Committee approves $300,000 contract with UNM for entrepreneurship accelerator

The Finance Committee voted April 7 to award a two‑year, $300,000 contract to the University of New Mexico Anderson School Center for Responsible Entrepreneurship to provide entrepreneurship support, training and to administer an accelerator program in Santa Fe.

Johanna Nelson of the Office of Economic Development and Eric Renz Whitmore, economic development specialist, introduced the item and Professor Rob Del Campo (joining online) described the center’s approach. Del Campo said his program focuses on “responsible business” — sustainability, environmental and community issues — and that over two years it had worked with about 42 businesses in Santa Fe and Northern New Mexico and launched 24 new businesses.

Councilor Lindell and others asked for more complete program performance data, including participant lists, named business outcomes and a clearer cost‑per‑participant breakdown. “We need a much more detailed explanation of what we’re doing,” Lindell said, requesting that staff supply more specific outcome information and details about who runs the program (faculty plus local business mentors).

Staff said previous accelerator investments exist and that the UNM program has been partially funded by the university and private donors; the requested contract would cover a portion of the program’s operating costs. A motion to approve the contract carried; several councilors recorded support but asked that the contractor and city provide a fuller packet of outcome measures to the committee.