The New Mexico MainStreet program, a division of the New Mexico Economic Development Department, is accepting applications for technical and organizational assistance for new community development projects. Rural and Native American Communities with less than 15,000 in population are encouraged to apply for assistance under the Frontier & Native American Communities Program. Urban neighborhood commercial corridors in cities with a population of more than 50,000 are encouraged to apply through the Urban Neighborhood Commercial Corridor Program.
Continue readingCategory Archives: New Programs, Open Opportunities and Announcements
Micro-Grant Fund Accepting Applications from Northern New Mexico Businesses
The Regional Development Corporation, which serves the counties of Santa Fe, Sandoval, San Miguel, Mora, Los Alamos, Rio Arriba, and Taos, will begin accepting Micro-Grant applications on April 1 from small businesses in its service area. The RDC Micro-Grant Program awards grants of $500 to $2,000 on a competitive basis from businesses that have an immediate need for money to diversify, sustain or grow revenue, leverage other investments, and/or put systems in place that will lead to growth and create job opportunities.
Continue readingRegional Engagement Challenge Seeks Proposals
Nonprofit organizations with an idea to help build the New Mexico technology ecosystem are invited to submit a proposal for funding support of up to $10,000 from the Feynman Center for Innovation at Los Alamos National Laboratory.
Continue readingNM Restaurants Can Take GRT Deduction Now
Senate Bill 1, passed by the New Mexico Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, allows New Mexico restaurants to take a Gross Receipts Tax deduction for sales of prepared food and drinks made after March 1, 2021 and before July 1, 2021. Restaurants can take the deduction immediately.
Continue readingApplications Close Soon for Art Grant Program
The Fulcrum Fund, managed by 516 Arts in Albuquerque, is offering grants to pandemic-impacted visual artists and art spaces in New Mexico. Applications will be accepted through April 2.
Continue readingGlobal Marketplace Offers Opportunity for Growth
According to the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Office of International Trade, U.S. businesses have a competitive advantage for producing high-quality, innovative goods and services; and advancements in e-commerce and logistics that have lowered the cost of doing business overseas make this an opportune time to export American-made goods.
Continue readingSBA Extends Payment Deferment Periods
Business owners with SBA disaster loans will have a little more time before they have to start making payments. The U.S. Small Business Administration announced it is extending deferment periods for all disaster loans, including the COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, until 2022. (Scroll down to see the March 24 update about increased loan limits!)
Continue readingShuttered Venue Operators Grant Program Details Slowly Emerging
The Shuttered Venue Operators (SVO) Grant program offers emergency assistance to venues that were closed due to COVID-19 emergency health orders. The application portal was slated to open on April 8, 2021; however, technical difficulties have delayed the program. Potential applicants can use the time delay to prepare themselves for accessing the fund.
Continue readingSelf-Employed See Benefits of New PPP Loan Rules
Sole proprietors, self-employed, and gig workers can apply for more PPP money than was allowed under the program in the past. New rules released by the U.S. Small Business Administration on March 3 use gross income as the base calculation when determining the amount a solopreneur can access. Previous rules used net income, which often resulted in just a few hundred dollars of PPP loan eligibility for self-employed workers.
Continue readingLas Cruces Businesses Offered Free Social Media Training
The City of Las Cruces Economic Development Department and Arrowhead Center at New Mexico State University have teamed up to help entrepreneurs take their business online. The free assistance, which focuses on social media proficiency, aims to augment the marketing of local businesses, especially those that were impacted by the pandemic.
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