Officials unveiled the new website at entrepreneurial networking events this week downtown and in the South Valley.
Access to the website is free and open to the public, either through a new “TrepConnect” app available for iPhones, or by visiting the website directly. Once connected, users can search for services they need and learn how to access them, said Mabel Gonzalez, Living Cities Project manager.
The city launched the website with assistance from Living Cities, a national funding initiative backed by large banks and foundations that is working with Albuquerque on job creation and economic development through innovation and entrepreneurship.
“After holding numerous meetings with local organizations and businesses, we found that many services are available for entrepreneurs, but many people either don’t know they exist, or they don’t know how to access them,” Gonzalez told entrepreneurs Thursday at the South Valley Economic Development Center. “We’re using technology to solve those problems.”
The database contains information about everything from financial services to assistance in writing business plans. And, by accessing it through the TrepConnect app, users can view information in Spanish and other languages.
“The system detects the default language on phones and translates the information to whatever language is being used,” Gonzalez said. “Translations are automatically generated through Google software.”
However, users who access the database website directly can view information only in English, at least until database contents are translated into more languages, said Frank Mirabel, director of collective impact for the mayor’s office.
“The app is a short-term fix,” Mirabel said. “In the long-term, we want to get the database itself translated into Spanish to be more diverse and inclusive.”
The app is currently only available for iPhones, but it will become accessible for more devices in coming weeks.
The city is seeking public feedback on how to improve the system. Managers want to make it more interactive, such as allowing users to share information through a community events calendar or distributed alerts.
The city is also hiring a team of “navigators” who will visit businesses and organizations around Albuquerque to assess people’s needs and educate them about using the system.
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