Lovington MainStreet’s Local Innovators Institute is now in its fourth cohort training restaurant entrepreneurs on the business and art of running a restaurant without the risk of losing precious time and resources on new food concepts. Back in 2018-19, Lovington MainStreet’s Executive Director Mara Salcido worked with her Board to develop the Local Innovators Institute program in order to improve downtown Lovington’s dining and entertainment district which is one of Lovington MainStreet’s economic transformation strategies.
“This project has been so awesome. When Mara pitched it, I was on board from the start. I started in the restaurant business 14 years ago with no experience. If this program had been around then, we would’ve saved a ton of money, blood, sweat, and tears just trying to get going. The program allows them to see if their concept works or not before they dump their life savings into it. I’m 100% behind this program. Thank you to USDA Rural Development for their continued support,” said Lovington MainStreet’s Board Director and owner of Baja Grill Kenny Kim.
Lovington MainStreet received a $75,900 Rural Business Development Grant (RBDG) from USDA Rural Development (RD) in 2019 to purchase the food truck, and another $50,000 in RBDG funding in 2020 to continue the restaurant accelerator program. New Mexico MainStreet’s Business and Entrepreneur Development Revitalization Specialist Sean O’Shea (Hatchform) provided technical assistance to support the development of the business curriculum used in the five-week training. The training portion of the program also includes information on restaurant knowledge, branding/marketing, menu development, business planning, food safety, and licensing. Entrepreneurs then spend two weeks in the food truck selling their product, getting hands-on experience and valuable feedback.
“I appreciate being in this community because there’s so much potential here. Thank you to my Board, our Assistant Director Star McKee, the City of Lovington, and USDA RD for all their support. Please join us in downtown Lovington – hopefully we’ll see you at our next event,” said Lovington MainStreet’s Executive Director Mara Salcido.
On May 19, 2023, USDA RD’s State Director Patricia Dominguez presented Lovington MainStreet with a certificate of congratulations for “its successful Local Innovators Institute which supports the creation of business entrepreneurship by providing training and opportunities for those seeking to go into the restaurant business.”
“Everything we do at USDA RD is to empower rural communities. We have business and industry programs locally and nationally to support small businesses in rural areas. We’re so excited to be here today to celebrate the success of the Local Innovators Institute program,” said USDA RD’s State Director Patricia Dominguez.
The celebration event was well attended, and many others expressed their support for the program and for Lovington MainStreet’s revitalization efforts.
“Special thank you to Lovington MainStreet because a city is only as good as the people that are in it. What makes Lovington special, by far, is the people that are here. Mara is an incredible asset to our community – she brings crazy ideas, and she actually makes them work! It’s been great to meet the entrepreneurs who completed this program and have gone on to establish their business, and others who decided it was not a good fit. The key to business is deciding early on what’s possible so it doesn’t break you. The City of Lovington is so thankful to have Lovington MainStreet because they do so much for our city,” said Lovington Mayor Howard “Robbie” Roberts.
“In the last four years, downtown Lovington has really transformed – it looks so different. People are sitting and eating in Storybook Park, new businesses are popping up, it’s thriving with economic vitality. We can clearly see Lovington’s revitalization and Mara’s successful work, ” said Sean O’Shea.
“Everyone loves a food truck and rural development is so important to NM because we’re largely a rural state. It’s awesome to see the Local Innovators Institute’s success and the growth of businesses in Lovington. Our office helps with delegation, grant searches, letters of support and more to support rural communities with grant programs such as RBDG,” said U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján’s Portales Field Representative Constance Williams.
“When we look at how we want to grow and create an economic center, we have to look at what Mara’s accomplished because she’s one of the best grantwriters we have in the state,” said NM Representative Randall T. Pettigrew.
“It’s great to see what we can accomplish together. The Local Innovators Institute allows us to grow our entrepreneurs and we are grateful for the funding provided by USDA RD,” said Lovington MainStreet’s Board President Chuck Johnson.
Ms. Salcido and Lovington MainStreet have also spearheaded the following initiatives to continue the revitalization momentum in Lovington:
- Annual Downtown CleanUp volunteer events
- NOT Vacant Shindig live music events to promote vacant properties
- Infrastructure improvements that transform downtown such as Storybook Park and wayfinding signage
- Off the Clock Connections networking workshops
- Shop Local merchant promotions
- Live in Downtown music events
- Annual Smokin’ on the Plaza BBQ community event
- Renovation of the historic Lea Theater which will house Lovington MainStreet’s offices when complete.
Congratulations to Lovington MainStreet on their recognition for all their hard work, continued success and revitalization efforts! New Mexico MainStreet is proud of their achievements and looks forward to their future impactful projects.