Posts Tagged ‘Small Business Development Center’
NMSU Event Helps Small Businesses and Entrepreneurs ‘GROW’
Release courtesy of the NMSU News Center
WRITER: Janet Perez, 575-646-4120, perezjm@nmsu.edu
CONTACT: Sara Sanders, 575-646-7036, npirayes@nmsu.edu
New name. New attitude.
That sums up the revamp of an annual small business and entrepreneur conference hosted by New Mexico State University’s Arrowhead Center.
Once called the Business Owners and Entrepreneurs Symposium, the name of the Nov. 4 half-day gathering has been changed to GROW: An Event for Entrepreneurs.
“We’re going to have different experts sit down with people one-on-one to talk about (a business’) specific problem,” said Sara Pirayesh Sanders, entrepreneurship director for the Arrowhead Center. “The intention is for it to be a working, very tangible event. People come in with a problem and they leave with resources. It’s targeted to those who want to start a business or who already may be in business.”
In past years, the setting was more formalized, with a panel onstage taking questions from the audience. This year, the audience will sit through a few presentations and then have the opportunity to stop at various stations and talk directly to the experts. For example, a small business owner who has designed her own brochure will be able to show her work to a marketing expert who will provide a constructive critique and advice.
Theresa Gonzales, vice president of RTD Hardware, was a panel participant last year and is enthusiastic about the GROW changes.
“Not many people asked questions last year, so there really wasn’t much interchange between the audience and us,” she said. “Less formal is always less intimidating for a lot of people. This will probably be a much easier way for people to ask questions. It would have made me more relaxed as well. I’m not really big on speaking in front of people. I prefer one-on-one.”
Despite running a business that has been operating in Las Cruces for 25 years, Gonzales said she is interested in attending GROW so she can learn more from the experts about social media and insurance issues.
“I can see myself sitting in front of an expert and asking questions for my business,” she said.
Among the speakers at the GROW event are Michael Rivera, state director of the New Mexico Small Business Development Center Network; Bill Allen, president and CEO of the Greater Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce; and John Woosley, director of the New Mexico district office of the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Chris Penner, director of the Arrowhead Technology Incubator, will give the luncheon keynote address. Penner will discuss his experiences as an entrepreneur. Garrey Carruthers, dean of the NMSU College of Business and vice president for economic development, will give the closing remarks.
For the one-on-one meetings, local experts will be on hand to help small business owners and budding entrepreneurs in a variety of fields such as Web design, marketing, commercial lending, taxes, insurance, information technology and international trade.
In addition to getting free advice from the experts, GROW attendees also will receive a jump drive that has templates, instructions, guidelines, checklists, information on how to open a Facebook account and more, Sanders said.
Along with the Arrowhead Center, GROW is sponsored by the Dona Aña Community College Small Business Development Center and the New Mexico Procurement and Technical Assistance Program.
Peter Ibarbo, president of the Ibarbo Consulting Group in Las Cruces, said small businesses in the area have many resources available to them, but the Arrowhead Center fills a special and needed niche.
“The Arrowhead Center provides a specific, technology-focused type of business incubation,” he said. “I think it is very critical to the economy to attract companies that require that connection with the university to provide them with research and with space.”
GROW: An Event for Entrepreneurs takes place from 7:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Nov. 4, at the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum, 4100 Dripping Springs Road. The cost is $49 to the public and $35.50 for students. For more information and to register, visit Grow2011.eventbrite.com.
New Mexico SBDC Crosses the International Border
Article courtesy of the Las Cruces Bulletin
By Samantha Roberts
The Small Business Development Center of New Mexico has developed a program with exports as its focus, making available international trade counselors and an abundance of resources for those looking to start up business with Mexico.
Working as a nonprofit, SBDC is spread throughout the state with 20 locations serving New Mexican business owners and entrepreneurs.
The new program – Gateway to Exporting: Your Key to International Markets – is being spearheaded by Flo Dow, assistant director for marketing and professional development at the New Mexico SBDC, and is aimed at developing New Mexico’s small businesses and increasing their capabilities to export products and services to Mexico’s maquiladora industry.
“We are trying to let people know this program is up and running,” she said. “We received a federal grant in January for $325,000 and spent the first six months getting things sorted out. Now, we are ready to go.”
As part of the program, the SBDC has designated five team members as international trade consultants and one of them is in Las Cruces.
Fred Owensby, director of the Las Cruces SBDC, will serve as the consultant for southern New Mexico.
“I will be covering all of the south, from Hobbs, N.M., to Silver City, N.M.,” Owensby said. “We hope to bring people in and get their initial questions answered. Then from there, they could work with someone like the (International Business Accelerator) to advance further with doing business across the border.”
Another service the program offers is a database, connecting buyers with suppliers, which can be found at www.nmiba.com/ gateway.
The site will also be posting webinars that cover issues such as international business planning, finance, logistics, marketing identification and secure commerce, Dow said.
“We will be very proactive in identifying people and companies that are interested in international business,” she added.
The services being offered are free and open to anyone.
“Anyone and everyone who has the right product,” she said, adding that the international consultants are available if someone is trying to determine if they “have the right product.”
“They can contact the office and we will do a one-on-one interview,” Owensby added. “We will have that conversation and help people figure it out.”
Since safety in Mexico is still of high concern, Owensby said this program provides an alternative to traveling across the border for business.
“We have strong connections with people who are already down there and are willing to help,” he said. “There are two consultants in Juárez in the community doing the legwork who are familiar with the industry.”
“We are making in-country connections,” said Bill Dobricky, senior procurement adviser for the Procurement Technical Assistance Program, a division of the SBDC that assists companies in doing business with the government.
Though the grant will expire two years from its inception, Dow said this is a good start to a program the center hopes to continue.
“We hope to have great success and create a model that will put us in a position for more funds in the future,” she said. “We also hope that this will help people to understand the value of the SBDC. We are providing these services and your tax dollars are at work.”
Also as part of the New Mexico SBDC, additional free workshops will be held at Doña Ana Community College from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Thursdays, Sept. 8, Oct. 6, Nov. 10 and Dec. 8.
Workshop participants are invited to make an appointment for individual assistance. To make arrangements with an SBDC representative after any workshop, call 527-7676.
For more information on SBDC or the Procurement Technical Assistance Program, visit www.nmsbdc.org.
Hispano Chamber to Host Small Business Lending Fair Aug. 5
Release courtesy of the Hispano Chamber of Commerce de Las Cruces
Las Cruces, N.M. – Local bank representatives and business counselors will join the Hispano Chamber of Commerce and the City of Las Cruces to distribute information and answer questions from the public during the inaugural Small Business Lending Fair, set for 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, Aug. 5, at the Las Cruces Convention Center.
The first event of its type and size in Las Cruces, the Small Business Lending fair is a new annual event organized by the Hispano Chamber targeted at local economic development by facilitating the start-up and expansion of small businesses in our community.
“Our members, as well as people in the community, have voiced their need for this type of event in Las Cruces,” said Peter Ibarbo, chair of the Hispano Chamber’s Economic Development Committee and co-organizer of the event. “By bringing all of the financial institutions together, as well as micro-lenders and government loan programs, Hispano Chamber members and members of the public will benefit from a ‘one-stop-shop’ if they’re looking to start a new business or grow their existing business.”
Participants invited to the Small Business Lending Fair include Bank of the West, Wells Fargo, Bank of America, Citizens Bank of Las Cruces, Bank of the Rio Grande, BANK’34, Century Bank, First New Mexico Bank, White Sands Federal Credit Union, FirstLight Federal Credit Union, OneSource Federal Credit Union, Bank of the Southwest, First American Bank, Western Heritage Bank, Pioneer Bank, First Community Bank and BBVA Compass.
“Why spend a week or more researching competing loan products when you can get the information all at once?” Ibarbo said. “Local bank representatives will be on hand to answer questions, set up future meetings and distribute information regarding their commercial loan products.”
The Small Business Lending Fair will be organized in an event similar to a job fair – with more than 40 exhibitors and vendors presenting information in a booth-type format.
In addition to traditional commercial lenders, the Hispano Chamber has invited ACCION New Mexico, The Loan Fund and WESST Corp. to provide information regarding their respective organization’s micro-loans. Micro-loans can be used by those who lack the capital, collateral or financial background to start a small business. Lenders such as ACCION and the Loan Fund have an established micro-loan clientele in southern New Mexico, including Las Cruces.
“Micro-lending is growing in popularity across the United States, and is a viable alternative to larger commercial lending,” Ibarbo said. “Anyone looking for more information on micro-loans should attend the Small Business Lending Fair.”
An injection of public or private capital is not the only way to grow an existing business. For current business owners and administrators who are looking to grow their clientele base without a loan, the Small Business Lending Fair will be host to business-support organizations such as the Hispano Chamber, Greater Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce, Green Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Las Cruces Partnership, Mesilla Valley Economic Development Alliance and the Sierra County Economic Development Organization. Business-referral organizations have also been invited, such as Masterminds de Las Cruces, Success … Inc.!, Synergy Business Network and Buzztown.
“It is part of the Hispano Chamber’s mission to educate its member and the public at large about all of the opportunities available to grow their business,” Ibarbo said. “Often, business-support and business-referral organizations can provide that needed marketing boost.”
The Hispano Chamber has also partnered with the Office of U.S. Sen. Tom Udall to bring government lending partners to the Small Business Lending Fair. Government organizations invited to participate in the fair include the Small Business Administration, USDA Rural Development, Economic Development Administration, Housing and Urban Development and the Department of Labor.
Specialized SBA lender Enchantment Land Certified Development Corp. will also be on hand to distribute information and answer questions about SBA-backed loans.
Completing the “one-stop” shop at the Small Business Lending Fair will be the Dona Ana Community College Small Business Development Center (SBDC), PTAP, SCORE and WESST Corp., who will provide free business counseling at the event.
In addition to free counseling, the SBDC will also host three “How to Start a Business” workshops during the half-day event. Entrepreneurs interested in learning the initial steps on how to start a new business are highly encouraged to attend the Small Business Lending Fair.
The Small Business Lending Fair is free and open to the public. Residents from Las Cruces’ neighboring communities are also invited to attend.
For more information about the Small Business Lending Fair, call the Hispano Chamber at 575-532-9255.
About the Hispano Chamber of Commerce de Las Cruces:
The Hispano Chamber of Commerce de Las Cruces, through its diverse membership, advocates for business growth in the community and promotes Las Cruces and Hispanic business owners through economic development, education, community service, and cultural awareness. The Hispano Chamber of Commerce de Las Cruces was initiated in 1992 as the Hispano Chamber of Doña Ana County and in 1994 incorporated as The Hispano Chamber of Commerce de Las Cruces. The original founders consisted of a group of businesspersons interested in developing a support organization for small and Hispanic businesses.
Tech Investors Ready to Listen
Arrowhead hosts event to help tech startups get funded
Article courtesy of the Las Cruces Bulletin
By Gabriel Vasquez
Entrepreneurs, prepare to meet your blind dates.
The Arrowhead Center at New Mexico State University will play matchmaker with technology entrepreneurs and venture capitalists in the state during its “speed dating” event, Networking at the Speed of Technology, Wednesday, Oct. 20, at The Game Sports Bar & Grill.
“Over the the past few years, venture capitalists have been wanting to (invest) in our area – they know there are some good technologies coming out of the university,” said Dawn Hommer, a business incubation specialist for the Arrowhead Center. “This is a fun idea, it’s something different and something that seems really appealing to people.
We’ve gotten a good response so far.”
Arrowhead is actively looking for technology companies and entrepreneurs to participate in the event, which will be organized much like a speed-dating event. Representatives from those companies will have three minutes to pitch their product or idea to each venture capitalist, after which the investors will have two minutes to ask questions. A bell will ring, and the process will start again with different participants.
“The venture capitalists that we have in the state will all be attending the event,” Hommer said. “Flywheel Ventures, Cottonwood, the New Mexico Angels and others.
“Most of these are doing work up north, but recently they have been interested in coming down here.”
Arrowhead is calling for applications from all over the state and the El Paso region as well, Hommer said.
The companies chosen to participate will be “vetted” by a group of technology startup experts at Arrowhead. The companies that are not selected – because their idea or plans are not yet developed enough – will be offered additional assistance from Arrowhead, Hommer said.
“Maybe some of these companies are not ready to pitch to a venture capitalist, but thereare other things we can help them on to get to that point later down the line,” she said. “We want companies to apply even if they’re not quite ready.”
Regardless if the companies get funding from a venture capitalist or angel investor as a result of their speed date, the results will be beneficial to all involved, especially new companies, said Chris Kientz, director of innovation for Arrowhead Center’s TECH-START program, which helps incubate technology companies.
“One thing companies will definitely walk away with is feedback, which is incredibly valuable,” he said. “Whether it’s a good or a bad idea, whether the idea could be restructured in a certain way, these companies will find out during their meeting with these venture capitalists.”
Hommer said the speed-dating concept was developed after Arrowhead Center hosted its first networking event, the Entrepreneurs’ Mixer, in April, which was well received and well attended, she said.
“This is really what got the ball rolling,” she said. “Although there were no venture capitalists at the (April) event, we realized the need to create more networking type of events – after-hours type of networking to allow local people to connect with each other.”
The deadline for companies who want to apply to participate in the entrepreneur’s event is Friday, Sept. 10.
Companies chosen to participate must attend two mandatory workshops from 8 to 10:30 a.m. Sept. 23 and Oct. 14 provided by the Dona Ana Community College Small Business Development Center (SBDC). The workshops are designed to help companies refine their pitches and build a stronger foundation for their business.
Companies can apply by visiting techstart.nmsu.edu or by calling Hommer at 646-5213.
The event will be co-hosted by the Mesilla Valley Economic Development Center and the SBDC.
Las Cruces SBDC Schedules Workshops
The Las Cruces Small Business Development Center (SBDC) offers quality confidential counseling and
guidance for business owners, prospective owners, and managers. It regularly offers workshops and seminars to aid new and existing business in expanding their business.
April Events:
April 8 - STARTING A BUSINESS: Learn how to start your business legally, safely, and profitably. Topics will include market research, registration as a business, and business planning. There is no cost for this workshop but space is limited.
2pm – 4pm at DACC Workforce Development Center 2345 Nevada Ave. Room 101J
Contact Mike Levine (575) 527-7606
E-mail: sbdcinfo@nmsu.edu
April 20 – BUSINESS LOANS WORKSHOP: The class will discuss basic bank loan products such as term loans and lines of credit. It will explore the proper uses of these products and what to watch out for to save money. It will also discuss qualifications for business loans and how bankers determine how much to lend. The presenter is a Banker with 13 years of experience in commercial lending. There is no cost for this seminar but space is limited.
8am-10am at DACC Workforce Development Center 2345 Nevada Ave. Room 101J
Contact Claudia Hadley (575) 528-7430
E-mail: sbdcinfo@nmsu.edu
April 22 - GETTING & KEEPING CUSTOMERS: The key to business success is the ability to keep your customers coming back for more and recommend the business to their friends. Learn how to do target marketing, customer service training, and marketing your business. There is no cost for this workshop but space is limited.
2pm-4pm at DACC Workforce Development Center 2345 Nevada Ave. Room 101J
Contact Mike Levine (575) 527-7606
E-mail: sbdcinfo@nmsu.edu
