Director of the Questa Economic Development Fund
Come celebrate the grand opening of the Questa Business Bridge at the Questa Public Library on Wednesday, August 21, from 3 to 6 p.m. Join Mayor John Ortega, area dignitaries, and community leaders as they officially launch the opening of the Business Bridge and cut the cake to celebrate this grand opening!

There will be a ribbon cutting, giveaways, drawings, and a $100 grand prize. Plus, it’s a “business resource day” with information and exhibit tables from partner service organizations.

“The Business Bridge is more than a business center, it connects the community to training and business resources, and expands what the Questa Public Library has to offer,” said Mayor Ortega. “It provides services locally, so Questeños don’t have to leave our community to take advantage of these opportunities.”

Malaquias Rael, Chair of the Questa Economic Development Fund added, “the Business Bridge supports and promotes local enterprise, encouraging entrepreneurial activities and strengthens our business climate where businesses are poised to grow, and new jobs are created.”

Business resource day offers community members the opportunity to meet representatives from area, regional, and state organizations that champion businesses by providing support services, funding, collaborative partnerships, advocacy, and personal assistance. Meet ambassadors from HIVE (the Hub of Internet-based Vocation and Education), local funding institutions, New Mexico Workforce Solutions Center, Chambers of Commerce, UNM, the Small Business Development Center, local foundations, economic development entities, and local resources.

Peter Mitchell, the Questa area regional representative from the New Mexico department of economic development, will be in attendance. Mitchell explains how he and his partner, Paige Ryan, work as “connectors”—”the state offers so much beneficial information and so many resources on funding, incentives, and tax benefits to help you launch and grow your business; it’s our role to help connect you to the right people for the right support at the right time.”

Lynn Skall, Director of the Questa Economic Development Fund, explains that QEDF was awarded a $25,000 LEADS grant from the NM economic development department to launch the Business Bridge. “A portion of the funds were used to enhance the ‘business center’ aspects of the Library, including the purchase of a commercial-grade copier (with scanner and fax) for public use, two desktop computers, and a 75-inch ‘smart whiteboard,’ which is a giant rolling monitor for presentations, webinars, and training, with touch-screen technology.”

“The balance of the LEADS funds, along with another grant from Triad Systems/LANL, are used to host ongoing business training and coaching sessions,” said Skall. Weekly workshops focus on relevant topics that help members of the community start and grow their businesses, such as “Introduction to Entrepreneurship,” “Business Registration and Permitting,” “Social Media for Your Business,” “Small Business Accounting and Tax Basics.”

Once a month the Business Bridge also sponsors one-on-one confidential business consultations with the director of the Small Business Development Center Anwar Kaelin, a class for seniors that helps with technology support; and NM Workforce Solutions open sessions that will provide job seekers with career services and business owners with employment resources.

Business Bridge coordinator Jessica Trujillo explains that “the classes are free to everyone; we try to tailor the workshops and training to the community’s needs and interests, so let us know what you’d like to see offered.”

For more information on the Questa Business Bridge or the business resource day, email QBB-Coordinator@QuestaEDF.com.