpower Conference to be held June 1-4 in Houston, the city plans to take advantage of that notoriety by advertising what it refers to as its MVP (Most Valuable Producer) status of the wind energy industry.
   As one of over 760 booth vendors at the four-day event, Sweetwater will be represented by both the Sweetwater Enterprise for Economic Development (SEED) and Texas State Technical College-West Texas.
   SEED executive director Ken Becker said Sweetwaters booth will be one of only four at the conference representing either a city, state or regional organization instead of a private company. Becker said he hopes to be able to attract light manufacturing and wind service industries to Sweetwater while in Houston.
   "We just think it will be a good thing to get Sweetwater's name out in front of everybody," Becker said. "We want to remind everybody that we have over 1,000 (wind) towers, and seven different types of towers in this region. It would be a great place to locate a service company."
   Becker said TSTC will be a "major" part of the booth. "We can't sell Sweetwater without trying to sell the training opportunities (in the wind industry) that TSTC also gives us," he said.
   SEED has already done some pre-conference publicity  through the use of mailers. At the con-ference, Sweetwater’s booth will include several “giveaway” items, including baseball card type “Sweetwater Statistics” which will advertise the city and its importance to the wind industry, as well as handing out small bags of Cracker Jacks.