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Our Program
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DE-RISK YOUR ENTRY INTO LOS ALAMOS RETAIL OR FOOD/BEVERAGE
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RUN A RETAIL POP-UP STOREFRONT RENT/UTILITY-FREE
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FREE BUSINESS TRAINING PROGRAM
Los Alamos MainStreet, in partnership with New Mexico MainStreet, the Los Alamos Chamber of Commerce, run the Los Alamos Business Accelerator Program thanks to generous sponsors. The program's goals are to increase in independent retail stores in Los Alamos’ downtown core, which will create a more dynamic and interesting place for residents and visitors to enjoy; help diversify the greater Los Alamos economy; build the entrepreneurial class and ecosystem of the area; and fill vacant storefronts.
Individuals accepted into the Los Alamos Business Accelerator program participate in a complimentary training program (Phase I), and then qualify to apply for a brick-and-mortar pop-up to test their concept (Phase II). The program also covers business merchandising display costs, insurance and marketing costs.
PHASE I - Combine skills-building curriculum, cohort style learning and networking structure, advisement and mentorship from the broader Los Alamos ecosystem. Topics that will be covered in the 6-week program include Business Model & Customer Discovery; Branding, Marketing & Social Media; Business Process; Ordering, Inventory, Layout & Sales; Organization & Accounting; and Building Your Company (Culture & Workforce). Participants will meet once a week on Tuesday evenings and should expect to reserve 5:30-7:30 p.m. on their calendars, which will include training, as well as time for Q&A and networking (and some sessions will not take up the entire time).
Sample Schedule from 2022:
Sept. 13: Program Overview, Business Model, Customer Discovery
Sept. 20: Branding, Marketing and Social Media
Sept. 27: Business Process Info
Oct. 4: Ordering, Inventory, Layout and Sales
Oct. 11: Organization, Accounting and Incorporating Eco-Friendly Practices
Oct. 18: Building Your Company Culture, Hiring
Oct. 25: Mentorship Mixer
PHASE II - Real-world platform to test market viability and consumer adoption of retail concepts. After conclusion of Phase I training, participants will be given the opportunity to meet with a review committee to present their retail or F&B concept and showcase the work they have completed. From this review process, candidates will be chosen to use a retail/restaurant space for a pop-up. While operating their pop-up, they will have access to specific advisers familiar with opening and running a retail business and connections to the broader entrepreneur and small business resource ecosystem.
BACKGROUND
The inaugural program launched in 2021 with financial support from the New Mexico Economic Development Department LEADS Grant, LANL Community Partnerships Office, New Mexico MainStreet, and Los Alamos Commerce & Development Corporation (LACDC - the umbrella organization for Los Alamos MainStreet and the Chamber of Commerce). It resulted in four new retail storefronts in Los Alamos County: Little Studio on the Mesa, Samizdat Bookstore & Teahouse, Inspired Jewelers, and Wheeed! In 2022, the program helped open locations for Wolf & Mermaid Enchanted Roasters and Los Alamos Golf & Games (now operating out of the SALA Event Center).
Key Dates
Applications for the 2023 Business Accelerator applications will open late summer.
August 2023 – Applications open. Stay tuned for the application information available on this page.
Thank you to our 2022
Sponsors & Partners:
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2022 Pop-up Shops Graduates
Visit Wolf & Mermaid Enchanted Roasters temporarily serving in the mornings from Bathtub Row Brewing Co-op until their renovations are complete at 181 Central Park Square!
Los Alamos Golf & Games can now be found at SALA Event Center, 2551 Central Avenue. Reserve your tee time in advance HERE.
In the News:
The Man Behind Los Alamos Golf & Games
Los Alamos Business Accelerator Helps Startups Get Going
Scenes From Wolf & Mermaid Enchanted Roasters And Los Alamos Golf & Games On Small Business Saturday
Wolf & Mermaid Enchanted Cafe Appreciates Support, Encouragement And Assistance From Community
Wolf & Mermaid Enchanted Roasters Opens For Business!
Two 2022 Pop-Up Shops To Hold Soft Openings Saturday Morning
Los Alamos STEAM Lab And Samizdat Bookstore & Teahouse Announce Collaboration
Los Alamos MainStreet And Chamber Programs Help New Businesses Transition To Community
Letter To The Editor: Thanks Los Alamos For Embracing Cannabis
‘Goodnight Los Alamos’ Author Whitney Spivey To Sign Copies Of Her Book At Samizdat Bookstore Friday
New Retail Pop-Up Stores Coming To Downtown Los Alamos This Holiday Season
Los Alamos Retail Accelerator Program Applications Now Open
Los Alamos seeks to spark small-business growth with accelerator program
Cohort 1 Accelerator
Graduates Sponsors:
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What Participants Are Saying
"Ryn Herrmann, Director of the Chamber of Commerce, and Lauren McDaniel, Director of Los Alamos MainStreet, put in countless hours to help prospective business owners refine their ideas and business plans. In addition to LACDC’s investment, the Retail Accelerator program was also funded by a New Mexico Economic Development Department LEADS grant, as well as support from New Mexico MainStreet and LANL Community Partnerships Office. Their creative thinking, hard work, and willingness to try something different in Los Alamos, as well as the incredible support from our community, have led directly to the space-sharing partnership that Samizdat has been able to form with the Los Alamos STEAM Lab."
-Jill Lang, Samizdat Bookstore & Teahouse
"Thank you to the Los Alamos Chamber and MainStreet programs of Los Alamos Commerce & Development Corporation (LACDC), for the retail accelerator program. The best small business program we have ever seen in Los Alamos! This new program has allowed four new local businesses to test their retail concepts in town. Thanks to all of the presenters of the retail accelerator, we learned a lot every week. A super huge thank you to Ryn Herrmann (Chamber director) and Lauren McDaniel (LACDC interim director) for ALL of their efforts, hours, and hard work!! Thanks for selecting Wheeed LLC for Phase 2 of the retail accelerator, we are super excited to have a storefront."
-Jonathan LeDuc, Wheeed!
Retail Accelerator Survey (feedback was anonymous):
“Thanks! I think this is one of the most valuable entrepreneurial programs I have seen in Los Alamos. Three new Los Alamos businesses are operating in a retail space because of this program and that's great on so many levels.”
“Lots of positive feedback from the community that, finally, somebody tried something instead of just complaining.”
