Incubators Offer More Than Space

Roberta Easter dreamed of keeping her ancestor’s craft alive when she started Enchanting Soap Collections. Joined by her daughter, Chrystal Trykoski in 2022, the pair worked from Easter’s home, creating hand-poured soaps of unique designs with no two the same.

In 2025, Easter and her daughter moved the business into the WESST Enterprise Center business incubator, giving them room to grow, scale, and dream bigger than ever. As WESST incubator tenants, Easter and Trykoski are receiving operational support and resources that are already accelerating the company’s growth.

Barely a year after moving to the incubator, Enchanting Soap Collections was selected as one of nine businesses from a national applicant pool of 120 to pitch at a national airport concessions competition in St. Louis sponsored by the Airport Minority Advisory Council (AMAC). Contestants presented their concepts before a distinguished panel of airport concessions and travel retail executives who evaluated businesses based on innovation, scalability, and market readiness to sell their products in United States airports.  While they did not advance to the next round of the competition, Easter and Trykoski are still winning big: they were invited to showcase and sell their products at the 41st Annual AMAC Conference in Maryland in June 2026.  

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Micro-Grant Deadlines Coming Up

The Regional Development Corporation (RDC) is accepting applications for up to $3,000 in capital from its Micro-Grant Fund. And the national organization, Local Initiatives Support Corporate (LISC), is accepting applications for up to $5,000 in funding from its FedEx E-Commerce Learning Lab fund. The criteria for each program differ widely, but both represent small business grant programs that can give new business owners critical funding for their enterprises.

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New Owner Expands with SBA Loans

Emad Elmaoued never thought he would be running a business providing disability services and support to the developmentally impaired community of New Mexico. He is now doing it with the help of SBA loans.

An alumnus of the University of New Mexico (UNM), Elmaoued earned a bachelor’s degree in biology and chemistry and became a teaching assistant at UNM. From 2010-2021, he owned Gigateks, a company that maintains and administers computer networks and related computing environments, including computer hardware, system software, applications software, and all configurations. When the opportunity arose to purchase ADID Care, Elmaoued was struck by its mission, and he acquired the business in 2017 with an SBA 7(a) loan.

ADID Care provides a variety of services to the developmentally impaired community of New Mexico. Supported Living, Family Living, Community Support, In-Home Support, Non-medical Transport, and Adult Nursing provided by ADID Care assist people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

The company aims to empower individuals with special needs, advocating for inclusivity and independence through services and support in their homes or communities rather than in institutional settings. ADID Care operates 12 single-family residences with nursing staff assistance.

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Uncover Profit Opportunities

Small business owners building the skills to manage and grow a business can tap into B:Side University, a free web-based platform that breaks down complex topics into clear, actionable guidance that aims to help entrepreneurs navigate everything from financing to daily operations. B:Side University is hosting a live session on Zoom on June 3, 2026, to help business owners uncover profit opportunities.

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No Loan Collateral? No Problem

Small businesses that have been in operation for at least six months may be eligible for a collateral-free loan. The Credit Builder loan is an entry-level loan designed to help New Mexico businesses build or strengthen credit while accessing working capital. The Rural Express loan is similar and is for businesses located in rural areas of New Mexico. Neither Credit Builder nor Rural Express requires collateral, and both are offered by the nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) known as B:Side Fund.

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Explore Marketing Tools

Learn marketing strategy and explore marketing tools such as branding, websites, and e-commerce at a once-per-month workshop series offered in Santa Fe by the business development organization WESST. The series aims to give small business owners practical tools to increase visibility, attract customers, and support business growth. The series runs throughout 2026, with the upcoming April 29 session exploring ways customers find businesses.

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Roadshows Prep Businesses for International Travelers

The New Mexico Tourism Department is hosting a series of “roadshows” to help tourism businesses understand how to work with international tour operators and grow their business through the global travel trade. The events will be held in Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and Las Cruces from April 7 to April 9, 2026, in conjunction with the tourism authorities of the three cities.

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Loans Help Ballet Academy Stay on Pointe

Megan Yackovich founded Ballet Taos Academy in 2016 to help young dancers develop their passion for this classical art form. A former professional dancer who previously operated an academy in Colorado Springs, Yackovich fell in love with Taos while traveling through and decided to stay. Small business loans and assistance from the nonprofit lender The Loan Fund helped anchor Yackovich and her nonprofit academy in New Mexico.

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