Last verified November 9, 2026 · How we verify
New Mexico small business grants: state and city programs
As of November 2026, a New Mexico small business can be matched against 79 programs: 13 New Mexico state programs, 2 multi-state programs that include New Mexico, 63 national programs open to NM businesses, and 1 federal grants via Grants.gov.
4 open grants here, and we'll write the application. Write it for me, $25
We track 13 New Mexico state programs. 9 are open or verified right now and named below. City and county grants are listed too, for Albuquerque. Most of these programs never run an ad. The money is real, but nobody tells you it exists. That's the part we fixed.
New Mexico programs by the numbers
- Who funds them
- 2 funders: New Mexico Economic Development Department (8), Regional Development Corporation (RDC), Northern New Mexico (1).
- Award size
- Most awards $6K to $150K.
- Timing
- 4 open now, 2 of them rolling. Soonest deadline: NM Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Matching Grant, Nov 17, 2026. 5 between cycles; New Mexico Innovation Hubs Grant lists its next window as “The next application period will be posted when available (2026 award: NM Innovation Hub, Santa Fe)”.
- What they fund
- Food & Restaurant (3), Technology (3), Manufacturing (2), Agriculture (1), Arts & Creative (1), and 2 more; 2 open to any industry.
4 open grants here, and we'll write the application.
Answer a few questions and get a full draft, checked by our own AI review. Need more than one? 10 for $97, and unused ones never expire.
Write it for me, $25No sign-up first. After you pay, we email a code to start your draft.
Don't qualify for this grant? Full refund within 14 days (one per customer).
All 9 New Mexico state programs we can name
Only New Mexico's own programs, open ones first. Each names its funder and links to the official page. Annual programs spend most of the year between windows; the date tells you when to be ready.
| Program | Amount | Status | Built for | Official link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
NM Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Matching Grant New Mexico Economic Development Department Verified Nov 9, 2026 | up to $200,000 | Closes in 7 days, Nov 17 | NM businesses holding an active federal SBIR/STTR award | |
Step Up Program New Mexico Economic Development Department For businesses in operation 1+ year Only for a NM manufacturer, or a service firm earning over half its revenue from other states, 1+ year in NM. You pay 25% of training costs, then raise trainee pay or buy new equipment. Verified Nov 3, 2026 | up to 75% of the cost to provide training for current employees up to $6,000 per employee | Rolling, apply anytime | A training reimbursement program for New Mexico manufacturing companies and service providers generating over 50% of revenue from out-of-state customers. Reimburses up to 75% of the cost to train current employees (capped at $6,000 per employee) in technical, workplace, or industry-specific skills. Requires one year of operation in New Mexico and either a wage increase or capital investment in new equipment or technology. | |
Healthy Food Financing Fund New Mexico Economic Development Department For businesses with annual revenue up to $250K Verified Nov 9, 2026 | Varies | Closes Nov 18, 2026 | Food retailers, processors, and hubs serving New Mexicans | |
Job Training Incentive Program New Mexico Economic Development Department For businesses with at least 1 employee Verified Oct 31, 2026 | 50-90% of employee wages | Rolling, apply anytime | JTIP funds classroom and on-the-job training for newly created jobs in expanding or relocating businesses in New Mexico for up to 6 months, reimbursing 50-90% of employee wages with bonuses available for high-wage jobs, veteran hiring, and other qualifying conditions. Businesses must create new jobs and meet industry/size eligibility requirements. | |
NM Food Pathways Grant New Mexico Economic Development Department Verified Nov 7, 2026 | $25,000-$100,000 | Between cycles Usually opens around July 2027, based on past rounds | The NM Food Pathways Grant Program helps New Mexico food retailers and community food organizations strengthen operations and expand access to healthy, affordable, and locally sourced foods. Grants support implementation-ready projects improving food storage, handling, sales, cold chain infrastructure, food safety, and SNAP access, with priority given to rural, Tribal, frontier, and underserved communities. | |
Creative Support Organization Grant New Mexico Economic Development Department For businesses in operation 3+ years Verified Nov 3, 2026 | up to $62,500 | Between cycles Usually opens around October 2027, based on past rounds | This funding opportunity supports organizations with a demonstrated history of impactful work in supporting creative entrepreneurs and advancing creative industry development across New Mexico. Eligible applicants include local governments, Nations, Tribes, Pueblos, nonprofits, and for-profit organizations that build networks, offer technical assistance, provide creative business incubation, or strengthen regional creative ecosystems. | |
New Mexico STEP Grant (NM STEP GRANT) New Mexico Economic Development Department For businesses that sell, or are ready to sell, outside the U.S. Verified Oct 30, 2026 | up to $7,500 | Reopens, date not announced yet | A reimbursement grant program that helps New Mexico companies gain or grow international sales by supporting export-ready and post-revenue companies' international business development activities. Eligible companies may request up to $7,500. | |
Tribal Economic Diversity Fund (Tribal Grant Fund) Regional Development Corporation (RDC), Northern New Mexico For businesses in operation 1+ year Verified Nov 9, 2026 | Up to $5,000 | Between cycles Usually opens around Spring 2027, based on past rounds | Businesses that are minority-owned | |
New Mexico Innovation Hubs Grant New Mexico Economic Development Department You run or are building a New Mexico innovation hub: shared labs, prototyping or office space that serves multiple tech companies. Verified Nov 9, 2026 | Varies | Reopens, date not announced yet The next application period will be posted when available (2026 award: NM Innovation Hub, Santa Fe) | A New Mexico Economic Development Department grant, launched in 2025, for creating and improving innovation hubs: labs, offices, prototyping space and shared environments with a physical presence in New Mexico that serve multiple tech companies, aligned with advanced computing, advanced energy, aerospace and defense, or bioscience. The next application period has not been posted. |
We track 4 more New Mexico programs that are not open, dated or verified closely enough to name here yet. The quiz still checks your business against them.
City and county programs in New Mexico
Open only to businesses in one city, county or local area, so they are not counted in the New Mexico totals above.
- Window GrantCity of Albuquerque Economic Development DepartmentFor businesses with 25 employees or fewerOnly Albuquerque businesses and nonprofits in a designated Pocket of Poverty (citywide funds are gone), 25 or fewer staff, with window damage and a police report since 7/1/2025.City of Albuquerque onlyUp to 80% of window repair or replacement cost, max $3,000 per business, plus up to $1,000 for green or security glass · Rolling, apply anytime · Official page ↗
- Micro-Grant FundRegional Development Corporation (RDC), Northern New MexicoFor businesses in operation 1+ yearOnly for for-profits based in Los Alamos, Mora, Rio Arriba, San Miguel, northern Sandoval, Santa Fe or Taos county, in business 1+ year.Northern New Mexico onlyUp to $3,000 · Between cycles (Usually opens around Summer 2027, based on past rounds) · Official page ↗
Multi-state programs that include New Mexico
Each of these covers more than three states, so we list them here instead of counting them as New Mexico state programs.
- Western SARE Local Education and Demonstration (LED) GrantsWestern SAREOnly for Western U.S. producers and ag groups running local demonstrations or trainings built on past SARE-funded research.Open in 13 states, including NMUp to $60,000 per project (1 to 3 years) · Reopens, date not announced yet (~2027 (page states 'Opens 2027')) · Official page ↗
- Western SARE Farmer/Rancher GrantWestern SAREOnly for farmers and ranchers running an on-farm research or demonstration project with a technical advisor. It does not pay normal operating costs.Open in 13 states, including NMUp to $35,000 · Reopens, date not announced yet (~2027 (page states 'Opens 2027')) · Official page ↗
Also open to NM businesses: 63 national programs and 1 federal grants via Grants.gov. They are the same in every state, so we list them by who they fund: women-owned, veteran-owned, minority-owned, or by industry.
Every verified grant deadline in the next 90 days is on one page: the live deadlines list.
Open right now in New Mexico
- NM Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Matching Grant: up to $200,000, closes Nov 17, 2026. Built for: NM businesses holding an active federal SBIR/STTR awardCloses in 7 days
- Step Up Program: up to 75% of the cost to provide training for current employees up to $6,000 per employee, rolling, apply anytime
- Healthy Food Financing Fund: Varies, closes Nov 18, 2026. Built for: Food retailers, processors, and hubs serving New Mexicans
- Job Training Incentive Program: 50-90% of employee wages, rolling, apply anytime
New Mexico small business grants, program by program
NM Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Matching Grant (New Mexico Economic Development Department): up to $200,000, closes Nov 17, 2026
Closes in 7 daysNM businesses holding an active federal SBIR/STTR award. Verified against the funder's own page Nov 9, 2026. Official page ↗
Step Up Program (New Mexico Economic Development Department): up to 75% of the cost to provide training for current employees up to $6,000 per employee
A training reimbursement program for New Mexico manufacturing companies and service providers generating over 50% of revenue from out-of-state customers. Reimburses up to 75% of the cost to train current employees (capped at $6,000 per employee) in technical, workplace, or industry-specific skills. Requires one year of operation in New Mexico and either a wage increase or capital investment in new equipment or technology. Verified against the funder's own page Nov 3, 2026. Official page ↗
Healthy Food Financing Fund (New Mexico Economic Development Department): Varies, closes Nov 18, 2026
Food retailers, processors, and hubs serving New Mexicans. Verified against the funder's own page Nov 9, 2026. Official page ↗
Job Training Incentive Program (New Mexico Economic Development Department): 50-90% of employee wages
JTIP funds classroom and on-the-job training for newly created jobs in expanding or relocating businesses in New Mexico for up to 6 months, reimbursing 50-90% of employee wages with bonuses available for high-wage jobs, veteran hiring, and other qualifying conditions. Businesses must create new jobs and meet industry/size eligibility requirements. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 31, 2026. Official page ↗
NM Food Pathways Grant (New Mexico Economic Development Department): $25,000-$100,000, usually opens around July 2027, based on past rounds
The NM Food Pathways Grant Program helps New Mexico food retailers and community food organizations strengthen operations and expand access to healthy, affordable, and locally sourced foods. Grants support implementation-ready projects improving food storage, handling, sales, cold chain infrastructure, food safety, and SNAP access, with priority given to rural, Tribal, frontier, and underserved communities. Verified against the funder's own page Nov 7, 2026. Official page ↗
Creative Support Organization Grant (New Mexico Economic Development Department): up to $62,500, usually opens around October 2027, based on past rounds
This funding opportunity supports organizations with a demonstrated history of impactful work in supporting creative entrepreneurs and advancing creative industry development across New Mexico. Eligible applicants include local governments, Nations, Tribes, Pueblos, nonprofits, and for-profit organizations that build networks, offer technical assistance, provide creative business incubation, or strengthen regional creative ecosystems. Verified against the funder's own page Nov 3, 2026. Official page ↗
New Mexico STEP Grant (NM STEP GRANT) (New Mexico Economic Development Department): up to $7,500
A reimbursement grant program that helps New Mexico companies gain or grow international sales by supporting export-ready and post-revenue companies' international business development activities. Eligible companies may request up to $7,500. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 30, 2026. Official page ↗
Tribal Economic Diversity Fund (Tribal Grant Fund): Up to $5,000, usually opens around Spring 2027, based on past rounds
Run by Regional Development Corporation (RDC), Northern New Mexico. Businesses that are minority-owned. Verified against the funder's own page Nov 9, 2026. Official page ↗
New Mexico Innovation Hubs Grant (New Mexico Economic Development Department): Varies, next window The next application period will be posted when available
A New Mexico Economic Development Department grant, launched in 2025, for creating and improving innovation hubs: labs, offices, prototyping space and shared environments with a physical presence in New Mexico that serve multiple tech companies, aligned with advanced computing, advanced energy, aerospace and defense, or bioscience. The next application period has not been posted. Verified against the funder's own page Nov 9, 2026. Official page ↗
Starting a business in New Mexico: what grant money exists
Most grant money goes to businesses that already exist. The SBA says it plainly: it "does not provide grants for starting and expanding a business." New owners usually start with savings, a loan, or a narrow grant built for one kind of business.
The New Mexico SBDC offers individualized no-cost counseling.
More small business grant lists
- Rhode Island grants
- Maryland grants
- California grants
- Colorado grants
- North Carolina grants
- Vermont grants
- Grants for women-owned businesses
- Grants for veteran-owned businesses
- Grants for minority-owned businesses
- Agriculture grants
- Technology grants
- Healthcare grants
- Manufacturing grants
- Food & Retail grants
- Grants for nonprofits
- Grants closing in the next 30 days
Straight answers
Some of these say "between cycles." What do I do right now?
Get ready before the window opens. New Mexico Innovation Hubs Grant lists its next window as “The next application period will be posted when available (2026 award: NM Innovation Hub, Santa Fe)”. The owners who win are the ones whose applications are ready the week a window opens, not the ones who find out it existed the week it closed.
Does New Mexico have state business grants?
We track 13 New Mexico state programs. The 9 named on this page are each checked against the funder's own page, and 4 are open now, including NM Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Matching Grant and Step Up Program. Most New Mexico state grants pay for one purpose, like worker training, technology startups, food access, or creative-industry groups, not general cash for any business.
Is there a grant to start a business in New Mexico?
Not one we can name right now. For a new business, New Mexico's Small Business Development Centers offer no-cost advising, including help finding funding.
Are there city or county business grants in New Mexico?
Yes. Some cities and counties run their own. Right now we list 2 local programs, in Albuquerque. They are open only to businesses in that area, so they are not counted in the New Mexico totals above.
Are there grants for Native-owned businesses in New Mexico?
Yes. The Regional Development Corporation's Tribal Economic Diversity Fund (Tribal Grant Fund) awards up to $5,000 to businesses at least 51% owned by enrolled members of listed northern New Mexico Pueblos and the Jicarilla Apache Nation, headquartered in seven northern counties. Its 2026 application period closed April 10, 2026.
What's the difference between state, national, and federal programs?
State programs are run through New Mexico agencies and partners and are limited to NM businesses or projects. Less competition. National programs are run by companies and foundations and are open to businesses in every state. Federal grants come through Grants.gov and tend to be larger and more paperwork-heavy.
Do I pay these back? How current is this list?
No. Grants are not loans. Each row shows the date we last checked it against the funder's own page. How we verify.
Which of these fit your New Mexico business?
This page can't read your business. The 3-minute quiz can. It matches your industry, state, and ownership against all 79 programs and shows you where you stand.
See how many grants fit my business