Womens Economic Self-Sufficiency Team Corp

WESST'S MISSION IS TO BE A HOME TO NEW MEXICANS STARTING OR GROWING A SMALL BUSINESS. WE PROVIDE A SUPPORT SYSTEM OF CONSULTING, TRAINING, INCUBATION AND LENDING TO HELP WOMEN, PEOPLE OF COLOR AND LOW-WEALTH INDIVIDUALS SUCCESSFULLY STRENGTHEN AND GROW THEIR BUSINESSES THROUGH SUSTAINABLE SALES, FINANCIAL KNOWLEDGE, AND JOB CREATION."

FOUNDED IN 1988, WESST IS COMMITTED TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION IN OUR ECONOMY, TO THIS END, WESST TARGETS ITS SERVICES TO WOMEN , PEOPLE OF COLOR, LOW-WEALTH INDIVIDUALS AND OTHER MARGINALIZED POPULATIONS WHO FACE SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES IN STARTING AND GROWING A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS. WESST OFFERS COMPREHENSIVE BILINGUAL BUSINESS SERVICES FROM THE PRE-STARTUP STAGE THROUGH GROWTH AND REPOSITIONING. OVER THE PAST 3 DECADES, WESST HAS FACILIATED THE START-UP OF 2,760 NEW BUSINESSES, THE CREATION OF 5,688 NEW JOBS AND OVER 11.0 MILLION LOANED TO A CLIENT BASE WHICH IS 65% FEMALE, 65% MINORITY AND 60% PERSONS OF LOW WEALTH. HEADQUARTERED IN ALBUQUERQUE, WESST SERVICES THE ENTIRE STATE OF NEW MEXICO THROUGH ITS REGIONAL OFFICE NETWORK IN FARMINGTON, HOBBS, LAS CRUCES, RIO RANCHO, ROSWELL AND SANTA FE. IN 2009, WESST OPENED WESST ENTERPRISE CENTER (WEC), A LEED CERTIFIED MIXED-USE SMALL BUSINESS INCUBATOR IN DOWNTOWN ALBUQUERQUE THAT ACCELERATES THE DEVELOPMENT OF GROWTH-ORIENTED COMPANIES, REFLECTIVE OF WESST'S ABILITY TO PRODUCE ECONOMIC IMPACT, WEC MEMBER COMPANIES HAVE CREATED 428 NEW JOBS, 63.3 MILLION IN PAYROLL AND GENERATED OVER 150.3 MILLION IN REVENUES OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS. THE WEC WAS HONORED AS ONE OF THE "SEVEN HOTTEST START- UP INCUBATORS" BY CNN MONEY.COM IN 2010 AND 2017, THE WEC WAS AWARDED THE SOUTHWEST STAR AWARD BY EDA. WESST HAS BEEN THE RECIPIENT OF NUMEROUS HONORS INCLUDING THE ETHICS IN BUSINESS AWARD IN 2011 AND AED'S 505 COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP AWARD IN 2019. WESST HAS BEEN A LONG-TIME RESOURCE PARTNER OF THE U.S. SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION AND HOSTS SIX SBA WOMEN'S BUSINESS CENTERS IN NEW MEXICO. WESST IS ALSO AN SBA MICROLENDER AND A CDFI COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTION.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE: AT DECEMBER 31, 2022, WESST HAD 113 LOANS OUTSTANDING TOTALING APPROXIMATELY 1,034,315. THESE LOANS ARE FOR SMALL BUSINESSES WHICH ARE UNABLE TO OBTAIN FINANCING FROM BANKS OR OTHER TRADITIONAL SERVICES, AND ASSISTANCE IN ACCESSING OTHER FINANCIAL RESOURCES.