New Mexico businesses facing a shared challenge have until Feb. 9, 2023, to apply together for a New Mexico Small Business Assistance (NMSBA) Program leveraged projects award of up to $120,000 in national laboratory services.

The NMSBA program allows Los Alamos and Sandia national laboratories to apply their unique expertise and capabilities to help for-profit, New Mexico small businesses solve critical challenges. Technical assistance is provided at no cost to the businesses and is rendered in the form of laboratory staff time and incidental materials.

Qualifying New Mexico small businesses are eligible to receive laboratory technical assistance equivalent to $10,000 (if located in Bernalillo County) and $20,000 (if located outside of Bernalillo County) annually per small business. The award is multiplied by the number of small businesses that apply together with a shared challenge. For example, NMSBA leveraged projects allow multiple small businesses that share technical challenges to request assistance collectively for a project funded at a range of $20,000 to $120,000 (the sum of the assistance for which each participating company is eligible).

The program does not provide cash or equipment to small businesses, and the assistance requested must not be available in the private sector at a reasonable cost.

Leveraged projects must be completed by the end of the 2023 calendar year.

Interested small businesses may submit a proposal for leveraged projects by midnight on February 9th, 2023. Successful applicants will explain the problem faced by the small businesses, what expertise the national labs offer that can’t be found in the private sector at a reasonable cost, and the expected economic benefit to the participating businesses. A limited number of proposals will be selected to move forward to the next phase. Selected applicants will be notified on February 17, 2023, to present their proposal to the NMSBA Advisory Council on March 29 in Albuquerque or March 30 Virtually. Applicants whose proposals are selected for funding will be notified by April 10, 2023.

For more information, visit the NMSBA Leveraged Projects web page.

Here is an example of a leveraged project.

Individual project applications, like this one, are accepted year-round.