Along with many businesses in Artesia, the Chamber of Commerce celebrates 100 years of serving its community.
The City of Artesia was officially incorporated in 1905, two years after being named for the plentiful water flowing from tapped wells that attracted developers to the area. With the discovery of oil by 1924, Artesia became a bit of a boom town. It was shortly thereafter that a group of businessmen could see the need to support fledgling businesses and attract new business to the area thus forming Artesia Chamber of Commerce.
While the details of the Chamber’s early story are not well documented, during the last 40+ years the Chamber has had just three executive directors – Richard Price, who served the business community 12 years, followed by Hayley Klein, who is currently serving as the director and has been since 2006. Dave Malkowski, who passed away in 2009, served the Chamber during the 12 years prior to Price.
During Price’s tenure, the Chamber experienced significant growth and celebrated some great wins. Price was an integral part of the effort to recruit Walmart to Artesia, which helped keep shoppers in town and attracted shoppers from neighboring communities. He also formed Artesia Vocational Training Center, which saw the start of a CDL training program and digital media training program.
He worked with the City to pass an ordinance to bring the state Local Economic Development Act to Artesia, which provided incentives to attract new business and assist local business growth. In the years since that ordinance was passed, many local projects have been successfully supported. During the last years of Price’s tenure, he oversaw the effort to acquire, renovate, and expand the old railway depot for the creation of a visitors’ center and new Chamber offices, which has become a cornerstone of the community.
During Price’s tenure, the Chamber experienced significant growth and celebrated some great wins. Price was an integral part of the effort to recruit Walmart to Artesia, which helped keep shoppers in town and attracted shoppers from neighboring communities. He also formed Artesia Vocational Training Center, which saw the start of a CDL training program and digital media training program.
He worked with the City to pass an ordinance to bring the state Local Economic Development Act to Artesia, which provided incentives to attract new business and assist local business growth. In the years since that ordinance was passed, many local projects have been successfully supported. During the last years of Price’s tenure, he oversaw the effort to acquire, renovate, and expand the old railway depot for the creation of a visitors’ center and new Chamber offices, which has become a cornerstone of the community.
In the years since Price’s time at the Chamber, Klein has focused energy on advocacy, organizing an annual trip of business leaders and elected officials to Washington, D.C., and an annual legislative reception in Santa Fe. Coming from a MainStreet background, she was part of the team that applied for and was awarded an Arts & Cultural District by the State Economic Development Department, which led to the addition of community-wide events, such as the annual Red Dirt Black Gold since 2015. She has continued the effort in economic development, using the Local Economic Development Act to pursue opportunities for business growth, housing, and general quality of life.
Artesia Chamber of Commerce has worked through many highs and lows in the community – the growth of the Federal Law Enforcement Center, many waves within the oil and gas industry, the development of one of the state’s strongest MainStreet programs, the coming and going of the dairy industry, and so much more. Through it all, chamber teams have tried to be nimble and always focused on the best for the community and standing up front as Artesia’s loudest cheerleaders and greatest welcoming committee. In addition, hundreds of community leaders have volunteered to provide leadership and guidance to the Chamber staff, making it one of the best supported chambers in the state.
Help us celebrate over the next several months. Join us at the Artesia Chamber of Commerce banquet on October 16. We will celebrate our birthday and many of the businesses who have been there alongside us all the way.
If you have stories to share, can tell us about your time with the Chamber, a previous staff person or board member, or have pictures to share, we would love to hear and see! Call, email, or come by!
Article written by Hayley Klein and originally published in Focus on Artesia 2025 Fall edition.
Hayley Klein
Hayley Klein is the Executive Director of Artesia Chamber of Commerce, where she has served since 2006. She also serves as the Eddy County Commissioner. Hayley works on community and economic development projects, advocates for civic engagement, and supports efforts to create a better business climate and quality of life for Artesia. Before her work at the Chamber, she was the manager of Artesia MainStreet.
