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OFFICE OF ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT NEWS
April 2025
Para ver este boletín en Español, ábralo en su navegador web y aparecerá una opción para Google Translate en la esquina superior derecha.
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MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR
5 Things I am excited to spotlight:
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Welcome Elisa Montoya: Our new Community Development Director brings a strong background in public service — we’re excited to have her join the team.
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Guadalupe Street Business Meet-Up: Join us May 13 for construction project updates. Interested? Email lanelson@santafenm.gov.
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Business Achievement Awards: Nominations are open through May 9 via the Santa Fe Chamber of Commerce. Help us recognize outstanding local businesses!
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Santa Fe Summer of Bike: Our first-ever three-month celebration of biking kicks off soon, featuring rides, events, and "Bike There" discounts.
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Books Behind the Business: Our new discussion series launched April 22 and continues every other month at the Southside Library.
Thank you for staying engaged and helping us strengthen Santa Fe’s economy. Reach out anytime if we can support you!
In service-
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Johanna Nelson, Director, Office of Economic Development (OED)
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Overheard at Creative Mornings
“In Santa Fe, we’re standing in a historic theater filled with architecture, culture, and memory—and using it to host talks and presentations. That’s the creative economy in action: merging heritage and innovation to move our communities forward without losing who we are.”
— Shani Harvie, Director,
NMEDD Creative Industries Division
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April 28, 10 AM – 2 PM
Del Norte Credit Union, Cerrillos
May 5, 10 AM – 2 PM
Santa Fe Business Incubator, Southside
The Office of Economic Development hosts bilingual office hours on the first and last Mondays of each month at the Santa Fe Business Incubator (Southside) and Del Norte Credit Union (Cerrillos Road). Local businesses and entrepreneurs are invited to schedule an appointment for help with business resources or to share ideas and concerns about economic development.
 May 14, 11:30 AM – 1 PM
Santa Fe Business Incubator
Thinking about starting a business? In partnership with the City's Planning and Land Use Department, our quarterly OED workshop walks you through how to get a business license and connects you with the resources to help your business grow.
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May 20, 2 – 4:30 PM
Santa Fe
New Mexico businesses are invited to meet directly with scientists from Los Alamos National Laboratory to discuss your business, technical challenges, science interests, and areas where you need support.
This session will focus on Earth and Environmental Science, including topics like AI, machine learning, energy (in all forms), mining, geology, agriculture, chemistry, big data, GIS, modeling, and hydrology.
Space is limited to 15 businesses. Register today and receive location details.
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Santa Fe is a great place to launch and operate a business. Each month, our team meets with a new business to learn more about their entrepreneurial experience and share insights.
 TLC Stained Glass Studio, located in Midtown, is an art studio and gallery specializing in custom stained glass panels for homes, repairs and restorations, and hands-on workshops for locals and visitors. Whether you want to learn a 1,400-year-old art form, commission a custom piece, or restore a stained glass treasure, TLC is the place to go. They also offer original stained glass art for purchase.
ENTREPRENEURIAL INSIGHTS WITH THERESA CASHMAN
- What are you most proud of in establishing your business?
I’m thrilled at the response to our workshop offerings. We’ve doubled the number of participants each year, and we’re on track to do it again this year. This has allowed us to upgrade to a larger space, expand our offerings, and reach more people.
- What skill or ability has been essential in growing your business?
Honesty, integrity, and perseverance. We believe if you do right by those you serve and those that serve you, everything will balance out in your favor.
- What impact do you think your business will have on your customers?
I create stained glass art that brings light, color, energy, and ease to any space. Customers who commission custom pieces benefit from those feelings in their space.
Workshop participants get to try something that is, most times, genuinely new to them, and walk out an hour or two later with a completed work of art. It’s so rare that we have an opportunity to try something new as adults. I’m honored to guide people through their first stained glass art experience and have them walk away feeling successful and empowered.
- What’s next in your entrepreneurial journey?
We are looking to take on more commissioned work this year. Stained glass is not an historic art in Santa Fe, but we want to expand our reach to locals and bring stained glass into the conversation when people are completing renovations or starting new construction.
The Office of Economic Development sponsors a variety of events that drive the economy through education, networking, and new opportunities for our business community.
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 The Outdoor Recreation (OR) Meetup was held on March 27 at the SFCC HEC that brought OR business owners and state agencies together.
 We helped host a Housing Development meeting at the Santa Fe Realtors Association on April 2. It brought together developers and real estate professionals to network and receive updates on resources.
 STEM Santa Fe invited students to a Community Math Festival on April 5 at the Santa Fe Teen Center to test their skills in math and science and have fun learning.
 The Founder's Syndicate convened on April 15 at the Santa Fe Business Incubator to network and inspire fellow entrepreneurs.
 On April 22, we hosted the first Books Behind the Business: A New Discussion Series that takes place every other month on the 4th Tuesday.
 The Spring Runoff on April 26 celebrated the outdoor recreation industry at the Santa Fe Brewing Company for a full day of live music, adventure, and activities.
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 Aspect Media Village's ArtHouse, which will feature 129-unit apartments had a groundbreaking on March 27.
 This year's Chamber Business Expo on April 3 was a hit with more than 800 people attending to foster networking among the city's businesses.
 On April 12, UNM CRE showcased the innovative ideas of 13 entrepreneurs in a pitch competition. Congrats to the winners!
 April 18 commemorated the one-year anniversary of Creative Mornings with a celebration at the New Mexico Museum of Art.
 It was a grand three year celebration of UNM Rainforest's New Mexico Tribal Entrepreneurship Enhancement (NMTEEP) at the Santa Fe Business Incubator on April 24. Deborah Torres is the Santa Fe Tribal Business Liaison who will continue this work.
 Move for the Museum Santa Fe took place on April 27. This fundraiser for the Santa Fe Children's Museum and allowed community to gather to support the organization and run for a good cause.
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The Office of Economic Development partners with many organizations that focus on economic development and we feature their work to elevate businesses and/or entrepreneurs.
Leadership Santa Fe, hosted by the Santa Fe Chamber of Commerce, is an eight-month program for motivated individuals looking to strengthen leadership skills, engage in civic issues, and shape the future of our community.
The program combines monthly two-day sessions (Fridays and Saturdays) with leadership training, policy discussions, and networking with top leaders from business, government, and nonprofits. Participants also gain access to a strong Leadership Santa Fe alumni network.
Applications for 30 spots are open through May 31. Accepted applicants will be notified by June 15, with the program launching in September.
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Let's Talk about Cerrillos
The Santa Fe Metropolitan Planning Organization is collecting input on Cerrillos Road for transportation planning. They recently met with business owners at CHOMP and some emerging themes surfaced including:
- Better public safety
- More affordable housing
- Slower speeds, needs traffic improvements
- City permitting process is confusing and slow
- Trucks need better access to businesses
- Businesses need better signage to stand out
- Hard to attract customers who don't already know your business exists - Cerrillos isn't a browsing street
- For some businesses, Cerrillos is a great location because of the high volume of passing customers
If you have a business on or near Cerrillos and want to provide input, please complete this brief survey.
Sign up for the City of Santa Fe's weekly newsletter that provides updates on road work, official announcements, and much more.
The City’s Metropolitan Redevelopment Agency (MRA) has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP #25128) seeking a qualified Community Development consultant with experience in the Just City Index, anti-gentrification strategies, and/or neighborhood planning. Consultants may submit proposals for contracts up to $120,000. Interested applicants can apply through the City’s Vendor Self Service portal in MUNIS. Proposals are due by April 28.
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The City of Santa Fe’s Office of Economic Development works to cultivate a vibrant business community and to build a diverse, innovative economy that provides equitable opportunity and prosperity for the residents of Santa Fe.
La misión de la Oficina de Desarrollo Económico es cultivar una comunidad empresarial vibrante y construir una economía diversa e innovadora que brinde oportunidades equitativas y prosperidad para la comunidad.
The City of Santa Fe offers several choices for receiving communications via email. Our newsletters address library events, new and upcoming road work, official announcements, and much more. Remember, you can manage your account at any time.
CALL 211 FOR HELP
If you need help with rent, nutritious food, secure housing, utilities, reliable transportation, and safe physical and social environments, call 211 for help.
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