Home News And Events Services Pillars Our Services Kids Can About Us How You Can Help Contact Us Program Description Rural Business Development is at the core of CAASNM’s mission so the METP supports and grows existing rural small businesses through one-on-one consulting services, hands-on business development training (workshops) and technical assistance (business planning/counseling, market research, etc.). This training program is designed to assist nascent and seasoned entrepreneurs (especially minority business owners with limited English proficiency) expand their businesses and create more employment opportunities in rural areas. The METP’s business development curriculum focuses on: the business life-cycle, marketing, human resources, management, social media, information technology, financial management, etc. Eligibility Requirements • Even though there are no specific eligibility requirements, this program targets small business owners living in rural areas or Colonias that lack basic infrastructure and experience adverse economic conditions. • Even though everyone is welcome to attend our business workshops, those business receiving one-on-one technical assistance should be small and emerging businesses, defined as: “any private and/or Non-profit business which will employ 50 or fewer new employees and has less than $1 million in gross revenue.” These business receiving direct assistance should also be located in “rural areas or towns outside the urbanized periphery of any city with a population of 50,000 or more.” Areas Served: Anthony Vado Berino Chaparral Las Cruces Sunland Park El Paso, Texas Muhammad came from Pakistan and found the culture challenging as well as financially, caring for older parents and raising his children. CAASNM’s family financial empowerment program helped him save for college with an IDA and also learn about finances and saving so he could buy a home and pay for his board exams. He is now a 4th year medical student with one semester left. “CAASNM staff were very helpful and like family to me. They helped me get through their program very easily.” Muhammad's Story Copyright 2021 Community Action Agency of Southern New Mexico | All Rights Reserved | Designed by We Are IT English