Originally based in Albuquerque, The Loan Fund began extending its reach to other parts of New Mexico. In 1996, it opened its first satellite branch office in Roswell, a joint effort with the Women’s Economic Self-Sufficiency Team (WESST) to serve the state’s southeast region. This move recognized that entrepreneurs in smaller cities and rural areas also needed access to financing. From the new Roswell office, Loan Fund staff could provide loans and technical help to towns like Artesia, Carlsbad, and communities across the agricultural Pecos Valley. The Roswell branch marked the beginning of The Loan Fund’s truly statewide presence. No longer would distance from Albuquerque be a barrier for determined business owners seeking capital. By planting a flag in Roswell (and soon other locations), The Loan Fund showed its commitment to every corner of New Mexico, bringing opportunity to places often overlooked by mainstream lenders.