GALLUP SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER
"Building New Mexico's Economy One Business at a Time."
Whether you are currently a small business owner or looking into entrepreneurship, the Small Business Development Center at the University of New Mexico-Gallup (SBDC) can help you climb and manage the ladder of success. The SBDC offers
FREE one-on-one consulting, training courses, and government procurement assistance for northwestern New Mexico businesses. The SBDC would also like to highlight that all client information is strictly
confidential.
Contact Information:
GALLUP SBDC
106 W. Hwy. 66
Gallup, NM 87301
PH: (505) 722-2220
email: sbdc@gallup.unm.edu
GALLUP SBDC 's 2011 CLIENT OF THE YEAR
Stephen & Sandi Tobey, Owners of Leap of Faith Farm.
Gallup SBDC Success Client 2011: Leap of Faith Farm
Leap of Faith Farm: Hydroponic, Aquaponic and Conventional Farming
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Stephen and Sandi Tobey are owners and managers of Leap of Faith Farm. Leap of Faith Farm is a farm that utilizes aquaponics, hydroponics and conventional growing methods to produce various types of vegetable produce. Leap of Faith Farm is located on 2 acres of land 9 miles south of Gallup, New Mexico. Leap of Faith Farm was started in October of 2009 and was officially recognized as a farm by the USDA in February of 2010.
Stephen and Sandi have brought Leap of Faith Farm into being even though both faced serious medical conditions. Sandi is a dialysis patient and is employed full time for another company and Stephen is an amputee. Stephen obtained some of his startup funding from the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR). Even with his amputation, Stephen, who is a certified Master Gardner, has constructed the first green house on the farm and established a sustainable produce line of lettuce and tomatoes in small quantities while developing his customer base. The lettuce is grown hydroponically in his “lettuce machine” and the farm can currently produce a maximum of 500 heads of lettuce in a 30-day period. The tomatoes are grown aquaponically on a small scale, for now, until the farm is approved for raising Tilapia. Most of the requirements for the establishment of a Tilapia fish farm have been met. Stephen is now awaiting the inspection, approval and permit from the state Game and Fish Department in order to procure the Tilapia fingerlings and bring the farm to full production capacity. Leap of Faith Farm is unique, as far as it could be determined, in the state of New Mexico as it is the only aquaponics production farm.
In relation to the SBDC, Stephen states “The SBDC has been a great help to myself and Leap of Faith Farm in assisting with the business plan and grant application for DVR. They have also been instrumental in developing and tracking the business plan for the farm. Dan has been a great help and encouragement to me through my recovery and rehabilitation from my amputation. Dan has made numerous trips to our farm and I in turn, feel very comfortable in going to the SBDC office and requesting assistance.”
Leap of Faith Farm is on track to become a major grower of fresh produce in the Gallup area. It is estimated that Leap of Faith Farm will be producing about 9000 pounds of food by next year. Stephen’s goal is to be doing over 1 million pounds of food in 10 years. All this is to be done utilizing very little water, no chemicals and two acres of land.
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The Gallup SBDC office also recommends the following resources:
University of New Mexico-Gallup Branch,(505) 863-7500
The Bureau of Business and Economic Research at UNM , (505) 277-2216
Gallup-McKinley Chamber of Commerce,(505) 722-2228
Northwest New Mexico Council of Governments,(505) 722-4327
The Navajo Nation Office of Economic Development, (928) 871-6544
Eastern Agency Regional Business Development Office (505) 905-6400
City of Gallup, (505) 863-1255
American Indian Chamber of Commerce,(505) 766-9545
N.M. Department of Veteran Services
For more information on any of our events, please call the Gallup SBDC office:(505) 722-2220.
University of New Mexico-Gallup
Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
106 West Highway 66
Gallup, NM 87301
(505) 722-2220
(505) 863-6006 fax
Hours: 8 am to 5 pm, M-F
sbdc@gallup.unm.edu
SBDC STAFF
Dan Sanchez, Director
dsanche5@unm.edu
Marcia Silversmith, Administrative Assistant II
marcia@unm.edu
**The Gallup SBDC is a partnership program with the U.S. Small Business Administration**
