New Mexico State University’s Arrowhead Center and the City of Santa Fe Office of Economic Development have introduced the Santa Fe Small Business Navigator program. The initiative is designed to offer a broad range of support services for small business owners, founders, and entrepreneurs in Santa Fe.
Funded by the City of Santa Fe and managed by Arrowhead Center, the program provides confidential and free services including one-on-one advising, training, mentoring opportunities, and microgrant programs.
Johanna Nelson, director of the City of Santa Fe Office of Economic Development, said, “The Navigator program is about working smarter and making sure out small businesses can quickly connect to the resources they need. By partnering with Arrowhead Center, we’re ensuring that Santa Fe’s entrepreneurs don’t have to navigate challenges alone; they have a clear path to support growth and opportunity.”
The Navigator is open to all stages of business development—from inception through expansion—and offers assistance with business planning, licensing and permits, as well as marketing strategy. The program also invites nonprofit organizations, universities, and government agencies that provide direct entrepreneurial services to join as resource partners in its online directory.
Kristin Morehead, Arrowhead Center’s Community Entrepreneurship Division director, stated, “This partnership with the City of Santa Fe Office of Economic Development on the launch of Santa Fe Small Business Navigator is an exciting new strategy for business support. Together we aim to leverage the vast expertise of the community by creating a hub to support small business owners and devise collaborative strategies to meet their needs and connect them to critical resources.”
The program aims to build a network among small business owners and service providers in order to raise awareness about entrepreneurship in Santa Fe and strengthen regional economic activity. It will promote entrepreneurial growth through new programs and strategic partnerships.
The platform uses SourceLink technology. Those interested in joining or learning more can visit https://santafebiznavigator.com/. Resource partners can find additional information at https://santafebiznavigator.com/resources/partner-signup/.
For further details about the program contact Caroline Lee at csl@nmsu.edu or visit http://santafebiznavigator.com/.
