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Mayor’s Prize
2 0 1 6 Mayor’s Mayor’s P r i z e
Entrepreneurship in New Mexico goes back centuries, and entrepreneurial activity is among the best barometers to measure the health of a city’s economy. And, it goes without saying, all of us hope to see jobs growing in our city. However, we are aware that at this stage in our economic development, we also need to patiently build connections and partnerships. That is why we partnered with the City of Albuquerque, the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and generous local donors to create the Mayor’s Prize for Entrepreneurship, a Now and Forever Fund at the Foundation.
The Mayor’s Prize for Entrepreneurship funds nonprofits contributing to Albuquerque’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and supporting the success of our city’s entrepreneurs. In its inaugural year, which closed in 2016, the Prize awarded $200,000 to programs supporting bold ideas that create and grow new companies in Albuquerque. From 27 applicants, three nonprofits were selected to share the inaugural prize: Global Ties ABQ, Technology Ventures Corporation and WESST.
Each of the Mayor’s Prize winners approach the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Albuquerque differently: TVC focuses on technology commercialization, and the Mayor’s Prize for Entrepreneurship has helped to expand its efforts from startups to second stage companies; Global Ties ABQ focuses on international business, and is now not only receiving visitors from the likes of Panama and Indonesia, but as a result of the Prize is training local NM businesses to expand their markets abroad; and WESST has launched their Creative P.I.E. (Practice, Innovation, and Enterprise) program to provide 360 degree support and training for creative businesses in Albuquerque in an effort to expand the creative economy and to financially support founders and job growth.
In its first year, we have already seen 52 businesses supported or started, over 300 jobs created or supported and 192 entrepreneurs engaged across grantees. Companies and businesses participating in Mayor’s Prize winning programs in 2016 saw a collective revenue increase of over $11 million!
This year also brought the announcement of the winners of the second cohort of Prize winners. Announced in November, the four winners sharing $200,000 in prize money are:
2016 Mayor’s Prize Winners
CNM Ingenuity supports the FUSE Makerspace $59,000
A business incubator for fledgling entrepreneurs, a lab for developers, a production facility for manufacturers, a resource for community members and a hub of connectivity for credit and non-credit educational resources and workforce training programs.
Creative Startups supports Lobo Launch Labs $50,000
A 16-week bootcamp-styled program that will serve students in creative tech and innovation fields. The unique collaboration marries the startup expertise of Creative Startups with the student access of UNM Innovation Academy and the know-how of STC’s tech transfer team.
Nusenda Credit Union Foundation Co-Op Capital program $50,000
To support entrepreneurs with reliable access to affordable capital. Many businesses and potential entrepreneurs find themselves marginalized from traditional systems of securing capital because of a lack of credit history, poor credit score, or lack of collateral. Co-Op Capital will address this issue.
To serve artists, artisans, craftspeople, makers and food producers by offering core business financial literacy and business skills curriculum to creatives.
At the Foundation, we are thrilled to support homegrown economic development through mission-driven nonprofits and partnerships. The dedication, commitment and contributions to our entrepreneurial ecosystem through this Prize and aligned efforts are already demonstrating results. As we continue to support the success of entrepreneurs in our city, job growth will increase and annual household incomes will improve, promoting prosperity and progress across our entire community.
Donors
Anonymous Albuquerque Community Foundation Albuquerque Journal Mr. & Mrs. Carl Alongi Bank of Albuquerque Bank of America Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Chris Bard Becket Family Foundation Beverly & Perry Bendicksen Bernalillo County Treasurer’s Office - Commissioner Lonnie Talbert Champion Agency Inc. Mr. and Mrs. Victor Chavez Aleli & Brian Colón Kelli & Kevin Cooper Mr. Glenn Fellows & Ms. Patricia Hancock Garcia Automotive Group Carlos and Ashley Garcia Art & Sonja Gardenswartz Holman’s USA, LLC Mr. David Hughes & Ms. Angela Anderson Independent Community Foundation, Inc. Kauffman Foundation Kirtland Federal Credit Union Mr. and Mrs. Greg Leyendecker Debbie and Steve Maestas McCune Charitable Foundation Mr. & Mrs. Christopher Muirhead NAI Maestas & Ward New Mexico Gas Company Peacock Myers, PC PNM Resources Foundation Dr. & Mrs. Barry W. Ramo Mr. and Mrs. Will Raskob Mr. and Mrs. Jerrald J. Roehl Mr. and Mrs. Ron Rivera Sandia Foundation SMPC Architects Sound & Signal Systems of New Mexico Mr. & Mrs. Walter Stern Jean Ann & Duffy Swan Jennifer and David Thomas Mr. & Mrs. Kevin Yearout Susan Zimmerman & Lynn Slade
2016 Prize Winners
