The past year serving as a Tribal Liaison for UNM Rainforest Innovations’ New Mexico Tribal Entrepreneurial Enhancement Program has been immensely rewarding. Over the past year, I’ve had the opportunity to witness and contribute to meaningful progress toward supporting Indigenous entrepreneurs and fostering economic development in the Jicarilla Apache Nation.
The year began with conferences and networking events across New Mexico, providing a platform to connect with organizations dedicated to entrepreneurship and economic development. One key partnership emerged with WESST, an organization committed to supporting small businesses. After initial discussions, WESST agreed to collaborate with UNM Rainforest Innovations and myself to host in-person workshops in Dulce, NM, directly serving local entrepreneurs. This partnership was particularly exciting for me, as WESST has played a vital role in supporting my own entrepreneurial journey growing and building Big D Flooring and Dulce Base Tipi.
In addition to connecting with WESST, I found it critical to connect with local leadership on the Jicarilla Apache Nation. Through my outreach, I met with Rhonda Vicenti, Director of the Jicarilla Apache Department of Education (JADE). This meeting was essential towards building Dulce’s local support ecosystem for small businesses and entrepreneurs and led to the decision to host a Small Business Meet & Greet in June 2024. With the support of JADE, this event introduced the community of Dulce to the WESST and UNM Rainforest Innovations teams and allowed local business owners to network with one another. Feedback from participants provided valuable insights into the needs of aspiring and established entrepreneurs in the community, shaping the development of future initiatives.
In response to the initial Business Meet and Greet event, we continued our collaboration with WESST and launched an eight-part series titled “Journey to Grow Your Business” to address key aspects of entrepreneurship. The series was based on feedback of needs expressed by attendees and participants at the initial Meet and Greet and covered topics such as networking and partnerships, business planning, licensing, funding, financial management, marketing, and customer outreach. Attendees included a variety of local businesses:
- Beam Me Up Step-Van
- Big D Flooring
- DJ Japan Mobile Entertainment
- Dulce Base Tipi
- Dulce Rock Entertainment
- Fine Shine Detailing
- Crochet By: Soleil
- L Designs, Etc.
The series also attracted individuals considering starting businesses, fostering a sense of community among those with a shared vision of creating positive change and business and economic development for Dulce.
Our efforts culminated in December with the Dulce Holiday Market & Expo, an event that brought together local and regional vendors to showcase their businesses while learning more about WESST and UNM Rainforest Innovations. The Regional Development Corporation was also in attendance. This event underscored the entrepreneurial spirit within the community and the potential for continued collaboration.
Looking ahead, we are excited to host the Indian Dispute Resolution Service (IDRS) Acorn Project’s one-day workshop, “Journey to Native Business,” on January 14. This program offers training and technical assistance in small business development to Native entrepreneurs across the Western United States, including more than 25 tribes and Native nonprofit organizations. We’re also honored to welcome Keegan Mackenzie-Chavez, New Mexico Region 1 Representative and Tribal Liaison with the New Mexico Economic Development Department, as a participant in this initiative.
Our work in the Jicarilla Apache Nation is just beginning. Goals for 2025 include bringing WESST back for additional in-person sessions and deepening collaborations with local leadership, departments, and statewide organizations to host more events. Together, we aim to support the growth of Indigenous-owned businesses in northern New Mexico and foster sustainable economic development for the Jicarilla Apache Nation.
The progress so far serves as a reminder of the power of collaboration and the potential for entrepreneurship to create lasting change in our communities. We look forward to future partnerships and community growth.
