How to Start a Business in Roswell, NM

Here are some key resources in Roswell and Chaves County to help entrepreneurs turn their big dreams into reality.

By Rebecca Deurlein on December 12, 2023

Stephanie DeFranco

Roswell and Chaves County is a small community where big dreams come to life. That’s because several resources are available for budding entrepreneurs, and residents are eager to support small businesses trying to make it big.

In fact, some local organizations are solely focused on helping community members become successful business owners. Here’s a look at some available resources for entrepreneurs wondering how to start a business in Roswell.

Check Out the RCCEDC

As the premier economic engine in the region, the Roswell-Chaves County Economic Development Corporation (RCCEDC) knows everything about how to start a business in Roswell and Chaves County, from how to qualify for tax incentives to what sites are available for businesses. 

“We are a full-service organization with four primary focus areas: business attraction and recruitment, business retention and expansion, workforce development, and community development for a better Roswell-Chaves County,” says Mike Espiritu, president/CEO of the RCCEDC. “Although our primary sectors are aviation and aerospace, agriculture, and manufacturing, we are poised to support and assist any type of business to profitability, and more importantly, job creation.” 

The RCCEDC broadcasts up-to-date employment opportunities, assists with business retention and expansion, and offers support with workforce development.

And for any business considering relocation, expansion or a full startup in the region, the organization offers access to its professional economic development team. RCCEDC provides key market data, site selection services and networking opportunities with industry leaders. 

Tonee Harbert/RAiR

Creative Pursuits for Artistic Entrepreneurs

For over 50 years, the Roswell Artist-in-Residency (RAiR) program has provided the space artists need to focus on their work. 

Miranda Howe, a ceramicist who came from a Roswell family of artists and creative thinkers, applied to the RAiR program in 2012. That experience led to a new creative freedom. 

“RAiR gives six selected artists their own house, studio and a monthly stipend for one year. I spent the year in an artist’s dream. Not having to work an outside job to support myself was not only a boost to my output, but it gave me the time to experiment and work beyond my normal size and scope. 

“After my RAiR year,” Howe says, “it was time to put down some firmer roots, so I stayed in Roswell; the town and its size were a great fit. The arts and culture scene really does make it a wonderful place to live and work!” 

Now, as the owner of Bone Springs Art Space, Howe is currently hosting an exhibition of the artists she met in the shared space. “The facility and location are excellent for an artist’s immersion into their own world,” she says. “Roswell really is a place where an individual can make a difference.” 

Vital Support for Women

With an office in Chaves County, Women’s Economic Self-Sufficiency Team (WESST) offers one-on-consulting and training on how to start a business in Roswell. The program is designed to help women become self-sufficient through self-employment. 

“We focus on women because in the past, they have been overlooked when trying to start a business on their own,” says Rhonda Gilliam- Smith, regional manager. “Until the mid-1980s, most banks would not lend to women without a male co-signing on the loan.” 

But WESST has changed all that. Its clients have opened or will open a variety of businesses including food trucks and restaurants; midwife services, ultrasound and analysis; a dentistry office; consulting firms; and insurance companies. These companies add to the growing economy, employ people who live here and enjoy low costs. 

WESST benefits the community by listening to the voices of women who have been silenced through bureaucracy in starting a business. Then, the organization provides expert business consultations and training as well as help with securing a low-interest loan. 

“We value what women have to say, and then motivate them to go for their dreams,” Gilliam-Smith says. “I helped a female retiree finally start the beekeeping business of her dreams. She had worked all her life but was unsure about how to start a business. After WESST provided business training and consulting, she established her business license and is now moving toward collecting bees. Today that woman says to us, ‘Instead of sitting on the couch wasting away after retirement, I’m having fun!”