Southern New Mexico Businesses — Including Artesia and Las Cruces — Join Statewide Capital Initiative, With Implications for Otero County’s Small-Business Future

SANTA FE — Southern New Mexico’s small‑business landscape—from the Mesilla Valley to the Pecos and Tularosa Basins—is gaining new visibility as three regional companies join the inaugural cohort of Capital Connect, the state’s new bilingual program designed to help very small and minority-owned businesses access the capital they need to grow.

Representing the region are FAMCo Inc. and INTTRA A to Z Language Consulting Services, Inc. of Las Cruces, and Calclo LLC of Artesia—a geographic spread that mirrors the economic diversity of the southern half of the state. While no Otero County businesses were selected this round, the program’s structure and priorities directly align with the needs of Alamogordo, Tularosa, Cloudcroft, and the rural communities that anchor the county.

The initiative, launched by the New Mexico Economic Development Department (EDD), is designed to remove long-standing barriers that have historically limited access to financing for rural, bilingual, and underserved communities—conditions that define much of Otero County’s business environment.

“These 20 companies reflect the innovation, determination, and cultural diversity that make New Mexico such a strong place to do business,” said EDD Cabinet Secretary Rob Black. “Capital Connect is designed to meet entrepreneurs where they are, in the language they prefer, and give them the tools they need to grow.”

A Program Built for the Realities of the South—and the Tularosa Basin

Capital Connect is led by EDD’s Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (JEDI) Office and delivered in partnership with Revby, a national consulting firm specializing in small-business growth and capital readiness.

For Southern New Mexico—and especially for Otero County, where many businesses operate with fewer than 10 employees and where bilingual households are common—the program’s bilingual, hands-on design is unusually well matched.

“Making Capital Connect fully bilingual was never up for debate; it was essential from the start,” said JEDI Office Coordinator Rita Veleta. “This approach isn’t just about language access. It’s about making sure entrepreneurs feel seen, supported, and equipped to grow their business.”

What Participants Receive

Beginning in January 2026, each business will receive three months of free, hands-on support valued at more than $4,000 per company, including:

• Group workshops

• One-on-one financial technical assistance

• Bookkeeping and financial planning support

• Loan-readiness preparation

• A fully bilingual learning environment

For Otero County—where access to capital often requires navigating distance, limited local lending options, and the challenges of rural infrastructure—Capital Connect represents a model that could meaningfully shift the landscape if expanded.

Southern New Mexico’s Representatives

• FAMCo Inc., Las Cruces

• INTTRA A to Z, Language Consulting Services, Inc., Las Cruces

• Calclo LLC, Artesia

The Full Statewide Cohort

(Full list preserved for transparency.)

• 123 Child Development Center Inc., Albuquerque

• Andino Mini Market LLC, Santa Fe

• BodySculptNM, Albuquerque

• Calclo LLC, Artesia

• Casa Cocktails LLC, Albuquerque

• Chocolate Dreams Pastries, Albuquerque

• Dulce Tradicion LLC, Albuquerque

• FAMCo Inc., Las Cruces

• Fiori e Sale, Los Alamos

• Flyby Holding/Flyby Provisions, Albuquerque

• INTTRA A to Z, Language Consulting Services, Inc., Las Cruces

• J’s Heaven, dba Duke City Herbs, Albuquerque

• New Mexico Pack Burros LLC, Edgewood

• Pequenas Sonrisas, Albuquerque

• Red Root Acupuncture & Herbs LLC, Albuquerque

• Sage Botanical Ltd, Santa Fe

• Trzato Esthetics LLC, dba The Male Room, Santa Fe

• Wendy Gallegos M.A. LLC, dba Bosque Hearing, Corrales

• West Coast Automated Systems LLC, Albuquerque

• Wilder Gardens LLC, Albuquerque

Why This Matters for Otero County

While no Otero County businesses appear in the inaugural cohort, the program’s priorities—rural access, bilingual support, and readiness for capital—mirror the needs of the county’s business community:

• Very small enterprises dominate the county’s economy.

• Bilingual and multicultural households are central to local commerce.

• Rural entrepreneurs often face the steepest barriers to financing.

• Tourism, arts, agriculture, and service-sector businesses—all common in Otero County—frequently struggle with loan-readiness and bookkeeping capacity.

Capital Connect’s structure suggests a pathway for future cohorts that could include Alamogordo, Tularosa, Cloudcroft, La Luz, and the smaller unincorporated communities that rarely receive targeted economic development support.

More information about Capital Connect is available at edd.newmexico.gov/capital-connect.

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