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New app being launched to help small businesses in NM

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.- WeConnectNM, an Albuquerque-based economic think tank, is hosting a summit to help grow small businesses around the state.

The group is also launching an app to help connect locally owned businesses with government agencies and big box stores.

"It’s a little like match.com,” said Arellana Cordero, Chief Finance Officer of Southwest Capital Bank

Cordero is on WeConnectNM’s board of directors and told KOB, "Big business and government has the ability to go in and make a match so it’s a simpler, cleaner and easier process."

For example, Cordero’s family owns Cocina Azul and if a big business likes what they, they can ask the restaurant to cater events.

The app will be launched during a summit Wednesday in Albuquerque.

“At this historic Small Business Summit, we will present initiatives and ideas that will bring incredible opportunities for New Mexico small businesses from within our state,” said Chris Schroeder, Chairman of the WeConnectNM Board of Directors. “In New Mexico, there are over 150,000 businesses and 99% of them are small businesses that employ 54% of all New Mexicans. Given this data, we must do everything to support our small businesses and ensure success by connecting local entrepreneurs to resources, encouraging the development of essential infrastructure, and creating incentives designed to support sustainable growth.”

Organizers said their goal is to make New Mexico the most small-business friendly state in the country.

Tickets for the summit are still available for $10 each. For more info, click here.

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Camden County Program Uses an Honest Days Work to Help Get Homeless Off the Streets

Malcolm Flowers talks about his experience in Camden County’s Work Now and Bridge to Work programs at Cathedral Kitchen on Wednesday, March 27.

CAMDEN, NJ— Malcolm Flowers had lost a lot in life — his wife, his kids, his job, his home and his hope.

At 54, he found himself homeless on the streets of Camden until one day last year, when he was approached along the Camden waterfront with an opportunity to earn some cash in exchange for a day’s worth of work.

His path off the streets of Camden began that day. Motivated by his desire to no longer sleep out in the cold under bridges, Flowers has been able to turn that day job into a part-time job, stable housing and treatment thanks to a new program run by the Camden County Freeholder Board and Volunteers of America Delaware Valley.

Launched last year, Camden County’s Work Now program offers Camden’s homeless $15 an hour and access to social services in exchange for a day of work.

On Wednesday, county officials were at Cathedral Kitchen to announce that the program provided 396 of Camden’s homeless with a day’s pay and 127 of those individuals participated in social service programs in its first year.

“It’s not just about feeding the homeless, it’s not just about providing showers, it’s not just about providing individual services that are necessary, but rather the greater mission is ending homelessness. Ending the needs individuals encounter when they find themselves challenged,” said Freeholder Carmen Rodriguez, liaison to the county’s health department.

“These are individuals, and you have to treat every human being as a human being — not just as a category. This program has already proven to be a tremendous asset and tremendous opportunity to help human beings who need a little extra help,” Rodriguez said.

Through a partnership with Volunteers of America [VOA], two days a week VOA’s Give Hope team would go to different sections of Camden and ask panhandlers and other homeless individuals if they would be willing to participate. After the work was done, those who participated would be connected to resources for housing, treatment and other employment.

“Homelessness is complicated. Housing doesn’t solve homelessness. Ultimately, people become homelessness because of lots of issues. That’s our goal, to attend to those issues so that once people get housed, they are able to stay housed,” said Pat McKernan, chief operating officer of Volunteers of America.

The program’s success also spurred its second phase. Launched six months ago, Bridge to Work provides permanent, part-time employment through Camden County College to those who successfully participated in the county’s Work Now program. When it launched, it had 20 applicants for six open spots. Three people, including Flowers, are currently employed through the program.

“I feel like I can now do what I need to do to be a productive member of society again,” said Flowers, who now stays at the Joseph House in Camden. “I’m grateful.”

However, Flowers said that the opportunity was not a hand out, and something he wouldn’t have taken if it was.

“Don’t give me something,” Flowers said. “I don’t want to panhandle when I can have a job. I don’t want to be a problem to anybody."

The other two members of the Bridge to Work program, Kevin Burke and Duncan Gaskins, were also on hand Wednesday.

“This gave us hope,” said Burke, who added that he never thought he would be homeless. “We’re in a much better position then we were six months ago.”

Gaskins came to Camden in August looking for a new start. He was also homeless, staying near the Camden waterfront when he was approached to work in the Work Now program.

“This gives me hope that if you push, you can do this. You can get your life back and move forward, regain things,” Gaskins said.

The three men work under the supervision of Christina DeCristofer at Camden County College, cleaning the campus grounds.

“They are as every bit as amazing as they seem,” DeCristofer said. “To see how focused they are, and how invested they are, it’s just been wonderful. I’ve watched them flourish. Health wise they’ve improved, they come to work, they communicate. They’re just amazing, grateful and hard workers.”

In 2017, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development estimated that Camden County experiences 500 to 600 homeless individuals on any day. Those that are chronically homeless often require attention from healthcare and first responder services, and can cost taxpayers thousands of dollars.

By connecting Camden’s homeless population to employment and much-needed social services, the Work Now program not only provides those who are homeless with a way to improve their lives, but it also saves the taxpayers money.

The program was modeled after a similar program in Albuquerque, New Mexico, said Camden County Deputy Administrator Holly Cass. The county spent $80,000 for the labor and social services offered over the course of the year, said Cass.

Despite the early success of the program, Rodriguez said that the county still has a long way to go to combat its homelessness problem but, “anybody we get off the street is a success story.”

Find TAPinto Camden on Facebook and Twitter. Download the TAPinto mobile app for Android or iOS.

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Looking for affordable but the best apartments in Albuquerque NM

ave you been thinking of moving to Albuquerque NM? If you are then, there will be the need for you to find reasonably priced apartments for rent in Albuquerque. Yes, making the right decision regarding these apartments should be your priority. You can select or choose amongst the long list of the best apartments in Albuquerque NM. Finding the right apartments to rent in Albuquerque can be very difficult even more than you think.

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Looking for affordable but the best apartments in Albuquerque NM

ave you been thinking of moving to Albuquerque NM? If you are then, there will be the need for you to find reasonably priced apartments for rent in Albuquerque. Yes, making the right decision regarding these apartments should be your priority. You can select or choose amongst the long list of the best apartments in Albuquerque NM. Finding the right apartments to rent in Albuquerque can be very difficult even more than you think.

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Top Rated Apartments For Rent Albuquerque That You Can Find Today

If you have never lived in Albuquerque before, and you want to find an apartment, you can do so quite easily. It’s a huge city, one that has a vast number of apartment complexes, all of which will have vacancies from time to time. If you are able to submit your applications every day, you will likely find a place to live by the end of the week. If you need something faster, there are strategies you can use to get Apartments for rent Albuquerque that are currently available. To use the strategies, there are only a couple of things that you need to do.

Begin Your Search By Going Online

The people that are the most successful are those that are going to find the most recent listings. This allows them to submit their application as quickly as they can. When they find these locations, they will evaluate where they are in the city. They can look up information on the different neighborhoods. Of all of the ones that are listed, you will only submit your application to apartments that are available right now. This research that you do will also help you decide on which part of this community that you would prefer living in.

Always Have Letters Of Recommendation Ready

When apartment managers go through applications, they need to know that you are fulfilling every request. It’s not good enough to simply fill out the application properly. You need to have letters of recommendation. It is a good idea to get one from your current manager. If you do have a positive relationship with them, and you have always paid your rent on time, that referral will be very beneficial. If you can get a couple more, preferably from people that are respectable, this will help you get approved.

What Else Do You Need To Rent One Of These Apartments?

It is so important to have enough money to move in some people forget that they will need to provide this new apartment complex with the first month of rent, last month, and they will also ask for the deposit. In some cases, you will have already moved out of your other apartment and they will have returned this money. You can use this to your advantage, prompting you to only have to come up with the first month of rent. This will make it easy for you on a financial level. This combination of having referral letters, and the money to move in, will make it easy for you to find a new place to live.

The apartments for rent Albuquerque that are available currently will be in various areas. That’s why it is so important to do research on the different neighborhoods that are in Albuquerque is to narrow your search and where you will submit the applications. If everything is in order, and you do have good credit, there is no reason that you could not find a place to move in today. It will take a few hours of work, but once the applications are in, you should hear back from one of these courteous apartment managers that will tell you you have been approved.

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City, county partner for state-of-the-art homeless housing, treatment complex

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – Albuquerque and Bernalillo County are getting ready to spend millions of dollars on a state-of-the-art project they hope can help get the most chronically homeless people off the streets for good.

The idea is to build an all-in-one, 24-7 campus-like housing complex where people can live and get medical and social services on site.

As homelessness remains a pronounced issue in Albuquerque, local leaders say they’re ready to try something different.

"This is going to be huge for our community," said Katrina Hotrum-Lopez, director of the Department of Behavioral Health Services for Bernalillo County. "It’s going to be so impactful."

The joint city and county homeless housing project is currently under a "request for proposals" process. If built, it would be a first for New Mexico.

The project calls for developers to come up with a plan to build a 40-unit, apartment-style complex in Albuquerque that offers permanent housing alongside on-site professional medical and social help for its tenants.

The expectation is that the facility will be home for those who are chronically homeless and may deal with mental illness or substance abuse.

According to the project RFP, the "priority population" will include individuals in four criteria including homelessness or severe housing instability, frequent admission to MDC’s psychiatric unit, frequent utilization of detox services, and frequent use of emergency medical service for behavioral health needs.

READ: Single Site Supportive Housing Project Details

"What we intend to do here is have more intensive case management and supports for these individuals that they can access 24-hours a day," said Hotrum-Lopez.

"It’s a way for us to really help folks stay housed, thrive and you know, succeed," said Lisa Huval, deputy director of Albuquerque’s Family and Community Services Department.

Huval says similar "full service" housing projects have worked in communities like Denver.

"Housing folks with serious behavioral health issues who need housing and on-site supportive services to really be successful," said Huval.

The city and the county are also asking for a developer to figure out the best site for the housing project. The ideas are due by June 4, 2018.

"This is a good investment," said Bernalillo County Commissioner Maggie Hart Stebbins, speaking of the project.

The commissioner says the project is the right next step in figuring out new solutions for homelessness.

"We can’t keep going down the same path that we’ve been on for years, we’re beginning to see, there has to be an investment that will eventually have a really significant payoff," said Hart Stebbins.

So far, the city of Albuquerque says no one has submitted proposals to build the project, but they expect to get some submissions in as the deadline gets closer.

All the money for the project comes from taxpayers. The county’s $2 million share is from the voter-approved sales tax increase for behavioral health programs. The city’s $1.97 million share came from existing city funds.

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NAI Maestas & Ward Business First’s Private Companies awards – Albuquerque Business First

In May, Albuquerque Business First revealed the companies that made our new Top 100 New Mexico Private Companies Awards.

Business First is highlighting a handful of companies that are new to the list this year.

First up is NAI Maestas & Ward Commercial Real Estate.

The commercial real estate firm was involved in $193.70 million in transactions in 2017, according to our Largest New Mexico Commercial Real Estate Firms List. It also managed 3.45 million square feet in 2017.

But beyond its number, the firm’s leadership continues to make headlines. CEO Debbie Harms was among notable commercial real estate executives across the country included in the Business Journals’ list of commercial real estate influencers.

In March, Harms talked to Business First about how to get more women involved in commercial real estate and construction jobs.

"Commercial real estate is either appealing to you, or it isn’t," she said. "It takes a lot of knowledge, education, tenacity, networking, perseverance and honor to work in commercial real estate. It’s not easy, there are no “free lunches” and the standard is high. The way we get more women in commercial real estate is to teach them as young girls that they are equal to any man, and more importantly, we teach them that respect is earned, not given. You earn respect by doing the homework, doing the analysis, doing the research and being prepared. You earn respect by working with your clients, going the extra step, taking the extra time, giving the extra thought and being ready when the time is right."

Jim Wible, director at NAI Maestas and Ward, was named Commercial Association of REALTORS New Mexico’s "REALTOR of the Year" for 2017.

The Top 100 Private Companies encompasses the top-performing independent companies, including wholly owned subsidiaries and nonprofits, that are based in New Mexico. Companies submitted their information by survey to be considered for The List of New Mexico Private Companies. The List is ranked by 2017 New Mexico revenue.

This new event will highlight the work of New Mexico’s private sector and will include lots of fun surprises and recognition, including the new Company of the Year Award.

Join us June 14 at the Albuquerque Convention Center as we celebrate the many companies thriving in New Mexico’s private sector.

The Top 100 New Mexico Private Companies Awards is sponsored by Bank of America and Meals on Wheels.

Largest New Mexico Commercial Real Estate Firms

Ranked by 2017 commercial transactions value

Rank Business name 2017 commercial transactions value 1 CBRE New Mexico $447.24 million 2 NAI Maestas & Ward Commercial Real Estate $193.70 million 3 Colliers International | Albuquerque-Santa Fe $179.65 million View This List

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Wells Fargo launches NeighborhoodLIFT program in New Mexico – Albuquerque Business First

Wells Fargo, along with NeighborWorks America and Homewise, announced a program Wednesday to help increase homeownership in all of New Mexico’s 33 counties.

Wells Fargo [NYSE: WFC] is committing $4.6 million to the 2018 New Mexico NeighborhoodLIFT program, which offers homebuyer education and down payment assistance grants. A similar LIFT program in 2015 created 221 homeowners in Albuquerque, according to a release.

“The NeighborhoodLIFT program is another example of our commitment to New Mexico and our efforts to build better communities through sustainable homeownership,” David Hockmuth, Wells Fargo New Mexico region bank president, said in a statement. “The program will help hardworking families and individuals get on the path to achieve successful and sustainable homeownership.”

The NeighborhoodLIFT program will begin with a free event June 1 and June 2 at the Albuquerque Convention Center.

To be eligible, annual income cannot exceed 80 percent of the area median income in the county in which the home is being purchased. Veterans and service members, teachers, law enforcement officers, firefighters and emergency medical technicians may reserve $10,000 in down payment assistance grants within eligibility requirements, including earning up to 100 percent of the area median income. The median household income for Bernalillo County is $48,994, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Homewise is a chartered member of NeighborWorks America, a national organization that helps create opportunities for people to live in affordable homes. Homewise Inc. is a homeownership nonprofit organization founded in Santa Fe that has built over 600 high-quality affordable homes and helped over 3,600 people purchase homes since its founding in 1986. Last year the nonprofit received $15 million in federal loans to help finance and refinance single-family mortgages in Albuquerque and Santa Fe, Albuquerque Business First reported.

Wells Fargo said it conducted 58 LIFT program events in the U.S. since 2012 that have created more than 17,550 homeowners.

Largest Banks in New Mexico

Ranked by Deposit volume, local

Rank Business name Deposit volume, local 1 Wells Fargo Bank N.A. $8.48 billion 2 Bank of America N.A. $3.84 billion 3 U.S. Bank N.A. $1.52 billion View This List

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Developer hopes to introduce a new concept of affordable housing to Carolina Forest

HORRY COUNTY, SC (WMBF) – A developer is looking to introduce a new concept in the style of affordable housing to the Carolina Forest area. But, will the community accept it?

Nearly 100 homes could be coming to a 12-acre piece of land on Village Center Boulevard in Carolina Forest. But these homes are a little different, in terms of size. They would be detached, single-family, cottage-style homes, all on one common piece of property — similar to ones you may have seen in The Market Common.

Horry County Deputy Director of Planning and Zoning, David Schwerd, said these homes are smaller than your average home, but not quite considered "tiny homes.” They can range from as small as 500 to around 1,000 square feet. He said the intent of this project is to build a community of more affordable-type homes aimed at a variety of age groups. This development would be considered a "walkable" community, with easy access to stores and restaurants in the area.

Schwerd said there’s more of a demand for people who want to live closer in a more urbanized setting.

“The developer’s idea is… they’re trying to fill a market niche, where people who are ready to not be in an apartment or a condo, but they don’t want to maintain the large yard or even a smaller yard. They want to have a place where the houses are more affordable, because they’re not having to pay for all that open area in the grass and be able to walk to those kinds of services at night time… without having to get out and get in the car every time they want to go to the grocery store, every time they want to get a pizza. They’d be able to just get out and walk to it,” said Schwerd.

Schwerd said the developers would need to go through a re-zoning action, because the property is currently zoned for highway commercial.

He said anytime development happens in Carolina Forest, there are challenges when it comes to roads and projects in the area. Additional traffic is also a concern, but Schwerd said this particular community has better access out than most since it sits on a loop that connects with River Oaks Drive.

Anthony Browning is the owner of House Finder Realty and One Punch Fitness, just down the street from the proposed development and he said he’s for this new concept.

“We think it’s a fabulous idea, because not only will it be more opportunity for us to have folks come and see One Punch Fitness next door, but also we work with a lot of buyer clients… and with that there’s some shortage of inventory right now in the markets. So, in that price point that’s affordable for the working professionals, families. It’s a dynamite opportunity for us to work with buyers, finding them the proper home for them and their family, but then also when selling client in the future, when people move into the neighborhood and want to move out. We’re excited about a new neighborhood in the area,” said Browning.

The developer requested deferral on the project last night at the Planning Commission meeting. It will now be reconsidered at the next meeting on June 7.

Copyright 2018 WMBF News. All rights reserved.

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Albuquerque zookeepers train animals to retreat in emergencies

The BioPark says its goal is to get every animal trained to respond quickly to a command or cue, then retreat back into their enclosures.

"We’re really expanding our training repertoire around the zoo, so eventually we’ll have it with every animal so it will be great to have that on a cue," BioPark Mammal Curator Dr. Erin Flynn said.

At the Rio Grande Zoo, the orangutans are ahead of the curve on what the zoo calls its "emergency recall training."

"Our ability to respond is based on how quickly they come in the back for us so that we can get to where we need to," Flynn added.

It would be used if the zoo ever deals with a security threat, severe weather like a lightning storm, or simply because it’s time for these animals to go to bed.

"A guest could throw something harmful in there, which we certainly hope never happens that we need to move the animals away from that and bring them in for their safety."

The animals’ hard work doesn’t go unnoticed and zookeepers make sure to reward them with treats and toys as an incentive to keep responding to their commands.

"They had the popcorn in their little boxes and the orangutans came out right away and grabbed it and tore it apart. It was a lot of fun and really interesting," said Sammantha Sordi, who watched the training with her daughter, Bella.

Right now, the zookeepers are focusing their training on the orangutans, lions and polar bears. Zookeepers say the animals catch on to the training pretty quickly.

A few months ago it took the orangutans 40 minutes to follow the commands and get inside. On Thursday, it it took three and a half minutes.

This training is happening as the zoo is taking steps to keep visitors safer from the animals and to keep the animals safer from the humans. The zoo has recently increased its security camera count to about 50.

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The Best Ways To Search For Albuquerque NM Apartments

Albuquerque NM is becoming a nice city to move to now that the recession has passed and jobs are beginning to come back. With the new economy racing ahead, more people are moving into Albuquerque looking for work. And because so many people are finding jobs, there is a need for new apartments to be built.

Searching for apartments can be overwhelming, but thanks to new technology and the internet finding something that is within your budget is easier than ever. There are many places to look online to find apartments, as you are probably aware by now. The benefits to searching online for apartments is that you don’t have to drive all over town looking. You simply log onto the internet, pull up a website that has apartments for rent and you will see what they have to offer.

You can always hire a rental agent who is there to help you find an apartment that suits your needs. Although this will cost money, it does save time and you are most likely going to find the apartment that you desire. Plus if you’re busy working, having someone else do the search for you is a big plus. This is especially true if you have to move to the city for a job and aren’t familiar with the area. A rental agent can show you the different neighborhoods in Albuquerque that may fit your lifestyle.

There is a lot of new construction going in Albuquerque so if you are patient you can move into one of the gleaming new high-rise buildings being built. With new companies starting up and young professionals moving into the area, there is a growing need for even more apartment building. But if you are patient and search around you are bound to find a place that works best for you.

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