In 2004, The Loan Fund forged crucial public-private partnerships that boosted its capacity to serve small businesses. The newly created New Mexico Small Business Investment Corporation (NMSBIC) approved its first investment in The Loan Fund, committing $1.5 million in low-cost lending capital. This partnership meant that state dollars (generated from New Mexico’s Severance Tax Permanent Fund) would flow into community loans through The Loan Fund, greatly enlarging the pool of funds available to borrowers. At the same time, the U.S. Small Business Administration awarded The Loan Fund a specialized $150,000 PRIME grant to expand training and financial literacy outreach in two underserved areas: the colonia communities of Doña Ana County and several Native American reservations. In response, The Loan Fund’s Technical Assistance staff logged over 1,600 hours in 2004 working directly with clients – holding workshops on budgeting and credit for low-income entrepreneurs, and even developing a custom financial literacy curriculum for participants in Individual Development Account (IDA) savings programs. By the end of 2004, The Loan Fund had become a statewide engine for both lending and education, backed by state investment and federal support, and more capable than ever of fostering small business success in New Mexico’s most marginalized communities.