Citizen and Business of the Year

Farmington celebrated the 2022 Citizen and Business of the Year on January 27th. A small business loan program wants more small businesses to know about the program's availability. And a free Narcan training session is offered to Farmington area residents. You're watching the Local News Roundup, brought to you by Northern Edge Casino and Boon's Family Thai Barbecue. I'm Haley Upsell. On January 27th, the Farmington Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual banquet celebrating the accomplishments of the last year, and shedding a spotlight on community-nominated Citizen and Business of the Year. Nancy Shepherd is the 2022 Citizen of the Year, recognized for her work as the founder of Leadership San Juan and her work with multiple community service organizations. The Business of the Year recognition went to M&R Plumbing Services, a family-owned business that is well known for its philanthropic endeavors such as its Lifts for Gifts fundraiser for the Farmington Boys and Girls Club. In 2022, M&R Plumbing started a Treston Project fundraiser, which donates $20 to a charitable fund for every review written online or verbal of its services over a year. At the end of the year, the Treston Project had raised $16,500, which was divided among two local families who had experienced hardships over the past year. Learn more about upcoming Chamber of Commerce events, like the New Mexico Civics Bee, at the Chamber's website. In 2022, the Northwest New Mexico Council of Governments applied for and received a $900,000 grant from the United States Economic Development Administration to help serve small businesses in San Juan, McKinley and Cibola counties through a revolving loan program. The grant has enabled the Council to provide revolving loans ranging from $20,000 to $100,000 to small businesses that are at least two years old. The loans can be used for working capital, machinery and equipment, real estate acquisition, tenant improvements, or refinancing of existing business debts. Revolving loans are loans that are automatically reviewed as the debt is paid, providing an additional source of funding. However, the program didn't receive any applicants last year, despite the almost 2000 San Juan County businesses that could benefit from the program. The Northwest New Mexico Council governments would like to see more applicants this year, and it's expanding its informational campaign. Interested applicants are encouraged to email msage@nwnmcog.org, or call for more information about the program. Ideal Option and San Juan Partnership are offering a free Narcan training session on Friday, February 10th, in Farmington. The two hour session will educate participants on the opioid epidemic in New Mexico, as well as train people in administering Narcan, one of the most effective treatments for opioid overdose. In San Juan County, the opioid overdose mortality rate is 35.4 per 100,000 people. Narcan can help reduce the rate by preventing death. The administration of Narcan is relatively easy, and has little to no adverse side effects if administered to someone who is not experiencing an opioid overdose, Although the training will ensure that participants can recognize the signs of an opioid-specific overdose. Space is limited, but there are possibilities for future training sessions if there is high enough interest. Contact evansa@sjcpartnership.org to reserve a spot or for more information. Thank you for watching this edition of the Local News Roundup. I'm Haley Opsal.