Residents of Questa can access professional services, business resources and learning opportunities without leaving the village through the Questa Business Bridge, a local program now offering a new series of community classes.

The Questa Economic Development Fund established the Questa Business Bridge in 2023 with a grant from the New Mexico Economic Development Department. The program provides local residents with access to professional resources, computers and business equipment, as well as weekly workshops, professional development training and entrepreneurial coaching.

The program is based at the Questa Public Library and recently welcomed a new coordinator, Carole Merriman. Merriman is familiar with both the library and the community through her part-time work as a library assistant. She also has a background in teaching, education and library media.

Merriman succeeds Monica McClelland, who coordinated the program for the past two years, maintaining its workshop schedule and assisting entrepreneurs and other residents with business skills and new technology.
Under Merriman’s leadership, the Business Bridge has added “Classes for Curious Questeños,” a new series scheduled for the second Thursday of each month. The classes are designed to introduce participants to skills and subjects that may not otherwise be offered locally.

Classes may include holiday hairstyling, beekeeping, fly tying, mocktail making, clothing makeovers, introductory tai chi and cake decorating. Local residents with specialized skills or expertise are invited to propose classes and share their knowledge with the community.

The remaining Thursday workshops will continue to focus on business skills, workforce development, entrepreneurial startups and economic development.

The program is open to residents who are starting or expanding a business, developing professional skills or simply interested in learning something new.

The October Questa Business Bridge workshop schedule is available in an advertisement on page 15. For more information, contact Merriman at QBB-Coordinator@QuestaEDF.com.