Small businesses can participate in the NMSBA Program through three different types of projects:

Individual Projects

Individual projects involve a single New Mexico for-profit small business. Projects address challenges specific to the business that can be solved with national laboratory expertise and resources. Technical assistance challenges are wide ranging; however, the majority include testing, design consultation, and access to special equipment or facilities. Requests for individual projects are accepted year round.

submit a request for an individual assistance project

Leveraged Projects

Leveraged projects allow a group of small businesses that share technical challenges to request assistance collectively. Leveraged projects address issues that are too large or complex to solve through an individual project. Proposals for leveraged projects are reviewed once a year by the NMSBA advisory council.

The submission deadline for 2010 leveraged projects pre-proposals was August 3, 2009.

Contract Projects

Legislation allows the NMSBA Program to contract with entities that have the capability to provide small business assistance services not available in the private sector at a reasonable cost. Current contracts include the New Mexico Manufacturing Extension Partnership to provide training and assistance in the areas of quality and lean manufacturing principles, and the University of New Mexico’s Anderson Schools of Management and Management of Technologies Program to provide technology road mapping and assessments.

submit a request for a contract assistance project