THE BUSINESS CORNER:   HOT !!  Small business folks!  h=Heads up!  The City of Albuquerque invites you to register on their free, solicitation notification system for all requests for bids (RFPs), proposals and quotes with the City of Albuquerque .

Mayor Martin Chavez formed a Small Business Advisory Committee to make recommendations for assistance to small businesses.  Mayor Chavez approved a recommendation to provide an additional 5% preference to local small businesses , among a few other incentives.  The initiative was adopted into ordinance by the City Council and is scheduled for implementation on January 1, 2008 .

The city Purchasing Division is inviting and encouraging  ALL businesses to take advantage of these new opportunities by registering now!!  Of course, on-line registration is available 24 hours, 7 days a week at www.cabq.gov/vendor .  For more information call 311 or Vendor Help Line 800-575-9955 , or go to www.cabq.gov/purchase .   

Strategies for small businesses:  First Stage Financing strategies help in obtaining funding for both the newly formed and the expanding small business.  It is essential that you be aware of banks and other lending institutions (WESSTCORP,  ACCION, THE LOAN FUND, and SBA), that will help you answer the most important questions of:

1. Is your business ready for financing?;
2. What organizations favor your specific business type?;
3. What are Loan Officers and Loan Committees looking for?;
4. What loan options are available?;
5. What are the alternatives to Traditional Financing?;
6. How can strategies improve my chances of getting a loan? 

Being prepared BEFORE you make application for the loan is the most IMPORTANT aspect of this MOST important transaction!  Having asked and answered the above questions will help determine the amount of capital you honestly need and identify those financing sources most inclined to fund your project!

COMPUTERS NEED HOMES:   The Menaul School technical department has computers that need homes!  They are in good condition and have monitor, keyboard and CPU.  It is preferred that you pick them up from the Menaul School . 

Brenda Hollingsworth-Marley , (Librarian) @ the Menaul School , 301 Menaul blvd., NE @ Broadway and Menaul. NM CHAPTER - BLACKS IN GOVERNMENT (BIG):  BIG wants to start this year off with a BANG!  2008 is a Year of New Beginnings!  ..and we want you to be a BIG part of it. 

Please don't miss out on what's in store for you this year.  Remember:  Region 6 will shine at this year's convention in New Orleans.

BIG meets every 3rd Saturday of each month at the Taylor Ranch Community Center located at 4900 Kachina St. NW (Kachina & Montano).

Region 6 is "hosting" - don't miss out on assignments!  All the good ones go fast.  There are too many surprises to divulge them all at this time, but I assure you that you won't be disappointed.  BIG-NM Chapter is ready for you!  This is our year to shine! Angela Renee Shanks-Dailey, Blacks in Government BIG-NM chapter.

The Albuquerque District Postal Service is hosting the HOPE (Hispanic Organization of Postal Employees) on November 6 – November 8, 2008.

Please join us for this empowering conference as an attendee. I have attached all of the registration information. If you know of someone that may want to be a vendor please pass on this information. I have attached the information for vendors/sponsors also.

HOPE to see you there!

New York Times Business Headlines

Proceeds from the sale of Lobo House will go to the Lobo Club in support of UNM student-athletes.

The UNM Lobo Club and Raylee Homes and Vantage Homes have partnered together for another Lobo House fundraiser. Raylee Homes, Vantage Homes and various community business partners have completed construction of a beautiful home at 9212 Cinder Place NW in the Sundoro community located in the Petroglyphs. Proceeds from the sale of Lobo House will go to the UNM Lobo Club and benefit UNM student-athlete scholarships.

Lobo House is a 2,616 square foot home that includes Dishwasher, Gas Range, Microwave, Drop Panel Oak Cabinets, Silestone^TM Kitchen Countertops, 2-Sided Gas Fireplace in Master Bedroom, Jetted Garden Tub in Master Bath, Front and Side Yard Landscaping and more.

"Since 1990, we have enjoyed building the Lobo House projects and without the continued efforts of our contractors and suppliers, the concept wouldn't exist. All who participate are adamant about helping the student-athletes by the funds we raise and we will continue to strive to enhance their scholastic and athletic endeavors at the University of New Mexico," said Scott Grady, Co-President of Raylee Homes and Vantage Homes.

Vice President for Athletics Paul Krebs added, "Raylee Homes, Vantage Homes and Scott Grady have been a great part of the Lobo family for a long time. You combine that with all of the generosity from area subcontractors and we are very lucky to have such a wonderful project like Lobo House. We are very grateful to Scott for his leadership and to all of the subcontractors for their support."

The various contractors and suppliers who helped to make this year's Lobo House possible include A-Management, Community Sciences, Custom Grading, Champion Truss, Arviso Framing, Plumb Mechanical, Fox Electric, Turn on Lighting, Modern Security, PMI, Otero and Sons, Albuquerque Door, Overhead Door, Garrity Insulation, Ray's Flooring, Alverez, Don Reynolds, Master Craft Cabinets, Artistic Tile and Granite, Whirlpool, Formcove, Feeney Inc., Hilltop Landscape Architects, Mountain West Sales, Vantage Builders and Ybarra Concrete.

If you are interested in seeing and possibly purchasing the Lobo House, e-mail Tony Shaskus at tshaskus@rayleevantage.com.