WESST
Albuquerque, Albuquerque Metro
Small business training, microloans, and business development services for women and underserved entrepreneurs across New Mexico.
About
WESST is a statewide nonprofit economic development organization and certified community development financial institution that supports small business and entrepreneurship across New Mexico. Headquartered in Albuquerque, WESST provides business training, consulting, and access to capital, with a particular emphasis on helping women, minorities, and underserved entrepreneurs start and grow successful businesses.
The organization offers a combination of services designed to support entrepreneurs at every stage. These include one-on-one business consulting, training and workshops on topics such as business planning, marketing, and finances, and small business lending through its loan fund. By pairing education and advising with access to capital, WESST helps entrepreneurs overcome the common barriers to starting and sustaining a business.
WESST operates offices in multiple communities across New Mexico, extending its reach beyond Albuquerque to serve entrepreneurs throughout the state, including in rural areas. This statewide presence allows it to support business development in diverse communities and to address the economic needs of different regions.
As a community development financial institution, WESST provides loans to small businesses that may have difficulty obtaining financing from traditional banks, helping to fill gaps in access to capital. Its lending, combined with the guidance and support it offers, helps entrepreneurs launch and expand businesses that create jobs and strengthen local economies.
WESST places particular focus on serving women, minorities, low-income individuals, and others who face barriers to entrepreneurship, working to expand economic opportunity and reduce disparities. By helping these entrepreneurs succeed, the organization contributes to broader economic development and inclusion across New Mexico. Supported by federal funding, grants, lending revenue, and donations, WESST serves as a key resource for small business development and entrepreneurial empowerment throughout the state.
