WESST

Behind every local business is a powerful story of vision, perseverance, and community impact.

On Friday, October 16, join us at the Albuquerque Museum for Made in New Mexico, an evening celebrating the incredible entrepreneurs shaping our state’s economy. When you join us, you’ll meet the founders in person, shop their products directly, and see firsthand how local business development transforms lives.

Swipe through to meet three of our featured small business clients ➡➡

Etkie: Over the last 12 years, woman-owned business Etkie has grown into a world-class beadwork brand generating over $10M in sales. With support from WESST’s incubator space and lending team, Etkie is expanding this October into a broader New Mexico design house with their first high-desert wool collection!

Enchanting Soap Collections: Founded by a mother-daughter team, this certified woman-owned business creates handcrafted bath products inspired by New Mexico's natural beauty. With WESST’s guidance, they moved from making soap in a Taylor Ranch kitchen into a full manufacturing facility, fueling their mission to create meaningful employment for women rebuilding their lives.

Boujee Bridal & Quinceañera: What started in the Starr family living room in 2023 has grown into a cornerstone for families seeking high-quality bridal and quinceañera wear without breaking the bank. Powered by their first business loan from WESST, they are now expanding into a new 1,500 sq. ft. space to meet the growing needs of our community!

Every ticket purchased directly fuels WESST’s work providing loans, incubation space, and mentorship to local entrepreneurs across New Mexico.

Join us on Friday, Oct 16 (6:00–9:00 PM at the Albuquerque Museum)!

Get your tickets today and support these extraordinary founders directly: https://secure.qgiv.com/for/madeinnewmexico2026eventtickets

Are you ready to start or strengthen your business? Join UNM-Taos HIVE and WESST for our two day bootcamp!

Join us virtually or in-person in Taos: https://clients.wesst.org/workshop.aspx?ekey=20460087

Are you ready to strengthen your business? Or maybe even start a business? Join HIVE and WESST for a two day bootcamp later this month! Virtual or in-person! Visit wesst.org/trainings to register

Get your tickets today for a chance to win one of two incredible prizes while directly supporting small business development across New Mexico! Every raffle ticket purchased supports WESST’s mission to be a home to entrepreneurs. You do not need to be present at the drawing to win!

👉 Buy your tickets now: https://secure.qgiv.com/for/madeinnewmexicoraffle

PRIZE 1: Native American Fine Art Gallery Prints & Handcrafted Drum Collection; Value: $2,225 (Donated by Monica Jojola)

An incredible celebration of Southwestern culture featuring two renowned artists:
- Brandon Barela (Albuquerque, NM): Self-taught Diné and Chicano photographer capturing powerful cultural perspectives. Includes two acrylic prints featuring Sky City Buffalo Dancers (Acoma Pueblo) and Tewa Dancer.
- Sean Rising Sun Flanagan (Taos Pueblo): Award-winning artist renowned for uniting deep Pueblo traditions with contemporary design. Includes a hand-stretched, hand-painted traditional Buffalo hide drum crafted with ponderosa pine, cottonwood, and buckskin.

PRIZE 2: Jared Signature Diamond Tennis Bracelet; Value: $1,800 (Donated by Signet Jewelers)

An everyday classic designed to elevate any collection: Crafted in polished 14K white gold with a secure box clasp (7 inches). Features 1 1/2 carats of sparkling, round-cut lab-grown diamonds set in fluid, continuous links.

🎟️ Ticket Options:
1 Ticket: $25
5 Tickets: $100
15 Tickets: $200
50 Tickets: $500

Women's Business Centers like WESST are essential to America's small business ecosystem, and we need your help to keep this work going.

✍️ Sign on today: https://awbc.org/supportwbcs/ (link in bio)

Every year, WBCs help tens of thousands of entrepreneurs start, grow, and sustain their businesses—creating jobs, strengthening communities, and changing lives.
But this impact depends on continued federal funding, and lawmakers need to hear just how much support exists for this program.

Whether you're a WBC client, a champion of entrepreneurship, or simply believe in the power of small business, we're asking for just 30 seconds to make your voice count: https://awbc.org/supportwbcs/

WESST is attending the Association of Women's Business Centers Annual Leadership Conference in Denver this week, and our President & CEO, Lindsey Kay, will be presenting 📣

Lindsey's session will help equip other Women's Business Centers to rework their own intake and assessment process to better serve clients. We will take a closer look at how to meet entrepreneurs where they actually are, provide honest advising, and equip them with the right road map to meet their goals.

If you are here this week, say hi to any member of our team, we'd love to meet you and connect!

💫 Throwback Thursday to our Hobbs Child Care: Growing Supply event!

Last week, we gathered in Hobbs with early childhood educators, local and state leaders, and community partners to celebrate the people helping grow and strengthen high-quality child care across southeastern New Mexico.

The evening included a panel of local early childhood educators, community resources, connection and conversation, and a celebration of WESST’s Accelerator graduates. 🌱

We’re grateful to the J.F. Maddox Foundation and all of the community partners and leaders who joined us, as well as WESST, New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department, and the Low Income Investment Fund for being part of the evening. 💙