Print
Category: Local News Releases Local News Releases
Published: 18 January 2019 18 January 2019

Southwest New Mexico Arts, Culture & Tourism invites you to attend:
the second round of meetings & interviews for the Grant County Makerspace-Incubator/Feasibility Study

January 22 – 24, 2019

In August of 2018, Southwest New Mexico Arts, Culture & Tourism (SWNMACT), was awarded a substantial grant
from the US Department of Agriculture, for support with Rural Business Development.
The proceeds from this grant are being used to fund a Feasibility Study for Incubators and/or Makerspaces
here in Grant County!

Our consultant for this study is Creative Startups, a global business startup accelerator company, 

and will be hosting a series of free public meetings and individual interviews with
Grant County community members, focusing on economic development, creative entrepreneurship,
small business, and the creative economy in Grant County.

The Creative Startups team is headed by Dr. Alice Loy, who is well known in Silver City for her work
with several local small businesses and with WNMU. The Feasibility Study involves research
on all aspects of incubators and maker spaces in rural areas, including surveys and interviews
with a wide range of Grant County community members, and is expected to last eight months.

Creative Startups will be assisted by the staff of SWNMACT and by in-kind sponsors, WNMU and the Carter House.

The Town of Silver City and Grant County have both signed on as supporters of this project
as it fits well with their goals of building the creative economy in this region.

Creative Startups will be engaging deeply with small businesses and “makers” in Grant County.
If you are interested in participating in this project, please contact:
SWNMACT at info@swnmact.org or Julia Youngs with Creative Startups at julia@creativestartups.org

Creative Startups is requesting your valuable input
The results from this study will help to measure the potential for
Creative & Entrepreneurial Enterprise Startups in our area.

Even if you are not a business owner or entrepreneur,
your input and opinion as a Creative Thinker is very valuable,
as it will offer this Feasibility Study a
solid introduction to the abundantly diverse, inspiring and
creative members of our community.

MEETING/INTERVIEW SCHEDULE
Tuesday January 22:
SILVER CITY:
1pm-6pm: Besse-Forward Global Resources Center, ABC Room, WNMU Campus
PUBLIC INTERVIEWS: 2pm – 4pm
INFORMATIONAL PUBLIC MEETING: 4pm – 6pm

Wednesday January 23:
MIMBRES: 10am-12pm: The RoundUp Lodge, 91 Aklin Hill Road, Mimbres*
BRIEF PROJECT OVERVIEW PRESENTATION by Creative Startups: 10am
Q&A and individual interviews to follow
*Please call Lee Gruber (575-590-0314) to confirm location and meeting time

BAYARD/ HURLEY / SANTA CLARA:
1 -5pm, Bayard Community Center, 209 Hurley Avenue, Bayard
BRIEF PROJECT OVERVIEW PRESENTATION by Creative Startups: 1pm
Q&A and individual interviews to follow

Thursday January 24:
GILA/CLIFF:
10am - 12pm, Gila Community Center, Gila
BRIEF PROJECT OVERVIEW PRESENTATION by Creative Startups: 1pm
Q&A and individual interviews to follow
*Please call Bridgette Johns (575-654-3969) to confirm location and meeting time

SILVER CITY:
1pm - 5pm, Visitors Center Conference Room, 201 N. Hudson Street, Silver City
QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, INDIVIDUAL INTERVIEWS
*Please call Lee Gruber (575-590-0314) to confirm location and meeting times

We invite YOU to participate in this unique opportunity
to solidify and celebrate our Grant County Creative Economy!

Julia Youngs, Creative Startups, julia@creativestartups.org

Lee Gruber, 575-590-0314
Bridgette Johns, 575-654-3969
Southwest New Mexico Arts, Culture and Tourism
lee@swnmact.org
info@swnmact.org
office: 575-538-5560