EDD Launches New Technical Assistance Program

The New Mexico Economic Development Department (EDD) is launching a new initiative aimed at assisting small, disadvantaged businesses with technical assistance so they can better succeed. HatchForm LLC, WESST, and UNM Anderson are the initial providers for this program.

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IP For Artists – (and Businesses)

Business owners interested in learning how to protect their creations should attend WESST’s Intellectual Property workshop at 6:00 pm on June 12 in Bernalillo. The workshop is geared toward artists, however, all business owners will find the information can help them protect their logo and product packaging designs.

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Creative Businesses Should Attend Creative Industries Week

Creative Industries Week, which takes place online June 3 through 9, aims to connect entrepreneurs, business owners, and community groups working in creative industries with resources to help them grow. The event is co-produced by the New Mexico Economic Development Department and Creative Startups, a nonprofit organization that provides assistance to businesses in creative industries.

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Ready to Start a Brewery? Apply to BrewerySprint

New Mexico State University Arrowhead Center is offering a FREE business support program to existing and aspiring brewers, distillers, and winemakers in New Mexico called BreweySprint. This 6-week business support program features a curriculum designed to support participants in developing and strengthening their businesses through guided exploration of the Business Model Canvas.

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RCAC Goes Beyond Small Business Loans

Rural Community Assistance Corporation, the nonprofit organization known as RCAC, offers small business loans to help businesses retain or create jobs and thus improve the economic condition of rural communities. Its Building Rural Economies Small Business Coaching team goes a step further by providing no-cost direct technical assistance to rural entrepreneurs and small businesses to launch or re-launch their business; operate, sustain, and grow their business; secure access to financing; and build networks.

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WESST Named NM Microlender of the Year

The small business development organization WESST was named the 2024 Small Business Administration’s New Mexico Microlender of the Year. The award was bestowed on May 1, 2024 at the SBA New Mexico Small Business Awards Breakfast. The SBA celebrates National Small Business Week by honoring outstanding entrepreneurs and resource providers while putting a spotlight on the people who run the 33 million small businesses in the country.

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WESST Helps Clients Help Others

Brenda Ramos Almeida helped her husband start J&B Gardens while working full time as an office manager for another contractor. In 2019, she turned to WESST, a nonprofit business development organization, for one-on-one counseling and workshops to help her manage the Northern New Mexico landscaping business as she maintained the company’s books. It wasn’t long before she spotted a need and decided to start a service to assist others with bookkeeping and acquiring permits and applications for their own small businesses.

Libelula Financial focuses on the Spanish-speaking small business community. Being bilingual, Ramos Almeida knew she could provide customers with the highest quality of service in both Spanish and English, offering bookkeeping and general business assistance.

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You Don’t Have to be a Skier to Learn from the Ski Lift Pitch

Entrepreneurs and investors come together on February 5 and 6 in Taos during the Ski Lift Pitch, a pitchfest event designed to introduce New Mexico high-growth startups to equity investors. Pitch companies were selected in early January from submitted applications, but startup founders are encouraged to attend as observers to learn what goes into a successful pitch.

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Free Access to ASCEND2.0 Educational Videos

Interested in learning about intellectual property? Or maybe you’re ready to start a new technology business and aren’t sure how. These topics and more are now accessible on the ASCEND2.0 website. ASCEND2.0 is a collaboration of entrepreneurs, funders, and educators to help technology startups gain traction.

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