A slowing economy isn't enough to stop the Pahrump Alliance Valley Economic Development group from trying to drum up business for the town.

The town's official economic development organization recently went to Anaheim, Calif., in January to attend the West Coast Advanced Design and Manufacturing Event.

The event was basically a convention for business owners to shop around for new location or a place to open another branch of their business.

The five PAVED members who showed up came duly prepared to tell the attendees all about Pahrump.

A brochure touting the advantages and offerings of the town to business was distributed at PAVED's booth, where a TV also screened a DVD telling people about the town.

The organization also lured prospects with a raffle that included prizes given by local businesses and an MP3 player.

About 30 businesses specifically looking to relocate closer to Las Vegas or in Southwest Nevada left their cards at the booth, and the staff at PAVED has been actively following up on those leads.

The organization has been sending interested businesses a letter and a one-page questionnaire that helps PAVED conduct a cost analysis of where their business is now and what it would cost if they staked out space in the Pahrump Valley.

Within a week of the show, one interested business owner contacted PAVED and said he and his wife came to see the town for itself and loved it.

At last report, all the entrepreneurial couple has to do is sell their home in California and Pahrump will be home to Frogs, Frills, and Daffodils (a children's clothing store).

The PAVED representatives also began making plans to improve the town's showing at other similar events.

They intend to have a power point slide-show projected on to the back of their booth at future events as well as a "Discover Pahrump" handbook that would include information that businesses frequently ask for including the town's median income, trained workforce, education levels, and shovel ready sites.