According to Lou Wolter Ph.D., obsession with sales can blind a business. “Not that cost, price, and profit aren’t important,” he said, “but they’re not the sole basis for the business decisions of a market-driven venture.” Wolter encouraged business owners to orient their energies and resources toward satisfying consumer needs and desires over the long term — not just for today. “A successful market-driven strategy yields long-term profitability,” he said in a self-published paper.
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DreamSpring Lists Grants
The nonprofit lender DreamSpring maintains a running list of business grants and other opportunities that small businesses can tap into. A quick perusal of the current list indicates grants from $5,000 to $20,000. Learning opportunities and money-saving resources are also listed.
Continue readingDisaster Support Before and After
On July 16, 2026, six inches of water entered Bonna Kemp’s family store. Gibson’s Discount suddenly faced losses from damaged merchandise, fixtures, and equipment. The store, which has operated at the same location since 1968, abruptly confronted questions businesses must face after disasters anywhere in the country. How could it rebuild without running out of money? The owners turned to the nonprofit lender LiftFund for funding the business could put to work immediately.
This was not a one-off situation. Businesses in New Mexico and across the country are experiencing severe weather and other disasters that disrupt operations and put livelihoods at risk of collapse.
Small businesses often enter crisis with little room for delay. Research has found that half of U.S. small businesses operate with less than one month of cash buffer. A September 2026 Federal Reserve analysis found that 84% of disaster-affected small firms experienced business interruption or lost sales. Fewer than one-third carried insurance covering those losses, and only 4% of firms that sought external funds received enough to fully cover their losses.
Continue readingDon’t Hide Challenges From Lenders
In nearly 37 years of supporting small businesses, The Loan Fund has seen it all. Unexpected repairs. Market or industry shifts. Employee theft. Cash flow crunches that come out of nowhere. These challenges can be part of running a business—and they can impact profitability and, sometimes, loan repayment. That’s why The Loan Fund encourages business owners to contact their lender for help when negative changes impact their business.
Continue readingNew Digs for Farmington Dog Groomer
Greta Wilson and Harmony Brown launched Suds & Snouts LLC in Farmington in 2026 to create a great pet grooming experience for both dogs and their owners. The company operated out of Greta’s home until July, when the pair moved into their own building with help from The Loan Fund.
Greta said that when it was time to take the leap and form their own business, expand their inventory and equipment, and move into a storefront, she found The Loan Fund during an online search.
The Loan Fund is a nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) that provides flexible financing to small businesses and nonprofit organizations across New Mexico. It specializes in supporting those often overlooked or turned down by traditional banks and lenders.
“We did try our bank in town, but they wouldn’t do a startup loan,” said Greta. Harmony added, “But (The Loan Fund) officer was extremely helpful and very communicative. They made the process extremely easy for us.”
Continue readingCDFIs Expand Financing with Partnerships
Banks and community development financial institutions (CDFIs) each play important roles in financing projects that strengthen communities. While most borrowers are familiar with traditional banks, many are less familiar with CDFIs. Banks and CDFIs operate independently, and their relationships take many forms. Sometimes partnerships are directly visible to borrowers, and other times cooperation happens behind the scenes. Either way, it isn’t unusual for financial institutions to collaborate on behalf of borrowers.
Continue readingGrants & Loans Can Jumpstart a Business
Explore federal, state, and local grants, loans, and guarantees that are available to qualified businesses to fund the growth of their companies. The nonprofit lender LiftFund is hosting a one-hour webinar to help small business owners and entrepreneurs determine which option is best for their business before spending time researching irrelevant programs. The event takes place online on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, at 10:30 am MDT.
Continue readingSmall Business Lender Expo
The New Mexico Veterans Business Outreach Center is teaming up with the nonprofit lender DreamSpring to help aspiring and existing business owners explore low-cost financing options. The Small Business Lender Expo takes place at the DreamSpring Albuquerque headquarters from 1:00 to 4:00 pm on Friday, October 9, 2026. While the event focuses on resources for veterans, non-veterans are welcome to attend.
Continue readingMeet B:Side Small Business Lenders
The Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a Lunch and Learn session with B:Side Capital and B:Side Fund in Albuquerque on October 31, 2026, at 11:30 am. The session is an opportunity to meet B:Side lenders in person over lunch and ask questions about the small business loans the organization offers.
Continue readingBusiness Bootcamp is Culturally Relevant
More than 12 percent of New Mexico’s population is Indigenous, according to the New Mexico Indian Affairs Department. The business development organization WESST aims to help them start businesses. WESST is hosting a two-day Indigenous Entrepreneur Bootcamp September 23 to 24, 2026, in Farmington and online.
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