Impact investor Mission Driven Finance has deployed $1.2 million in financing connected to New Mexico, directing capital to four businesses that serve Native and rural communities, including a Native woman-owned construction company based in Pueblo de San Ildefonso.
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Approximately $500,000 of the funding was issued through Advance New Mexico, a Mission Driven Finance-managed fund created to support New Mexico-based businesses that do not qualify for traditional bank, SBA, or microloan financing. The remaining $700,000 was invested through the firm’s Advance California fund in a California-based company that expects to operate in New Mexico. Mission Driven Finance declined to identify that borrower.
One of the New Mexico recipients was Avanyu LLC, a construction firm specializing in traditional adobe building techniques. Led by CEO Liana Sanchez, an enrolled member of the Pueblo de San Ildefonso, Avanyu received roughly $225,000 to expand its adobe brick production capacity and purchase specialized equipment. According to Mission Driven Finance, the financing was structured as a 50/50 participation between Advance New Mexico and the Indigenous Futures Fund, with no additional lending partners involved.
The investment supports Avanyu’s work on the expansion of the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum in Santa Fe and builds on the company’s prior collaborations with tribal housing authorities and culturally specific construction initiatives throughout the region. The funding is expected to help scale production while preserving traditional construction methods rooted in Indigenous knowledge.
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Two other New Mexico-based businesses also received loans through Advance New Mexico. Medi-Connect, a non-emergency medical transportation provider serving rural and tribal communities in Sandoval County, used the funding to purchase ambulances, medical supplies, and to hire additional emergency medical technicians. CTRL+P Inc., which operates the digital news outlet nm.news, refinanced high-interest debt, allowing the company to redirect cash flow toward staffing and technology upgrades.
Mission Driven Finance said Advance New Mexico loans carry an 11.5% interest rate, with repayment terms ranging from three to 60 months and a 2.5% closing fee. Advance California loans are structured similarly but typically feature shorter terms and are backed by the Community Reinvestment Fund. The institutional investor supporting Advance New Mexico was not disclosed.
The firm noted it has maintained a dedicated staff presence in New Mexico since 2024, focusing on partnership-driven investment rather than duplicating existing capital programs. “The best impact happens when capital works with local knowledge and relationships,” said Crystal Sevilla, senior manager of borrower services.
In addition to its work in New Mexico, Mission Driven Finance is expanding access to capital for Native-led enterprises through its Indigenous Futures Fund. The organization is also conducting market research focused on child care and other community-serving sectors, according to a news release, as part of its broader strategy to support inclusive economic development in underserved regions.
Originally reported by Brian Edwards in Tribal Business News.
