A new fitness studio, Together Strong, has opened at 3212 Richards Lane, Suite 1. It’s owned by the wife-and-husband team of Mary Ellen and Richard Lopez, who have been teaching fitness for the past three years.

At the new studio, “We have about 150 students and 23 classes per week,” Mary Ellen Lopez said. “We have small classes. We’re trying to get the word out.”

In explaining her desire to open a fitness studio, Mary Ellen Lopez said, “The message we got out was that we saw the need for health and fitness and the fact that so many people make excuses” not go to go to exercise classes.

“Our goal was to make it as convenient as possible,” she added.
As for the studio’s name, Together Strong, “It’s our mantra,” Mary Ellen Lopez said.

For more information, call 690-9344.


A regional food economy may be on the way.

For the last few months, Kate Manchester, owner and publisher of Edible Santa Fe, and Vicki Pozzebon, former executive director of the Santa Fe Independent Business Alliance, have been working on a project in partnership with Tim Nisly, Tony Gallegos and Brandon Stamm at the Rio Grande Community Development Center in the South Valley.

The mission of the project’s brand, Delicious New Mexico, is to nurture and expand the state’s food business community to create a dynamic and sustainable regional food economy, an email stated.

For more information, call Manchester at 505-212-0791 or 505-920-4817.


MIX Santa Fe and the Santa Fe Chamber of Commerce have announced 11 finalists for the BizMIX Challenge, a business-plan competition that provides aspiring entrepreneurs with mentors, business-development resources and $10,000 worth of startup funding and services.

Finalists are working with mentors to prepare an in-depth business plan. On May 31, finalists will present their plans to a panel of judges. Grand finalists will be announced at the Santa Fe Chamber of Commerce Business Awards on June 7. Three grand finalists will showcase their business ideas at MIX’s third Thursday event June 21, at which the grand prize winner will be announced.


Los Alamos Commerce and Development Corp., in conjunction with UNM-LA Small Business Development Center, is providing an opportunity for youth in Los Alamos, Jemez Springs, Española and Pojoaque to experience the rewards of starting a business. The Youth Business Grant Program will provide up to $400 to enterprising young business people, ages 13-19, who want to start a business this summer.

More than 240 summer businesses have received grants since the program started in 1985. Over the years, several recipients have continued to operate and grow their businesses.

Businesses interested in supporting the program with money or mentoring may contact Katie Stavert at LACDC, P.O. Box 1206, Los Alamos, N.M. 87544 or (505) 661-4805.

For more information, visit www.ybgp.org.