The U.S. Small Business Administration highlights the impact of outstanding entrepreneurs, small business owners, and community members from all 50 states and U.S. territories during National Small Business Week. If you are an innovator, risk-taker, and job creator who pours your heart and soul into starting, growing, and expanding a business, you should nominate yourself for an award by December 22, 2025. Winners will be feted nationally and in New Mexico in early May 2026.
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Meet the Lenders
Several nonprofit small business lenders are hosting events to introduce themselves and their clients to small businesses and communities in New Mexico who may not be aware of the loans and services they provide.
Continue readingBuy Local to Help Your Community
Consumer studies and statistics are clear: There’s value in buying locally, especially during the holidays. Local businesses are more than twice as generous to hometown nonprofits that fulfill community-specific needs, according to the American Independent Business Alliance (AMIBA), and they are more loyal and accountable to the people they employ and live among. Local businesses are typically small, and this sector of the economy employs about half of the private sector workforce.
Shopping locally reduces environmental impacts associated with transportation. It supports businesses that offer products and services that reflect local tastes and a community’s distinctive character.
But the best reason to spend money at a local business rather than an absentee-owned business — including during the critical holiday shopping season — is the financial recycling that results.
Continue readingNative American Farmer Incubator
The Native Farmer and Rancher Project is a year-long program that provides comprehensive support to Native producers to help them develop their agricultural businesses. The program, which starts on November 20, is accepting applications until November 6, 2025.
Continue readingBe Part of the Pitch
The 2025 pitch competition for outdoor businesses, called Adventure Pitch, features eight companies battling to win $15,000 in prizes. It’s part of the annual event showcasing dozens of outdoor businesses and organizations from across New Mexico. The event takes place from 3:00 to 7:00 pm on November 6, 2025, at the historic Albuquerque Rail Yards. The event celebrates New Mexico’s $3.2 billion outdoor recreation economy.
Continue readingClearinghouse CDFI Boosts Housing
Clearinghouse CDFI has provided a $550,000 refinance loan for a multi-family affordable housing property in Clovis, New Mexico. Clearinghouse CDFI is a direct lender financing projects that create jobs and services to help people live, work, dream, grow, and thrive in healthy communities.
Continue readingNMSBA Program Improves Production
FreshPure Waters was founded to replace single-use plastic water bottles by providing consumers with a more eco-friendly refillable bulk water option. Its system specializes in high-pH alkaline, reverse osmosis, and deionized water, all in one machine. However, the rapidly growing demand for its purified water systems outpaced its production capabilities.
FreshPure Waters applied for assistance through the New Mexico Small Business Assistance (NMSBA) Program, a unique opportunity that brings the technology and expertise of New Mexico’s national laboratories and their partners to solve problems that inhibit business growth.
The NMSBA Program paired FreshPure Waters with Wesley Eccles and Jeff Abrams, directors at New Mexico Manufacturing Extension Partnership (New Mexico MEP), to lead the initiative to optimize production, improve system maintenance, and expand market reach.
Continue readingFood Businesses Can Get Up to $100,000
Food businesses can get up to $100,000 in funding from the New Mexico Healthy Food Financing Fund. Applications will be accepted for Fiscal Year 2026 grant awards until the end of the day on November 19, 2025. Food retailers, producers, processors, distributors, and others in the food industry are encouraged to apply.
Continue readingHow to Manage a Nonprofit
Nonprofit organizations have the same challenges as for-profit businesses – they must address everything from sales to human resources as they deliver on their mission. Unfortunately, good intentions and a solid mission aren’t enough to build a sustainable organization, no matter how worthy the cause.
Continue readingB:Side Lenders and Lunch
B:Side Fund and Capital want to help small business owners access capital to grow their business. The nonprofit lender will lead an interactive session at the Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce on October 8, 2025.
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