The Veteran's Business Outreach Center Program (VBOC) offers services for veteran-owned businesses or to those veteran's interested in starting a business. Training and guidance includes business planning, concept and feasibility assessment, and entrepreneurial skills. In addition to online courses, VBOC New Mexico offers an Entrepreneurship Bootcamp designed for entrepreneurs with disabilities, and a 2-day "Boots to Business" 2-day transition training program.
The New Mexico Small Business Assistance Program (NMSBA) program pairs the expertise of the two state national labs, Los Alamos and Sandia, to help New Mexico's small businesses gain technical assistance and expertise from world class research scientists and engineers. Businesses do not need to have a scientific or engineering focus to their work or product to benefit from this program; through the rich network of resources made available through NMSBA, businesses can receive business analysis, market projections, and information about regulatory considerations as well. Businesses that have benefitted from this program in the past include a Union County rancher, a coalition of landowners interested in the opportunities presented by wind energy development, and an animator who received assistance in refurbishing vintage animation generating equipment.
Arrowhead Center is a business incubator with leverages the expertise and research environment of New Mexico State University to "promote entrepreneurship and innovation and create economic opportunity." Through staff, programming, and financial support, the Center "help innovators, entrepreneurs, and small businesses at any stage start and grow through [the use of its]... services, resources, expertise, and connections." With support for everything from copyright to clean energy, it offers a range of programs and support, from entrepreneurship to innovation to training in venture capital.
The New Mexico Small Business Development Center offers consulting and training at no cost to small businesses and entrepreneurs. Topics for which they provide support services in crude planning, financial management, and marketing, as well as assistance with tax preparation and government contracting. They provide simple one pagers to get you going and offer a range of regularly scheduled workshops and trainings to cover more focused topics, such as starting a business or using QuickBooks. Businesses can also create online accounts that will help identify funding for their specific business needs. NEEDO regional offices include locations in Las Vegas and Tucumcari.
WESST is a support organization for New Mexico small businesses and entrepreneur that offer "consulting, training, incubation and lending" services and focusses particularly on "women, people of color and low-wealth" business owners and entrepreneurs. WWEST offers robust services and consulting, including one-on-one business research and analysis tailored to your needs and loans made directly to businesses. Of special interest is their focus on developing in-depth financial awareness for small business owners through programs such as their "pop up" Money Learning Lab. Although there are currently no WWEST locations in the NEEDO region, many of the services, including trainings, are offered online or via Zoom.
SCORE's mission is to "foster vibrant small business communities through mentoring and education." Drawing on a national volunteer mentoring team of over 10,000 practicing and retired business professionals, SCORE delivers one-on-one mentoring to small businesses and entrepreneurs on a diverse range of issues. Mentors help business owners focus on their own unique constellation of goals and challenges in an organized and manageable fashion. Their resources include national repository of over 1000 articles plus including an "extensive library of recorded webinars, online educational courses, and resources.
