The NEIR Program houses, develops and finances innovative businesses and startups owned by Native American entrepreneurs. These participants can be either current business owners or entrepreneurs pursuing an innovative start-up business. Each NEIR goes through intensive one-on-one business development training with the goal of building a fundable business. Upon successful completion of the program, NM Community Capital may make an initial investment in the company of up to $150,000. For more information on the program, and to view the business profiles of current NEIR participants, please visit the program page directly at: www.neirprogram.org.
New Mexico Community Capital (NMCC) is a certified nonprofit CDFI created in 2004 and then was certified as a Native CDFI in 2011. The organization has offered capital to high-growth New Mexican businesses and native entrepreneurs combined with expert technical assistance to help them grow. The organization has worked to create financial returns, constructive economic/community development and social “good." In doing so, it possesses a strong understanding of the effects these varying approaches have had on the success of entrepreneurship and economic improvement for the state. Our work with native entrepreneurs and the broader Tribal communities has been particularly instructive and important. In 2009, with funding from the U.S. Department of Treasury, Native American CDFI Assistance (NACA) funds, NMCC developed a Tribal Business Initiative (TBI) to develop and then finance businesses owned by a U.S. Federally recognized tribal member(s). The expertise gained and relationships built over the past few years constitutes NMCC’s current competitive advantage, enabling the organization to target innovative solutions to the variety problems confronting Native-owned businesses and Native entrepreneurs. With the development of our flagship program as a direct result of our Tribal Business Initiative, the Native Entrepreneur in Residence Program (NEIR), NMCC focuses on providing financial products and services tailored to the needs of native entrepreneurs and targeted to promoting economic self-sufficiency for Native individuals, families and communities. By increasing opportunities for entrepreneurship and workforce development, business financing and good jobs, the organization fills an important gap to native enterprises and tribal communities that are still systematically under-served by most traditional capital providers and networks. For more information on NEIR, to apply to participate, or to qualify to become a business advisory mentor, please visit the program page directly: www.neirprogram.org.
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