Nearly 21% of New Mexico’s businesses that have employees are owned by women, according to the U.S. Census. At The Loan Fund, about 20% of the loans currently have been allocated to female entrepreneurs.
In celebration of International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month, The Loan Fund highlights some of the female-owned businesses around the state. From construction to coffee shops, to childcare and academic centers, women in New Mexico are growing their small businesses and making an impact in their communities.
La Escuelita Learning Center and Learning Ladder Academy– Albuquerque
Sandra Marquez opened her first childcare center in 2012 on 4th Street because she liked working with children and saw a need to help people with childcare. She also had previous experience working with children. La Escuelita Learning Center, which has eight employees, takes children from six weeks to 12 years in the Los Ranchos area.
After spots quickly filled up and a waiting list grew, Ms. Marquez decided to open a second facility on Osuna. The Learning Ladder Academy, which opened this summer, will serve 90 children in the future.
Ms. Marquez said that The Loan Fund has been very helpful in getting her started with her business and with the expansion. Her advice to small business owners: “Never give up and go after your dream whatever it is.”
Quick Service Printing & Design LLC – Las Cruces
Agustin & Evelyn Reyes The print and graphic design shop grew out of a home-based business created in 2010 after Evelyn Reyes quit her job at Savers and wanted to use her graphic design skills. When Reyes left Mexico to move to Las Cruces with her husband, Agustin, she put her career aside but she always loved her design career.Ms. Reyes came to The Loan Fund for help to purchase a small printer and began designing and printing
small items such as business cards, flyers and invitations. After business began growing, Ms. Reyes went back to The Loan Fund to purchase a larger printing machine and eventually moved into a commercial building to provide full-service printing and design at affordable prices. QuickService Printing provides banners, stickers, custom T-shirts and decals, among other products.
“The Loan Fund helped us so much. In the beginning, we had some machines in mind that we couldn’t afford but The Loan Fund helped us. It was the big answer we were looking for, having a machine that could print bigger products, signs, banners and vinyl printing, and screen printing machines for T-shirts,” she said.
While the biggest challenge in business has been setting affordable, competitive prices, she says she’s been grateful for this opportunity to pursue her career again.
Her advice to others: “Have faith in yourself, and keep going and keep going.”
H2 Academic Solutions – Belen
Holly Chavez created H2 Academic Solutions, a K-12 tutoring center, six years ago with a vision of helping Valencia County youth attain academic success. The academic center also offers camps and intensive reading programs. While there is a fee for the service, Ms. Chavez, a former teacher, also created a nonprofit to raise money and help defray student costs.
While helping students, Ms. Chavez and her daughter/business partner, Holley Noelle Chavez, became aware of a state grant for a Reception and Assistance Center (RAC), which works to help challenged and at-risk youth ages 10- 17. The program works with youth who are
referred to RAC to identify programs and services using a computer-based analysis test for youth who have drug or alcohol addictions, gang affiliations, suicidal tendencies, truancy problems, or food and housing deficiencies to avoid school attendance issues or police contact.