MainStreet Stories

Sixteen New Mexico MainStreet-Affiliated Communities Receive Resilient Communities Fund Grants for Economic Development Projects

April 29, 2022

Santa Fe, N.M. – Today, the New Mexico Resiliency Alliance (NMRA), in partnership with the McCune Charitable Foundation and New Mexico MainStreet (NMMS), announced sixteen NMMS-affiliated communities have been awarded Resilient Communities Fund grants. Grants support economic development projects and leverage local resources to engage volunteers and complete an impactful…

Las Vegas Great Blocks Groundbreaking

March 4, 2022

The City of Las Vegas and MainStreet de Las Vegas broke ground on the first two phases of their four phase Great Blocks public infrastructure project on March 2, 2022! Economic Development Cabinet Secretary Alicia J. Keyes and New Mexico MainStreet Director Daniel Gutierrez joined Las Vegas Mayor Louie Trujillo,…

March 2nd Groundbreaking Date Set for Construction to Begin in Historic Las Vegas Railroad District Renovation

March 1, 2022

The City of Las Vegas, New Mexico and Main Street de Las Vegas are excited to announce that the groundbreaking for Phase 1 and 2 Great Blocks construction to renovate the Historic Las Vegas Railroad District will be held at 1:00 pm on Wednesday, March 2nd at the corner of…

New Mexico MainStreet Awards Executive Director Certification to Carlsbad, Deming and Nob Hill Leaders

February 23, 2022

Santa Fe, N.M. – Today, New Mexico MainStreet (NMMS) announced it has awarded certification to three Executive Directors. Certification is awarded to affiliated NMMS Executive Directors who complete training on the Main Street Four-Point Approach™, fundraising and grantwriting. Training courses are led by NMMS’s Revitalization Specialists, experts in their professional…

New Mexico MainStreet 2022 Virtual Winter Conference

February 16, 2022

Power Up Your District, Promote Entrepreneurship… Business Development Projects that Pop! The schedule is packed with panelists and speakers to stimulate conversations about projects that support businesses and entrepreneurs in your MainStreet and Arts & Cultural Districts. The Zoom login information will be emailed to registrants the week of the…

2022 Legislative Session Reports: United to Support Recovery

January 25, 2022

The following reports were developed by New Mexico MainStreet (NMMS) for the 2022 Legislative Session. They include information on NMMS’s Capital Outlay funding request ($10 million), completed and in-progress public infrastructure projects and district success stories. Please review the reports and contact NMMS or your district’s Executive Director with any…

New Mexico MainStreet Awards $2.5 Million to 13 Capital Outlay Public Infrastructure Revitalization Projects

January 14, 2022

Funding is used to plan, design, construct and improve infrastructure in downtown MainStreet and Arts & Cultural Districts statewide Santa Fe, N.M. – Today, New Mexico MainStreet (NMMS) and the New Mexico Economic Development Department (NMEDD) announced that $2.5 million has been awarded for revitalization projects in 13 NMMS districts.…

Community Spotlight: How Three New Mexico Main Street Communities Improved their Downtown Façades

January 7, 2022

Posted on the Main Street America Blog! In March 2020, Main Street America announced four states (Kentucky, New Mexico, North Carolina, and Wyoming) were selected for the inaugural National Park Service Main Street Façade Improvement Grant Program. New Mexico MainStreet, a Main Street America Coordinating Program, was awarded $140,625 for…

NM MainStreet and NM Outdoor Recreation Division Receive Two Awards for Outdoor Recreation Atlas Pilot Study

November 30, 2021

Awards are for Excellence in Research and Rural Planning Santa Fe, N.M. – NM MainStreet (NMMS) and the NM Outdoor Recreation Division (ORD) received two awards for the Outdoor Recreation Atlas Pilot Study, a collaborative project to increase outdoor recreation in support of sustainable community development. The first award was…

Clovis MainStreet is a Quarterfinalist in America’s Main Streets Road to Recovery Contest

November 17, 2021

Support Clovis MainStreet by voting online daily through Dec. 12 Clovis, N.M. — Independent We Stand, the national small business movement, announced Clovis MainStreet is one of 25 national quarterfinalists in the America’s Main Streets Road to Recovery contest. Independent We Stand invites the public to vote online for their…

Choose MainStreet This Holiday Season

November 12, 2021

MainStreet districts celebrate the holidays by supporting local businesses! New Mexico MainStreet’s annual holiday campaign urges communities, businesses, residents, and visitors to shop local first. Check your local MainStreet businesses before shopping elsewhere – you’ll find treasures and make a big difference in the community! New Mexico’s MainStreet and Arts…

Outdoor Recreation Atlas Pilot Study

November 4, 2021

A partnership between New Mexico MainStreet (NMMS) and the New Mexico Outdoor Recreation Division (ORD)Prepared by NMMS Revitalization Specialist Amy Bell of Groundwork Studio Outdoor recreation opportunities can be connected to MainStreet downtowns to make a great impact on local, asset-based economic development. MainStreet communities are embracing these opportunities to…

National Hispanic, Latinx and Chicana/o American Heritage Month 2021

September 23, 2021

New Mexico MainStreet is proud to celebrate National Hispanic, Latinx and Chicana/o American Heritage Month Sept. 15-Oct. 15, 2021! We honor the significant contributions Hispanic, Latinx and Chicana/o communities have made to New Mexico’s arts & culture, businesses, economic vitality and more. NMMS staff, revitalization specialists and district executive directors…

Raton Thanks NMMS for the Great Blocks Project!

September 22, 2021

New Mexico MainStreet’s Great Blocks on MainStreet program is like “a façade squad on steroids,” said former NMMS director Rich Williams. It’s a redevelopment and placemaking program targeting significant public infrastructure deficiencies within New Mexico’s historic and downtown cores. The goal of the program is to increase economic activity, attract…

Gallup’s Coal Avenue Commons Ribbon Cutting

August 27, 2021

Gallup Mayor Louie Bonaguidi officially cut the ribbon on Phase I of Gallup’s Coal Avenue Commons public infrastructure project on August 24, 2021! This project broke ground on July 13, 2020 and has been in the works since 2017. The City received a NEA Our Town Grant which was matched…

New Mexico MainStreet Accepts Ten New Community Economic Development Projects

July 30, 2021

Six Frontier & Native American Communities and Four Urban Neighborhood Commercial Corridor Projects Selected in Competitive Application Process Santa Fe, N.M. – New Mexico MainStreet (NMMS) accepted ten new community economic development projects for the Frontier & Native American Communities (FNAC) and new Urban Neighborhood Commercial Corridor (UNCC) Initiatives. Both…

Main Street America Awards Accreditation to the NM MainStreet Coordinating Program, 31 NM Program Partners

June 16, 2021

NM’s 28 Accredited and 3 Affiliated Programs Receive Main Street Designation Santa Fe, N.M. – Today, the New Mexico Economic Development Department announced that Main Street America has reaccredited and licensed New Mexico MainStreet (NMMS) as a Coordinating Program. Additionally, Main Street America has designated New Mexico’s 28 accredited and…

Ten NM MainStreet Communities Receive Resilient Communities Fund Grants to Aid Economic Recovery Efforts

May 5, 2021

Santa Fe, N.M. – The New Mexico Resiliency Alliance, in partnership with New Mexico MainStreet (NMMS) and the McCune Charitable Foundation, awarded ten Resilient Communities Fund Grants to NMMS affiliated districts for community and economic development projects. Awarded projects have a clear and stated impact for new, innovative, or ongoing…

NM MainStreet & Outdoor Recreation Division Partner on “Outdoor Recreation Asset Atlas” Pilot to Identify Outdoor Recreation Projects in MainStreet Districts

April 7, 2021

McKinley, Sierra, San Juan, Colfax, and Lincoln Counties Selected for Initial Study Santa Fe, N.M. – The New Mexico Economic Development Department (NMEDD) announced the launch of an innovative New Mexico MainStreet (NMMS) and Outdoor Recreation Division (ORD) collaboration to connect communities’ downtowns with their natural resources. NMMS and ORD…

New Mexico MainStreet Accepting Applications for New Community Economic Development Projects

March 26, 2021

Frontier & Native American Communities and Urban Neighborhood Commercial Corridors Can Apply by June 16, 2021 Santa Fe, N.M. – Today, New Mexico MainStreet (NMMS) announced that applications are being accepted for new community economic development projects under the Frontier & Native American Communities (FNAC) and Urban Neighborhood Commercial Corridor…

New Mexico MainStreet’s Virtual Winter Conference Will Focus on “Creating a Climate of Confidence” in Districts, Business Community

February 24, 2021

Conference on March 5 & 12, 2021 is Free and Open to the Public Santa Fe, N.M. – New Mexico MainStreet’s (NMMS) annual Winter Conference will be virtual this year and focus on “Creating a Climate of Confidence: COVID and Beyond.” New Mexico’s MainStreet practitioners, partners, and other interested individuals…

New Mexico MainStreet 2021 Virtual Winter Conference • Creating a Climate of Confidence: COVID & Beyond

February 4, 2021

Friday, March 5, 2021: 9:00 am to 3:00 pmFriday, March 12, 2021: 9:00 am to 4:00 pm As we approach the one-year mark of living and working through a major health crisis, there is hope that we will soon be on the other side of these strange times. After the…

New Mexico MainStreet Awards $1.5 Million to Four Public Infrastructure Revitalization Projects

January 27, 2021

Projects in Deming, Farmington, Lovington, and Truth or Consequences Are Now Fully-Funded, Scheduled to be Completed This Year Santa Fe, N.M. – Today, New Mexico MainStreet (NMMS) and the New Mexico Economic Development Department (NMEDD) announced that $1.5 million has been awarded for revitalization projects in four NMMS districts: Deming,…

2021 Legislative Session Reports: Laying the Groundwork for a Strong Recovery

January 27, 2021

Dear Legislators:The following brief reports were developed by the New Mexico MainStreet program (NMMS) for the 2021 Legislative session. The reports communicate the importance of the NMMS program to economic recovery efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic, the program’s legislative asks, priority infrastructure projects and success stories from our districts. Please…

New Mexico MainStreet Director Daniel Gutierrez Elected to Main Street America’s Leadership Council

December 15, 2020

Santa Fe, N.M. – New Mexico MainStreet (NMMS) Director Daniel Gutierrez was elected to Main Street America’s Leadership Council on Dec. 10, 2020. The Council consists of eight elected Coordinating Program members and one Main Street Design professional who each serve three-year terms; the Council serves as a liaison between…

Downtown Silver City Strong Awards

December 11, 2020

Silver City MainStreet is acknowledging downtown businesses that have persevered during the COVID pandemic with Downtown Silver City Strong awards. The awards are a way to say thank you to businesses that have worked hard to stay open and find new and creative ways to operate. Silver City MainStreet is…

Choose MainStreet Shop Local Campaign

November 24, 2020

New Mexico MainStreet’s Choose MainStreet social media campaign kicked off in September 2020. The goal of this campaign was to encourage New Mexicans to shop and eat (or order take-out) at their local MainStreet businesses. With the upcoming holiday shopping season and the COVID-19 economic recovery under way, it’s a…

Small Business Saturday

November 18, 2020

Small Business Saturday is November 28, 2020. The New Mexico Economic Development Department (EDD) presents this informational webinar to help New Mexican business owners learn about the Small Business Saturday Gross Receipts Tax Holiday as well as promote virtual sales this holiday shopping season. Presented by:

New Mexico MainStreet Recognizes Raton MainStreet’s Executive Director for Outstanding Achievements & Dedication

November 13, 2020

Brenda Ferri Nominated for Main Street America’s Mary Means Leadership Award Raton, N.M. – New Mexico MainStreet (NMMS) nominated Raton MainStreet Executive Director Brenda Ferri for the Main Street America Mary Means Leadership Award earlier this year for her outstanding dedication to downtown revitalization. On October 30, Main Street America…

EDD’s Small Business Saturday Webinar Will Help Businesses Prepare for Upcoming GRT Tax Holiday

November 11, 2020

Buy Local Virtually to Support Small Businesses on Nov. 28, 2020 Santa Fe, N.M. – The New Mexico Economic Development Department (EDD) presents an informational webinar on Monday, Nov. 16 at 2:00 pm to help New Mexican business owners learn about the Small Business Saturday Gross Receipts Tax Holiday as…

Virtual ‘Cash Mobs’ Support Local Businesses in Six NM MainStreet Districts

October 30, 2020

Virtual Shopping Events Are Safe and Profitable Santa Fe, N.M. – The New Mexico MainStreet (NMMS) program announced today that six districts are using ‘Cash Mob’ virtual events to support local businesses during the pandemic and upcoming holiday season. Events are hosted on Facebook Live where participants bid on items,…

New Mexico MainStreet Awards Certification to 11 Executive Directors

October 23, 2020

Santa Fe, N.M. – New Mexico MainStreet (NMMS) announced 11 NMMS Executive Directors have been awarded official certification, the largest of any cohort in NMMS’s 36-year history. NMMS and the New Mexico Economic Development Department present this certification to Executive Directors who have completed the following courses: The Fundamentals of…

Lovington MainStreet’s Local Innovators Institute Inaugural Program Thriving, Funded for Next Year

July 10, 2020

Food Service Accelerator Program Supported Five Restaurant Entrepreneurs Lovington, N.M. – Lovington MainStreet welcomed five entrepreneurs to the first cohort of the Local Innovators Institute in February 2020. After successfully completing seven weeks of educational and hands-on training, Lovington is getting to taste a variety of cuisines in downtown. Since…

Main Street Façade Improvement Grants to Help Businesses in Deming, Gallup, and Silver City

June 16, 2020

Property & Business Owners in Deming, Gallup, and Silver City Historic MainStreet Districts Can Apply Now Santa Fe, N.M. – Main Street America announced that New Mexico MainStreet (NMMS) was selected as one of four coordinating programs nationally to participate in the inaugural National Park Service (NPS) Main Street Façade…

Resilient Communities Fund Grants to Help Economic Recovery Efforts in Twelve NM MainStreet Communities

May 6, 2020

SANTA FE, N.M. – The New Mexico Resiliency Alliance, in partnership with the New Mexico MainStreet Program and the McCune Charitable Foundation, awarded seed grants and matching funds for MainStreet community economic development projects in response to COVID-19 economic recovery efforts. The Resilient Communities Fund is the Alliance’s flagship program,…

It Takes a Village to Build a Plaza, Silver City MainStreet

April 29, 2020

The long awaited Main Street Plaza has been completed and is one of the “key ideas” of the Town of Silver City’s Downtown Action Plan. Ten years in the making, it took support and funding from the Town of Silver City, state capital outlay funds from legislators Rudy Martinez, Rebecca…

Economic Development Department Ramps Up Public Outreach: Agency Provides Ongoing Webinars to Help Businesses and Communities

April 14, 2020

SANTA FE, N.M. – The New Mexico Economic Development Department is announcing 10 additional webinars to help business owners and community developers maximize their online footprint and to navigate federal and state economic emergency assistance. “Small businesses in New Mexico are hurting, as they are everywhere during this unprecedented health…

Choose MainStreet Social Media Graphics from Leighton Moon

April 9, 2020

Big thanks to Leighton Moon for designing these social media graphics that promote shopping and eating locally during the COVID-19 health crisis. Instructions: Save each file to the same folder on your computer. When you’re on Facebook (or Instagram or whatever other social media platform you might be using), pick…

2019 Resilient Communities Fund Grants

March 3, 2020

The Resilient Communities Fund (RCF) is the flagship program of the New Mexico Resiliency Alliance (NMRA). Created in 2014 in partnership with the McCune Charitable Foundation and the New Mexico MainStreet Program (NMMS), the RCF provides small seed grants for locally-driven economic development projects in rural and underserved communities statewide.…

Holiday Events in New Mexico’s MainStreet Districts

November 27, 2019

Below is a list of holiday events in New Mexico’s MainStreet and Arts & Cultural districts. By shopping, eating, and playing in your local district, you positively impact the local economy and community. Thank you for supporting local businesses this holiday season and all year! Alamogordo MainStreet: Olde Fashioned Christmas…

5 New Frontier & Native American Community Projects Funded

November 26, 2019

SANTA FE, N.M. – New Mexico MainStreet (NMMS) has accepted economic development projects from five rural communities as part of the Frontier & Native American Communities Initiative: Picuris Pueblo, Pueblo of Laguna, Pueblo of Pojoaque, the Village of Folsom, and the City of Lordsburg. These communities receive professional services and…

New Mexico MainStreet Announces $4 Million for Public Infrastructure Revitalization Projects

November 25, 2019

SANTA FE, N.M. – New Mexico MainStreet (NMMS) and the New Mexico Economic Development Department has awarded $4 million for revitalization projects through the MainStreet Capital Outlay Public Infrastructure Program in 11 MainStreet communities: Alamogordo, Barelas, Belen, Farmington, Gallup, Las Vegas, Lovington, Raton, Roswell, Silver City, and Tucumcari. The MainStreet…

Santa Rosa MainStreet receives accreditation

October 23, 2019

Santa Fe, N.M. – Santa Rosa MainStreet has graduated from the MainStreet Accelerator program and is now an accredited New Mexico MainStreet community. Santa Rosa MainStreet began the accelerator program in July 2018 via a joint application by the City of Santa Rosa and the Guadalupe County Development Corporation (GCDC).…

Silver City “Strand”

August 23, 2019

This unique placemaking project addresses three streetscapes connecting Silver City’s main downtown street to their central recreational resource, The Big Ditch. Employing multiple temporary and permanent tactics, the project will create seasonal vending space for local artisans and performers, while strengthening sense of place with interpretive murals, lighting, and seating.…

Cimarron Awarded Grants to Complete Scenic Byway Project

August 22, 2019

Placemaking Project Ten Years in the Making Set to Complete in October 2019 Santa Fe, N.M. – New Mexico MainStreet and New Mexico Resiliency Alliance announced today that Cimarron Alive has received a $12,500 Resilient Communities Fund grant to support the completion of the Scenic Byway Trail project along U.S.…

Downtown Junkers Tea Room Mural and Upcycling Courtyard, Downtown Farmington

August 22, 2019

This one of a kind, creative placemaking project exemplifies the potential of business partnerships with their local MainStreet organization, as well as the incredible ability of community to come together to complete a project. The Grand Union Tea Company photo mural is a life-size depiction of the building and its’…

Tucumcari Great Blocks Breezeways

August 22, 2019

The renovations of two breezeways located within Tucumcari’s Great Blocks on Main Street project area will maintain momentum for the larger streetscape and infrastructure improvements project while providing valuable outdoor public space in the downtown. Major improvements focus on themes central to Tucumcari’s history and culture, including the railroad, agriculture,…

Red Willow Farm, Taos Pueblo

August 22, 2019

As part of the Frontier and Native American Communities Initiative through New Mexico MainStreet, Taos Pueblo and the Red Willow Farm guided the development of a phased conceptual plan for this important agro-ecology and community wellness hub. This project will create a year-round arts, crafts, and local food vendor/demonstration area…

Raton Great Blocks Placemaking Installations and Great Blocks on Main Street

August 22, 2019

As part of the educational content for New Mexico MainStreets Summer Leadership Network Meeting in 2018, Raton MainStreet and the City of Raton worked with NMMS technical assistance to develop designs for multiple placemaking installations, including a 3D “floating” crosswalk, wayfinding footprints, painted games, and portable benches/planters made out of…

Silver City Polaris Parklet

August 22, 2019

This exciting partnership between a local business owner and Silver City MainStreet will result in an improved streetscape, public art display, and a public parklet for events and daily use. The streetscape improvements include slope stabilization, low-water use plantings and improved pedestrian access, and were completed in 2018, thanks to…

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