Nvent Marketing Partnership, a student-run marketing agency at The University of New Mexico, plans to host two information sessions for those interested in a career with the FBI. The sessions will take place from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. and from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. November 9 at the UNM Student Union Building.

"The career opportunities with government agencies like the FBI are in high demand, especially because of the benefits that they provide," Natalie Rogers, program coordinator of UNM Anderson School Career Services, said. "The job security that they provide certainly outweighs any job security that private sector careers offer. FBI career opportunities are great for individuals with diverse educational backgrounds."

Those who attend the free event will have the chance to view a presentation by an FBI special agent that will detail the opportunities and benefits that a career with the FBI offers. Attendees also will be able to collect additional literature and promotional materials.

Currently, opportunities are available for special agents and professional staff members. Anyone interested in a special agent position should have accounting/finance, engineering, computer science/information technology, science/math, intelligence, law enforcement, investigation and military experience.

Fluency in critical languages, such as Arabic, Chinese, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Punjabi, Russian, Spanish and Vietnamese also is highly-valued. Those seeking professional support positions can have experience in a variety of fields.

The FBI was established in 1908 to protect and defend the United States against terrorist and foreign intelligence threats. The FBI currently employs more than 30,000 workers at its headquarters in Washington, D.C. and throughout its 56 field offices and more than 60 international offices.

Gov. Bill Richardson recently announced that the State of New Mexico will receive more than $8.1 million in federal stimulus funds to improve energy efficiency in counties, cities and towns throughout the state. In total, 21 energy projects have been chosen to receive the money.

"With the help of stimulus money, counties, cities and towns across the state will be able to move forward with energy saving projects like installing solar power, energy efficient lighting and other equipment to make public buildings more energy efficient," Richardson said. "These projects will conserve a significant amount of energy and will save taxpayer dollars."

The projects will be funded through the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program, a new program managed by the U.S. Department of Energy. The program will be administered locally by the New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department's Energy Conservation and Management Division.

The division used a competitive process to select projects based on ARRA goals to create and retain jobs, save energy, reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and increase renewable energy production.

"'These projects will help retain and create jobs and improve the economy around the state," Joanna Prukop, secretary of the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department, said. "With energy efficiency as the main objective of this new program, we anticipate reports of significant energy and cost savings from these projects for local governments around the state."

The highest amount any county, city or town will receive is $500,000. Entities to receive that amount include:

• City of Santa Fe - to upgrade the energy efficiency of seven city buildings
• Bernalillo County - to audit and upgrade the energy efficiency of county buildings
• City of Clovis - to install a 55 kilowatt solar system in the civic center
• Union County - to take energy efficiency measures at the county courthouse
• Mora County - to take energy efficiency measures at the county courthouse

Other entities to receive funding include: City of Lordsburg, Los Alamos County, City of Tucumcari, City of Espanola, Town of Taos, Village of Grady, City of Las Cruces, Hidalgo County, Quay County, Town of Clayton, City of Bloomfield, Santa Fe County, Town of Silver City, Town of Edgewood, City of Deming and the Solid Waste Bureau.

Gov. Bill Richardson recently announced that the hiring freeze and other cost saving measures he implemented during 2008 have saved the State of New Mexico millions of dollars in payroll costs. Biweekly state payroll alone has decreased by $1.3 million since November 2008, when the initiatives were implemented.

"I am disturbed that some lawmakers have seriously mischaracterized the results of these important cost cutting measures," Richardson said. "The truth is, there have been real results and savings to the State of New Mexico. In just the past 11 months, we’ve cut payroll by millions while making sure services to New Mexicans are not affected."

New Mexico currently has 1,300 fewer employees than when the hiring freeze took effect. Other cost cutting measures implemented by Richardson through June 2010 include:

• freezing salaries of all employees
• 2 percent pay cut to all employees effective March 2009
• no exempt comp time
• no overtime for non-essential employees
• no exempt buyout of unused annual leave
• freezing upward reclassification

New Mexico's government industry as a whole has been doing relatively well despite the state cost cutting efforts. The industry had a total non-farm employment of 199,400 workers during September, according to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is up from 198,100 workers during August and a .6 percent increase from last year.

And even though New Mexico's overall unemployment rate increased last month, the state managed to add some jobs on a monthly basis. During September, the state saw its unemployment rate increase from 7.4 percent to 7.7 percent, which is lower than the national unemployment rate of 9.8 percent.

The state had a total non-farm employment of 817,700 workers during September, which is up from 814,000 workers during August, but a 3.8 percent decrease from last year.