Featured Member of The Week

About WESST

WESST is a statewide small business development and training organization committed to growing New Mexico’s economy by cultivating entrepreneurship. Founded in 1989 as a 501(c)3 nonprofit by two PNM executives, Joellyn Murphy and Carol Radosevich, and an initial Executive Director, Jessica Glicken, WESST has nurtured the entrepreneurial dreams of thousands of New Mexicans by providing training, technical assistance and access to capital.

In 1994, WESST expanded from its single location in Albuquerque to its current statewide structure. Today, our small business development and training network includes offices in Albuquerque, Rio Rancho, Santa Fe, Las Cruces, Roswell, and Farmington, New Mexico. Each of WESST’s six offices are funded in part by the U.S. Small Business Administration through its Women’s Business Center program.

Our Clients

Over a period that spans almost three decades, WESST has helped a wide variety of clients at every stage of business. Historically, we have focused on transforming people’s lives and creating a pathway out of poverty by helping low-income women and diverse entrepreneurs achieve financial self-sufficiency through sustained self-employment. WESST is distinguished in New Mexico as the only organization offering long-term, comprehensive training, one-on-one consulting and low-cost loans specifically targeted to women, low-wealth and ethnically diverse clients. WESST is also among a handful of economic development organizations across the country that hosts a network of Women’s Business Centers. Each of our six regional Enterprise Centers located throughout New Mexico offers special training and consulting programs geared to aspiring or established women business owners.

WESST provides services to any New Mexico resident interested in launching a new business or improving the performance of an existing one. Our clients have come to us from all walks of life for help with businesses of all types— retail, professional services, arts and crafts, restaurants and catering, construction, manufacturing, and biotechnology, to name a few. At every stage of planning or expanding a business, WESST is here to educate, encourage and inspire you to succeed.
Our Impact

WESST is driven by a mandate to develop opportunities for small businesses that help create new jobs and build a strong business climate in the communities we serve. We have been recognized locally, regionally, and nationally as a leading advocate for small business development with a long-term reputation for innovative program development and comprehensive service delivery.

• More than 65% of our clients are women

 

• Approximately 70% of our clients are classified by federal guidelines as low or very low income

• Over 60% of our clients are members of an ethnic minority