April 15, 2026
New Mexico’s stretch of historic Route 66 is a place where Americana, car culture and retro charm meet the freedom of the open road. During the 2026 Route 66 Centennial, New Mexico MainStreet invites travelers to visit participating businesses in the state’s 10 MainStreet districts along the route to collect…
February 12, 2026
State program set to benefit Old Town Albuquerque, Hobbs, Placitas and Los Ranchos SANTA FE — The New Mexico Economic Development Department will provide free professional technical assistance to four communities to strengthen their local economies through its New Mexico MainStreet program. The Project-Based Initiatives program provides technical support for…
February 3, 2026
SANTA FE – Historic Downtown Farmington has been granted state authorization as an Arts & Cultural District following the successful completion of the Arts & Cultural District start up benchmarks, becoming the 11th NM community to earn state authorization. New Mexico’s Arts & Cultural Districts make a positive impact by…
January 15, 2026
After eleven years of serving her beloved hometown as Raton MainStreet’s Executive Director, Brenda Ferri passed the baton to Patricia Duran at the end of 2025. Brenda joins Raton Public Services, the city’s electric utility company, this year and is excited to grow her career in her community. Raton has…
January 9, 2026
Collect stickers in ten districts along the Mother Road SANTA FE — Ten New Mexico MainStreet districts along the iconic Route 66 highway invite travelers to visit local businesses and collect stickers as part of the Route 66 Centennial Passport program. Throughout 2026, visitors can collect all ten stickers in…
December 3, 2025
On Small Business Saturday, Alamogordo MainStreet and the City of Alamogordo hosted a night of music and celebration for the community to mark the completion of their Great Blocks on MainStreet project, also known as the MainStreet Makeover. This project revitalized the 800 and 900 blocks of New York Avenue,…
November 17, 2025
Jump to:About ✦ Events ✦ Small Business Saturday ✦ N.M. Resources ✦ Convince Me ✦ Social Graphics ✦ Past Campaigns About Choose MainStreet An initiative of New Mexico MainStreet (NMMS), Choose MainStreet aims to inspire New Mexicans and tourists to shop, eat, and play in MainStreet and Arts & Cultural…
October 16, 2025
People and projects that made a significant local impact honored SANTA FE — Since 1985, New Mexico MainStreet (NMMS), a program of the NM Economic Development Department, has supported communities across the state with free technical assistance and state Capital Outlay funding, resulting in downtown revitalization, physical improvements, job creation…
October 16, 2025
On October 15, 2025 at the Institute in Alamogordo, NM MainStreet (NMMS) honored the program’s past, four decades of community economic development in New Mexico, and recognized people and projects that exemplify excellence in the state’s 32 MainStreet districts. The Excellence Awards were based on nominations from the MainStreet network…
October 15, 2025
EDD helps revitalize communities SANTA FE — After completing New Mexico MainStreet’s (NMMS) Accelerator Program, Revitalize San Pedro Partnership and Lordsburg Economic Advancement Project (LEAP) are now designated New Mexico MainStreet programs. The districts completed NMMS’s Accelerator benchmarks under six main goals: organizational development, partnerships and collaborations, communication, outreach and engagement,…
September 12, 2025
History, culture, local pride shine across the Mother Road for its 2026 Centennial SANTA FE — From Tucumcari to Gallup, ten NM MainStreet districts along the iconic Route 66 highway welcome visitors to rediscover their small businesses, evocative places, and family-friendly events during the 2026 Centennial celebration. MainStreet’s community economic…
August 4, 2025
Applications accepted through August 29 SANTA FE — The New Mexico Arts & Cultural Districts (ACD) Pilot Grant Program is a one-time collaborative initiative organized by New Mexico Arts, EDD’s Mainstreet program, and the Creative Industries Division to demonstrate the economic potential and cultural impact of directly funding state-authorized Arts…
June 23, 2025
32 New Mexico MainStreet communities designated Main Street America programs SANTA FE — Thirty-two districts in New Mexico were designated as Main Street America programs and NM MainStreet has been relicensed as a Coordinating Program, one of more than 40 networks nationally working to create high-quality places and strong communities. Main…
June 12, 2025
Resilient Communities Fund targets rural and underserved communities SANTA FE — NM MainStreet and the NM Resiliency Alliance awarded Resilient Communities Fund seed grants to economic development projects in seven MainStreet districts. Created in 2014 in partnership with the McCune Charitable Foundation, the Resilient Communities Fund provides seed grants that…
April 22, 2025
Raton and Alamogordo downtown districts recognized by Main Street America SANTA FE — Main Street America, an organization dedicated to reenergizing and strengthening older and historic downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts nationwide, announced prestigious awards for the Raton and Alamogordo MainStreet districts at the Main Street Now Conference in Philadelphia…
February 18, 2025
In late 2024, the New Mexico Tourism Department awarded $1.5 million to communities as part of their Route 66 Centennial Grant Program. This grant funding will support special events, infrastructure improvements, and marketing/promotion activities for the upcoming Route 66 Centennial. The Route 66 Centennial in 2026 is an opportunity for…
February 12, 2025
Santa Fe, N.M. — The New Mexico Economic Development Department (EDD) and New Mexico MainStreet (NMMS) accepted project proposals from the City of Aztec and the Town of Edgewood for NMMS’s Frontier, Rural, & Native American Communities Project-Based Initiative. NMMS’s Project-Based Initiatives provide free professional technical assistance to community economic…
February 5, 2025
Santa Fe, N.M. – Today, the New Mexico Economic Development Department (EDD) and New Mexico MainStreet (NMMS) celebrated milestones and achievements of MainStreet staff and volunteers including training completion, professional certification, and long-term dedication. Thirty-nine leaders from NMMS’s state network were honored during NMMS’s Conference in Santa Fe with certificates…
January 16, 2025
New Mexico MainStreet is an asset-based community economic development program of the New Mexico Economic Development Department dedicated to fostering economic development in the state by supporting local MainStreet organizations, affiliates, and local government partners in their revitalization work in downtowns and traditional neighborhood commercial corridors. The Program provides resources,…
December 14, 2024
Bernalillo County, N.M. – Bernalillo County, along with its partners New Mexico MainStreet and South Valley MainStreet, celebrated the holiday season with the South Valley community at the newly renovated Dolores Huerta Park. The celebration marked the culmination of a nearly five-year-long process to plan, design, and construct enhancements to…
December 2, 2024
Eight Projects Matched Locally with $8 Million to Support Revitalization Efforts Santa Fe, N.M. – Today, the New Mexico Economic Development Department (EDD) and New Mexico MainStreet (NMMS) awarded $6.6 million in Capital Outlay funding to eight revitalization projects in affiliated NMMS Districts to improve safety, create vibrant destinations, and…
November 22, 2024
Small Business Saturday tax holiday is November 30 SANTA FE, N.M. — The New Mexico Departments of Economic Development, Tourism, and Taxation and Revenue encourage New Mexicans and visitors to shop at small businesses during the holiday season. During the holiday giving season, it’s important to shop and dine at…
November 20, 2024
Jump to:Choose MainStreet ✦ Holiday Events ✦ Resources ✦ About Small Business Saturday ✦ Top 10 Reasons to Shop MainStreet ✦ SBS Graphics & Social Posts ✦ Past Resources Choose MainStreet An initiative of New Mexico MainStreet (NMMS), Choose MainStreet aims to inspire New Mexicans and tourists to shop, eat,…
October 1, 2024
Raton is one of eight national organizations selected for outstanding downtown revitalization work Raton, N.M. – Today, the New Mexico Economic Development Department (EDD) announced that Raton MainStreet has been selected as a 2025 Great American Main Street Award (GAMSA) semifinalist by Main Street America. The GAMSA recognizes communities for…
June 20, 2024
Eduardo Served as NMMS’s Organization and Leadership Development Revitalization Specialist for 12 Years Eduardo Martinez has been engaged with the New Mexico MainStreet (NMMS) program since 2011 when he presented at the Santa Fe Winter Conference on engaging youth and people of color, relating to that year’s theme of diversity…
May 6, 2024
Albuquerque, N.M. – Today, New Mexico MainStreet (NMMS) welcomed Historic Old Town Albuquerque to NMMS’s network as part of the Urban Neighborhood Commercial Corridor (UNCC) Initiative. UNCC is one of NMMS’s Project-Based Initiatives that provides professional technical assistance to community projects during a 12-18-month timeframe. Projects must produce direct economic development…
May 3, 2024
Santa Fe, N.M. – New Mexico MainStreet (NMMS) announced that Main Street America has designated 32 NM organizations for meeting rigorous performance standards. New Mexico now has 29 Accredited (top designation tier) and 3 Affiliated (second designation tier) Main Street America programs. Main Street America and its partners announce the list…
May 1, 2024
Santa Fe, N.M. – New Mexico MainStreet (NMMS) and the New Mexico Resiliency Alliance (NMRA), in partnership with the McCune Charitable Foundation, have awarded Resilient Communities Fund grants to economic development projects in thirteen NMMS communities. Grant funding leverages local resources and engages volunteers to complete an impactful project by the…
March 15, 2024
Rehabilitating brownfields plays a significant role in community revitalization, historic preservation, property renovation, and private investment. The positive effects from cleaning up brownfields ripple throughout the community leading to other investments and community revitalization projects, creating positive change and economic development opportunities. The land where the brownfield is located can…
March 13, 2024
Since 2018, Rhea Serna has impacted nearly every affiliated community as New Mexico MainStreet’s (NMMS) Property Redevelopment Revitalization Specialist. As of March 20, 2024, she’ll be taking her love of research and policy analysis to a new role as Program Evaluator for the Legislative Finance Committee (LFC) in the State…
February 15, 2024
Santa Fe, N.M. – After completing the Arts & Cultural District (ACD) Start Up Benchmarks, Carlsbad’s Pearl of the Pecos (POP) ACD has been granted State Authorization, the tenth New Mexico community to achieve this designation. State-Authorized ACDs receive additional incentives such as assistance with cultural plan development and historic…
January 31, 2024
Two NM Communities Closer to Achieving Main Street America Affiliation Santa Fe, N.M. – Today, New Mexico MainStreet (NMMS) welcomed Lordsburg Economic Advancement Project (LEAP) and Revitalize San Pedro Partnership (ABQ) as new Accelerator programs, a pathway for communities to achieve Main Street America affiliation. Both programs previously participated in…
December 6, 2023
Strategic Investments Support Revitalization Efforts in 11 Communities to Improve Safety, Create Vibrant Destinations, and Support Local Economies Santa Fe, N.M. – Today, the New Mexico Economic Development Department (EDD) and New Mexico MainStreet (NMMS) awarded $10 million in Capital Outlay funding to 11 community revitalization projects in affiliated NMMS…
November 20, 2023
Small Business Saturday is November 25, 2023 Santa Fe, N.M. – The New Mexico Departments of Economic Development, Tourism, and Taxation and Revenue encourage New Mexicans and visitors to shop at small businesses first during the holiday season. While shoppers may not find everything on their list in local, small…
November 7, 2023
Jump to: Choose MainStreet • Holiday Events • Tips to Boost Holiday Events • ResourcesSmall Business Saturday: Graphics • Sample Press ReleaseTop 10 Reasons to Shop MainStreet: Generic Graphics • Local GraphicsSocial Media Posts • Previous Shop MainStreet Resources About Choose MainStreet Choose MainStreet is an initiative of New Mexico…
September 13, 2023
Eleven NM Communities Represented in Certified Executive Directors, Fundraising and Grantwriting Graduates Carlsbad, N.M. – Today, New Mexico MainStreet (NMMS) announced seven MainStreet leaders have earned Executive Director Certification, marking the completion of a comprehensive training and skills development process. Certification is granted to affiliated NMMS leaders who successfully complete…
August 22, 2023
Site of Local Food Campus to be Announced Soon Albuquerque, N.M. – Three Sisters Kitchen is developing a Downtown Local Food Campus in partnership with the Downtown Growers’ Market, a program of Downtown Albuquerque MainStreet Arts & Cultural District. The Local Food Campus will result in 45 new living-wage jobs,…
July 27, 2023
Main Street America’s Main Street Approach™ is a time-tested framework used for community-driven revitalization. The Approach™ incorporates the four broad areas of Economic Vitality, Design, Organization, and Promotion (known as the Four Points) to implement Transformation Strategies. Work involving the Promotion Point positions the district as the hub of economic…
June 2, 2023
Lovington MainStreet’s Local Innovators Institute is now in its fourth cohort training restaurant entrepreneurs on the business and art of running a restaurant without the risk of losing precious time and resources on new food concepts. Back in 2018-19, Lovington MainStreet’s Executive Director Mara Salcido worked with her Board to…
May 26, 2023
Santa Fe, N.M. – New Mexico MainStreet (NMMS) and the New Mexico Resiliency Alliance (NMRA), in partnership with the McCune Charitable Foundation, have awarded Resilient Communities Fund grants to economic development projects in eleven NMMS communities. Grant funding leverages local resources and engages volunteers to complete an impactful project by the…
May 4, 2023
Santa Fe, N.M. – New Mexico MainStreet (NMMS) is proud to announce that Main Street America has designated 30 NM organizations for meeting rigorous performance standards (27 are Accredited and 3 are Affiliated Main Street America™ programs.) Each year, Main Street America and its partners announce the designation of Accredited…
May 2, 2023
Santa Fe, N.M. – New Mexico MainStreet (NMMS) accepted seven new community economic development projects as part of the Frontier & Native American Communities (FNAC) and Urban Neighborhood Commercial Corridor (UNCC) Initiatives. Selected communities will receive NMMS professional services and technical assistance to implement their project within 12-18 months. Projects must…
November 21, 2022
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham TRD Cabinet Secretary Stephanie Schardin Clarke EDD Cabinet Secretary Alicia J. Keyes Media Contact: Charlie Moore charlie.moore@tax.nm.gov(505) 670-5406Download as a PDF November 21, 2022 Santa Fe, N.M. – The New Mexico Departments of Economic Development, Tourism, and Taxation and Revenue are encouraging New Mexicans to shop…
November 16, 2022
Small Business Saturday is November 26, 2022 Support local businesses on Small Business Saturday, Nov. 26, to make a big difference in the community! Small Business Saturday on Nov. 26 is a New Mexico Gross Receipts Tax Holiday. For this one day, the state suspends collection of gross receipts tax…
November 14, 2022
Submit Community Economic Development Projects for Consideration by January 20, 2023 Santa Fe, N.M. – New Mexico MainStreet (NMMS) is now accepting applications for new community economic development projects as part of the Frontier & Native American Communities (FNAC) and Urban Neighborhood Commercial Corridor (UNCC) Initiatives. Selected communities will receive NMMS…
November 1, 2022
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: Nora Meyers SackettPress Secretary, Office of the Governornora.sackett@state.nm.us November 1, 2022 ALBUQUERQUE – Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Tuesday announced a $2.2 million state investment in the Barelas MainStreet project, supporting community growth and economic development by making safety improvements and streetscape enhancements increasing connectivity to area…
October 20, 2022
Public Infrastructure Investments Support the Revitalization of Communities Statewide Santa Fe, N.M. – Today, the New Mexico Economic Development Department (NMEDD) and New Mexico MainStreet (NMMS) awarded $10 million in Capital Outlay funding to 14 MainStreet and Arts & Cultural Districts for community revitalization projects. The NMMS Capital Outlay program funds…
September 29, 2022
Santa Fe, N.M. – New Mexico MainStreet (NMMS) presented a Spirit of MainStreet Award to Silver City MainStreet’s Executive Director, Charmeine Wait, for her outstanding dedication and leadership at NMMS’s annual Fall Institute on September 14, 2022. Along with her partners, Charmeine has accomplished many revitalization projects in the community…
September 29, 2022
Santa Fe, N.M. – New Mexico MainStreet (NMMS) announced that Angela Gutierrez of Corrales MainStreet, Karen Lupton of Downtown Farmington and Kendra King of Ruidoso Midtown Association have been awarded Executive Director certification. Certification is granted to affiliated NMMS Directors who complete training on the Main Street Approach™, fundraising and…
May 4, 2022
New Mexico is experiencing devastating wildfires across the state and these tragic events are negatively impacting communities. The state is working with local, state, federal, and tribal agencies to battle several wildfires, and you can help communities by using these resources to support fire relief efforts. Donate to Fire Relief…
