Noelle Gemmer, the business owner of Manzano Mountain Retreat, has expressed concerns regarding state policies and local bureaucracy that she says are making it increasingly difficult for small employers in rural New Mexico to hire and operate sustainably. Her statement was made during a podcast appearance.
"I do think having more for our small businesses in terms of resources... making things easier," said Gemmer, according to YouTube. "Right now we seem to be in a very anti-employer culture... There's a lot of policies coming through the state that a big company can weather, but small businesses, some of these policies coming through is a killer. I'd love to see more of a recognition of what those policies do for small businesses."
Small businesses in rural New Mexico, including those in Torrance County, are navigating a complex policy environment where regulation, infrastructure deficiencies, and workforce shortages are significant issues. According to the 2024 Interim Report of the Economic and Rural Development and Policy Committee, legislative efforts are underway to simplify tax and licensing rules, reduce fees for struggling firms, and expand broadband and transportation in underserved regions. The New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions’ 2025 State Plan Update also advocates for revitalizing regulatory review bodies like the Small Business Regulatory Advisory Commission with reforms tailored to rural and tribal communities. These initiatives indicate that modernized rules and infrastructure are now seen as crucial to small-business competitiveness.
Small businesses have a substantial impact on New Mexico’s economy. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), there are more than 166,000 firms providing over 322,000 jobs in the state. This means that a majority of the private-sector workforce is employed by small enterprises. The SBA’s 2024 state profile indicates that these small firms represented approximately 53.1% of employment and about 48.3% of private-sector payroll in New Mexico as of 2021. Additionally, 1,112 small-firm exporters comprised 83.9% of exporting firms in the state, shipping goods worth $5.3 billion in 2021.
Regulatory and financial burdens disproportionately affect small employers in New Mexico. Although small firms provide 53.1% of jobs, they account for only 48.3% of private payrolls according to SBA data—highlighting lower wages and thinner margins. A study by the New Mexico Finance Authority found that lending to firms with under $1 million in revenue fell by 54% from 2007–2021 compared to a 12% drop for larger firms, illustrating steeper credit constraints for smaller businesses.
Gemmer is an entrepreneur based in Torreon who co-owns Manzano Mountain Retreat—a historic orchard turned year-round retreat. According to a profile in the New Mexico Sun, she grew up in Gallup and spent about a decade working at Sandia National Laboratories before moving into her family’s real-estate enterprise prior to taking ownership of the retreat property.
Manzano Mountain Retreat is located at 210A Los Pinetos in Torreon, New Mexico. It is a family-run hospitality venue set on approximately 178 acres that was formerly an orchard and summer camp but now offers lodging, cabins, event space, weddings, corporate retreats, and youth programs.
