Free Money

Santa Fe is continuing its recent tradition of dropping money onto what it hopes will be the next big thing. Budding entrepreneurs have until April 16 to get their ideas to BizMix, an award program sponsored by Santa Fe's Economic Development Division.

"Coaching will be available, consultation will be available, not to mention up to $50,000 in grant money from the city that will go directly to businesses," says city spokesman Matt Ross.

That's $20,000 more than what was offered last year.

It's not clear yet how the money would be divided among four winners. To qualify, applicants must be in the "pre-revenue" stage of their idea. They also must be willing to see their idea through.

Ross says that the city's involvement in BizMix is, at this point, tried and true enough to keep it going. "Dozens of businesses have benefited from this," he notes.

Whether previous winners were the city’s next big thing is up to the eye of the beholder. But they include niche eateries like Cheesemongers of Santa Fe, which sells bread, cheese from all over the world and dried meat from a Marcy Street storefront. The eatery received a $5,000 grant from the city, which owner John Gutierrez says offset the cost of a walk-in fridge that he’s planning to install by this winter.

"For the vast majority, everything I did with the city worked really well," Gutierrez says.

Indian restaurant Paper Dosa and Santa Cidra Hard Cider also won BizMix awards last year. Those interested in applying should visit mixsantafe.com/bizmix.

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