Economic Development Secretary Alicia J. Keyes
EDD News:
SANTA FE — The New Mexico Resiliency Alliance (NMRA), in partnership with the McCune Charitable Foundation and New Mexico MainStreet (NMMS), has announced that 16 NMMS-affiliated communities have been awarded Resilient Communities Fund grants.
Los Alamos MainStreet is among the grant award recipients for its Los Alamos Retail Accelerator program.
Grants support economic development projects and leverage local resources to engage volunteers and complete an impactful project by December 2022.
The Resilient Communities Fund provides seed grants for community economic development projects in New Mexico’s rural and underserved communities. NMRA has awarded more than $415,000 in small grants since 2014. Investments have been matched locally by more than $1,000,000 in cash/in-kind contributions and NMMS’s professional technical assistance.
“The Resilient Communities Fund grants are an effective tool for improving a community’s design and economic vitality, creating a more welcoming space for everyone,” Economic Development Secretary Alicia J. Keyes said.
“Thank you to the New Mexico Resiliency Alliance and the McCune Charitable Foundation for their continued partnership and support on these innovative projects,” NMMS Director Daniel Gutierrez said. “These projects will have a positive effect on communities by building local capacity to support businesses and improve the community for everyone.”
“I found the evaluations of the grant applications to be thorough,” NMRA Board Member Sandy Duckert said. “I’m impressed by the monitoring of these funds, their effective uses and how a small change can have a big, long-lasting impact. The collaboration between the McCune Foundation, NMMS and the NMRA is exciting for its effectiveness.”
“The applications we received represent communities from every corner of the state and demonstrate a wide range of projects and activities that will enhance the vitality and resilience of each community,” NMMS Revitalization Specialist Amy Barnhart said. “We’re inspired by the proposals and thrilled to fund them.”
2022 Resilient Communities Fund Grants are awarded to the following:
- Los Alamos MainStreet: Los Alamos Retail Accelerator program;
- Downtown ABQ MainStreet Arts & Cultural District: Albuquerque Artwalk;
- Earth Care: Santa Fe Airport Rd. community visioning process;
- International District Economic Development: ABQ ID markets and community space;
- MainStreet de Las Vegas: façade squad on Railroad Avenue;
- Lovington MainStreet: Central Alley construction mitigation;
- Madrid Art & History Walk: welcome area for public parking;
- Nob Hill MainStreet: Nob Hill community gift card project;
- Ojo Encino, Navajo Nation: downtown Ojo Encino beautification project;
- Revitalize San Pedro Partnership: ABQ’s San Pedro Corridor creative placemaking contest;
- MainStreet Roswell: façade squad at Backdraft Barbeque, Third Street Station;
- Silver City MainStreet: Bullard Street parklet;
- Taos MainStreet: façade improvement program;
- MainStreet Truth or Consequences: historic El Cortez Theatre façade improvements;
- Tucumcari MainStreet: Tucumcari microloan program; and
- Zuni Pueblo MainStreet: event capacity building.
Grants are $2,000-6,000 and require a 1-to-1 match with at least 50 percent cash and the remaining amount from in-kind sources. The Resilient Communities Fund grant priority areas include community economic and entrepreneur development; design, urban planning and placemaking; development of the arts, cultural and creative economy; marketing, branding and communications; outdoor recreation and environmental stewardship; food security; and organizational capacity-building.
Examples of past projects include pop-up outdoor markets, one-on-one mentoring, seed grants for businesses, entrepreneur training workshops and pitch sessions, crowdfunding events, business plan development and more.