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JM DeYoung is the director of the Small Business Development Center at The University of New Mexico-91����.

Celebrating Economic Development Week: 91����'s small businesses are building the future

Categories: Students   Faculty   Staff   Community  

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By JM DeYoung, SBDC Director, Wednesday May 6, 2026

Economic Development Week is a time to recognize the people, partnerships, and ideas that help communities grow stronger. In 91���� and throughout McKinley County, that growth is powered every day by small businesses: the restaurants, retailers, service providers, artists, tradespeople, home-based entrepreneurs, and family-owned companies that keep dollars circulating locally and create opportunities close to home.

This year’s Economic Development Week is a great reminder that economic development is not only about large projects or outside investment. It is also about helping a new entrepreneur turn an idea into a plan, helping an existing business improve cash flow, supporting a local employer as they prepare to expand, and connecting business owners with the tools they need to compete.

That is where the 91���� Small Business Development Center plays such an important role.

Located at The University of New Mexico-91����, the 91���� SBDC provides management and technical assistance to start-up and existing small businesses throughout McKinley County. The center offers one-on-one business counseling at no cost, start-up guidance, help with business planning, and free or low-cost workshops designed to meet the needs of entrepreneurs at different stages of growth.

91���� is a unique and important regional hub for northwest New Mexico. Local entrepreneurs serve residents, visitors, nearby rural communities, the Navajo Nation, Pueblo of Zuni, regional employers, and travelers moving through one of New Mexico’s most culturally rich and commercially important areas. That creates real opportunity for business owners who are ready to plan carefully, understand their markets, and build strong operations. Across the region, small businesses help strengthen neighborhoods, support families, and contribute to the character and resilience that make 91���� special.

Exciting things are happening at the 91���� SBDC because local entrepreneurs are showing up with ideas, energy, and determination. Some are exploring new business concepts. Others are working on business plans, financing packages, marketing strategies, bookkeeping systems, certifications, online presence, hiring, and expansion plans. The SBDC is there to help business owners move from “I have an idea” to “I have a plan,” and from “I am open” to “I am growing.”

How the 91���� SBDC can help

The support available through the 91���� SBDC can help with questions such as:

• How do I start a business in New Mexico?
• How do I write or improve my business plan?
• What financial information will a lender want to see?
• How do I price my products or services?
• How do I market my business locally and online?
• How do I understand cash flow, taxes, permits, or growth planning?

For small business owners, having a trusted advisor can make a major difference. Many entrepreneurs are experts in their product, service, craft, or trade, but they may need support with the business side of the business. The 91���� SBDC helps fill that gap with practical, confidential, one-on-one assistance.

During Economic Development Week, we celebrate the businesses that make 91���� special and the partners who help them succeed. We also invite anyone thinking about starting or growing a business to take the next step.

Schedule an appointment

To schedule an appointment with the 91���� Small Business Development Center, contact:

91���� Small Business Development Center
The University of New Mexico-91����
705 Gurley Ave., Gurley Hall, Suite #1204
91����, NM 87301
Phone: (505) 863-7637
Email: sbdcgallup@unm.edu
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Register for services:

Economic Development Week is a celebration, but it is also a call to action. If you own a business, support a business. If you have an idea, explore it. If you are ready to grow, ask for help. 91����’s future is being built by local people with local ideas — and the 91���� SBDC is ready to help them succeed.

Editor’s note: This column is presented as part of UNM-91����’s annual celebration of Economic Development Week in partnership with the Greater 91���� Economic Development Corporation.