Author Archives: Admin

Conference Aims to Inspire Female Entrepreneurs

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Tactical training, strategic networking and inspirational speeches from three entrepreneurial trailblazers highlight a two-day WE Mean Business virtual conference July 7 and July 8.

“WE” stands for women entrepreneurs—the target audience for this event, which will link aspiring business owners to training, financing and mentoring opportunities.

Conference organizers are the New Mexico State University (NMSU) Arrowhead Center and WESST, a nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) that supports minority business owners and entrepreneurs and hosts U.S. Small Business Administration Women’s Business Centers (WBCs) at its six New Mexico locations. Other sponsoring partners include LiftFund, a CDFI whose diverse clientele is dominated by minority and female business owners; the Minority Business Development Agency Business Center; and Peacock Law PC, which specializes in intellectual property and tech commercialization.

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Tax Changes Start July 1

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The New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department (TRD) and the New Mexico Economic Development Department (EDD) will hold a webinar on Wednesday, June 23, to assist businesses with transitioning to the new source-based gross receipts tax system and revised reporting website brought about by statutory changes that take effect on July 1, 2021. On that date, businesses will begin charging state, local, and special-district taxes based on the rates in effect where their goods or services are delivered.

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Second Round of LEDA Grants Opens

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The New Mexico Finance Authority, which manages the state’s LEDA pandemic grant program, is accepting applications under a second round of funding. The first-round application period was widely publicized to end on June 15, 2021. A second-round application period opened as soon as the first round closed. The deadline for application acceptance in the second round is slated for June 30 at 12:00 noon, and additional rounds may be added if funding is available.

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Relationships Energize New Mexico MEP Resources

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When tech innovator Dave Keicher requested marketing and sales growth services from New Mexico Manufacturing Extension Partnership (New Mexico MEP), the nonprofit organization saw it as an opportunity to experiment. New Mexico MEP helps manufacturers increase their competitiveness and profitability by improving processes.

Keicher is vice president of Integrated Deposition Solutions (IDS), whose founder Marcelino Essien patented an aerosol printing technology that IDS calls NanoJet. Keicher helped develop the technology at Sandia National Laboratories and was an early investor in IDS.

The request from Keicher revealed a gap in the services that New Mexico MEP typically provides. Rather than relying strictly on its own Innovation Directors, New Mexico MEP contracted with “resource partners” to supplement its services.

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WESST Launches HOPE Loan Fund

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Economic developers believe a key contributor to economic inequality in the United States is the large and persistent racial and ethnic disparity found in business ownership and performance. Barriers to accessing capital that particularly impact Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) entrepreneurs include lack of initial wealth, financial literacy, education, and managerial experience. To address racial and income inequities, WESST launched the HOPE Fund (Helping Open Possibilities for Everyone), a “no barriers to accessing capital” approach for people of color and low-wealth New Mexicans.

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Restaurants Slow to Take Pandemic GRT Deduction

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According to the New Mexico Restaurant Association, only 500 restaurants in the state have taken advantage of the Gross Receipts Tax Deduction/Rebate that was authorized by the state legislature to aid pandemic-impacted New Mexico restaurants.

Senate Bill 1, passed during the 2021 legislative session, allows restaurants to keep as a tax deduction the gross receipts tax charged for sales of prepared food and drinks made after March 1, 2021 and before July 1, 2021. Fast-food restaurants are not eligible, however, mobile and food truck businesses can take the deduction.

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New Grant Program Opens for Hispanic-owned Food Businesses

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A new limited-time grant program will offer $10,000 grants to small Hispanic-owned food and beverage businesses in Albuquerque. The program comes from the PepsiCo Foundation, which is relying on Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), such as LiftFund and DreamSpring, to ensure that grants reach 10 – 15 Hispanic-owned businesses in each of the 13 targeted U.S. cities. Besides Albuquerque, grants will be offered in Los Angeles, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, El Paso, Chicago, Miami, Denver, New York City, Orlando, Phoenix, and Las Vegas.

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Business Finance Fair Will Provide Resource Overview

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The New Mexico Economic Development Department is hosting a Business Finance Fair on June 9 from 12:00 to 2:00 pm for businesses located in the southeastern region of the state. The event, which will be conducted online, will provide an overview of the many financial resources available to New Mexico businesses. Event organizers aim to connect business owners with resources that can help them grow their enterprises.

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