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Northern New Mexico Receives $2 million W.K. Kellogg Foundation Grant
to Launch Empowering Business Spirit Initiative
A coalition of organizations that work with entrepreneurs and small businesses in northern New Mexico has been awarded a $2 million grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation as part of a national rural entrepreneurship development initiative, officials announced Thursday.

The Kellogg initiative, which awarded grants to a total of six coalitions and organizations across the country, commemorates the Michigan-based foundation’s 75th anniversary. More than 180 groups responded to the Request for Proposals for the competitive grant selection process.

“From a santero in Truchas to a software developer in Chama, our goal as service providers is to provide quality assistance and link business owners to the assistance they need,” said Linda Lee, director of outreach and business development for ACCION New Mexico.

The announcement was made Thursday at the Espanola Valley Fiber Arts Center with various state legislators, local elected officials and representatives from the participating organizations on hand. The $2-million grant covers a three-year period.

The twenty participating organizations aim to increase access to services for entrepreneurs in Rio Arriba, Taos, Mora, and San Miguel counties through the newly funded partnership, called The Empowering Business Spirit (EBS) Initiative. Through the partnership, technical service providers, business capital lenders, educational institutions, governmental agencies and policy-centered organizations will create a virtual service network for potential and practicing entrepreneurs.

“This grant means a higher level of coordinated business assistance services for northern New Mexico’s small business owners,” said Chuck Pacheco, board chairman of the Regional Development Corporation. “We are calling our approach ‘the big hug’ where, through one-touch access, a small business owner or entrepreneur can access a team of professionals.”

The goal of the EBS Initiative is to build a small business friendly environment in northern New Mexico. Organizers want to see emerging entrepreneurs encouraged and nurtured by the state’s educational system, government policy, experienced business coaches and consultants, peers and organizations that provide business capital. Among the EBS tools immediately available to small business owners is a web portal, www.bizport.org, that offers entrepreneurs an easy way to find information about partner services, regional events and news.

“Creating an entrepreneurial environment means an empowered population that understands the importance of a strong small business sector. This is especially true for rural northern New Mexico, where the most potential for generating income comes from agricultural and small artisan businesses,” said Hugo Hinojosa, executive director of the Regional Development Corporation.
Funding for the development of the grant application was provided by the Los Alamos National Laboratory’s Community Technical Assistance program and administered by the Regional Development Corporation.

“Los Alamos National Laboratory is pleased to be an EBS partner. We see this pioneering initiative as a vehicle to bridge the lab’s resources with small business needs,” added Lillian Montoya-Rael, LANL’s director of community relations.

EBS partners hailed the “big hug” approach as a first-of-its-kind effort that will create significant economic opportunities for northern New Mexicans.

“Increased economic opportunities means a better chance for young people being able to stay in rural northern New Mexico rather than moving to the urban area to find jobs,” said Ron Martinez, Director of Northern New Mexico ENLACE who will be administering the youth component of the grant.

The EBS Initiative is managed by the partners through a Partnership Council, which meets monthly to discuss programming, procedures and policy. A full-time marketing coordinator and 15 community representatives will act as grassroots links between entrepreneurs and EBS service providers.

"Given the strong tradition of entrepreneurship in Northern New Mexico, there is every reason for the EBS to make a significant contribution to the cultivation of all types of small businesses," said EBS Partner Amalio Madueño, of the Taos County Economic Development Corporation.

The W.K. Kellogg Foundation is funding this project as part of a special initiative to commemorate its 75th Anniversary (1930-2005). Grants made during the 75th celebration will support traditional areas of emphasis – health, food systems and rural development, youth and education, philanthropy and volunteerism – as well as new opportunities that build on the Foundation’s current programming. Each of these efforts will broadly reflect the Foundation’s historical commitment to “help people help themselves.” Through their innovation and potential impact on society, they show special promise for continuing the Foundation’s legacy.

For more information about the foundation and its programs, visit www.wkkf.org.

Contact:
Leslie Hoffman
ACCION New Mexico Communications Manager
(505) 243-8844 ext. 238 or (505) 270-0285 (cell)