When the New Mexico Legislature passed landmark legislation to cement Universal Child Care in state law, the nonprofit lender WESST was already geared up. The WESST childcare accelerator program was training and providing funding for new childcare businesses to meet the needs of parents of preschoolers. WESST, long established as an expert in business consulting, training, incubation and lending, expanded to helping individuals start and grow sustainable child care businesses.

CRECER, which stands for Capacity Resources for Enhancing Care, Excellence, and Resilience, is WESST’s child care initiative. CRECER means “to grow” in Spanish, and the program provides and leverages robust business development resources to increase the supply of high-quality licensed child care in New Mexico. With support from the New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department,  CRECER New Mexico offers numerous free resources and no-interest, no-fee loans that help child care providers bridge the gaps in Universal Child Care. 

WESST’s CRECER programs focus on increasing child care services, increasing the quality delivered by existing child care services, and helping operators access the state’s child care subsidy program.

WESST increases the supply of Quality Childcare for Children Ages 0–5 by offering targeted training and consulting. It addresses key financial and business management needs. And its lending program complements these services by giving childcare providers access to the capital needed to start, expand, and strengthen their businesses. 

WESST supports augmenting quality through child care accelerators that help childcare providers understand New Mexico’s FOCUS quality standards. It helps providers navigate the steps needed to advance within the state’s Quality Rating and Improvement System, known as QRIS.

WESST wants child care providers to understand and effectively utilize New Mexico’s Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP). CCAP, which increases access to affordable, quality childcare for eligible low- to moderate-income working families while supporting the financial sustainability of the provider, can be challenging for people unfamiliar with the program. WESST helps pave the way. 

In addition to CRECER, WESST collaboratively hosts child care accelerators throughout the state that help increase the supply of quality child care for families and improve economic opportunities for caregivers. WESST’s child care accelerators offer professional development, coaching, and expert support to grow high-quality programs. 

THE (Training Home Educators) New Mexico Accelerator is a child care business accelerator in collaboration between Growing Up New Mexico, WESST, and Partnership for Community Action (PCA). This six-month, bilingual program is for family and home educators throughout New Mexico. The Lea County Child Care Accelerator is a six-month virtual and in-person bilingual program for child care providers within Lea County.

In 2025 alone, 51 child care providers graduated from THE Accelerator. Of those 47 percent were new providers, while 53 percent were already licensed. Revenue is increasing for 48 percent of them, and 41 percent are caring for more children. Almost 90 percent reported that their care giving has improved.

In addition to THE Accelerator, one-on-one consulting, and business workshops, WESST completes the assistance circle through lending. Its small business loan program focuses on building relationships through critical business consulting, training, technical assistance, and other support services to its loan recipients in order to maximize their chances of success.

Read more about WESST, and find its lending program here. Learn more about the CRECER program and funding through the state’s initiatives.