Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
Sandia National Laboratories has doubled the amount of technical assistance it provides to small businesses, including those in Quay County, after such legislation was signed into New Mexico state law this year.
The law raises the cap on the value of services Sandia and Los Alamos national laboratories can offer a company through the New Mexico Small Business Assistance Program from $10,000 to $20,000 for businesses in urban counties and from $20,000 to $40,000 for businesses in rural counties.
The changes took effect July 1.
The program, formed through legislation in 2000, provides New Mexico small businesses facing technical challenges access to the expertise and capabilities of the state’s two national laboratories and subcontractors.
At no cost, small businesses can seek assistance from lab scientists and engineers to solve challenges and overcome barriers to company success. Expenses incurred by the labs are reimbursed by the state as tax credits.
According to an email from Sandia Labs, the small-business program since 2000 has helped 23 businesses with 45 projects in Quay County, totaling $742,329.40.
Since the program began, Sandia has provided $38.8 million in technical assistance to 2,263 businesses in the state. Altogether, it has provided $62.5 million in technical assistance to 2,931 businesses, enabling 7,853 jobs to be created and retained across the state’s 33 counties.