ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The New Mexico Small Business Assistance (NMSBA) Program has received the 2012 Manufacturing Advocate of the Year award from the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) under the U.S. Department of Commerce.
The MEP award recognized the program’s “commitment to the business growth and transformation of U.S.-based manufacturing through work in the manufacturing sector.” Specifically, the NMSBA was honored for its significant impact in helping drive new product innovation among New Mexico small businesses and contributing to state economic growth.
NMSBA is a public-private partnership among Sandia and Los Alamos national laboratories and the state of New Mexico that connects small business owners with scientists and engineers who give the companies technical assistance. The program provided $4.6 million worth of help last year.
“The NMSBA Program truly appreciates this national recognition and thanks all the principal investigators at Sandia, Los Alamos, NM MEP and the research universities in New Mexico for providing their skills and expertise to help small businesses throughout the state,” said Jackie Kerby Moore, manager of Sandia’s Technology and Economic Development Department.
The award was presented in May at the 2012 Manufacturing Innovation conference in Orlando, Fla. The Manufacturing Innovation 2012 awards committee reviewed more than 75 nominations highlighting work in manufacturing throughout the country. Ten awards were given.
Through the NMSBA, small businesses with technical challenges can seek assistance from laboratory scientists or engineers for projects that require testing, design consultation or access to special equipment or facilities. For selected businesses, assistance takes the form of laboratory staff hours valued at up to $20,000 per calendar year if located in rural New Mexico counties and $10,000 for those in Bernalillo County. The total amount of assistance is capped at $2.4 million annually for each of New Mexico’s two national laboratories.
“The NMSBA team is comprised of dedicated individuals that help companies overcome their obstacles to growth,” Jennifer Sinsabaugh of the New Mexico MEP said in nominating NMSBA for the award. “In addition to their technical resources, the NMSBA team creates partnerships to provide other resources businesses may need. They realize that business needs vary significantly, and they strive to ensure that they have the best solutions to promote business growth and vitality.”
Since its inception 10 years ago, the NMSBA has provided 1,876 New Mexico small businesses with nearly $30 million in technical assistance. The program has helped create and retain more than 2,300 jobs at an average salary of $38,000, increase small companies’ revenues by $107.6 million and decrease their operating costs by $63.6 million. These companies in turn invested $35 million in other New Mexico goods and services and received an estimated $41 million in new funding and financing.
For further information about NMSBA, companies may call Genaro Montoya at (505) 284-0625 or visit www.NMSBAprogram.org.