The New Mexico Small Business Assistance Program was enabled by state legislation to bring the “technology and expertise of the national laboratories to small businesses in New Mexico to promote economic development in the state…” In exchange for a tax credit, New Mexico’s national laboratories and their partners work one-on-one with small businesses and entrepreneurs to solve problems that are often seen as roadblocks to business growth. NMSBA Program assistance ranges from product analysis and testing to inventory and manufacturing management, with myriad others in between. Businesses can learn about the program at an event in Santa Fe from 2:00 to 4:00 pm on May 20, 2025.
Assistance offered by the NMSBA program comes from scientists and experts at Los Alamos National Lab, Sandia National Laboratories, and partner organizations. Partners include New Mexico Manufacturing Extension Partnership, the University of New Mexico, New Mexico Tech, and New Mexico State University.
To receive NMSBA assistance, the business must be for-profit, located in New Mexico, considered a small business as defined by U.S. Small Business Administration guidelines, and file gross receipts taxes to the State of New Mexico using their New Mexico Tax ID number. Only U.S. owned and operated businesses qualify.
The NMSBA Program does not provide cash or equipment, and the laboratories do not give endorsement or certification. THC and related products, such as hemp, are excluded from the program.
Businesses seeking assistance must apply through the NMSBA program portal. Individual projects, defined as those for a single business entity, are accepted year-round. Leveraged projects, which allow multiple entities to apply together for a larger project, are accepted twice each year during specified application windows in the spring and fall. Leveraged projects offer up to $120,000 of assistance value, while individual projects are capped at $40,000.
The May 20, 2025, event is billed as “A Unique Matchmaking Event for NM Businesses & Los Alamos Scientists” and is focused on businesses in the Earth and Environmental Sciences. Event organizers said this includes AI, machine learning, energy (in all forms), mining, geology, agriculture, acoustics, chemistry, big data, GIS, modeling, hydrology, and more. However, companies of all types are encouraged to register and take part in the event.
Participating businesses will meet one-on-one with multiple scientists and discover how laboratory expertise might align with their needs. After the matchmaking portion, the floor will be open for casual networking, providing opportunities to reconnect with the scientists who sparked their interest.
Since 2000, Sandia National Laboratories and Los Alamos National Laboratory have provided $85.1 million in technical assistance to 3,340 businesses, which has enabled 12,199 jobs to be created and retained across the state’s 33 counties. (As of 2023.)
Read more on this website about the NMSBA Program.