New Mexico MainStreet districts shine on national stage | | |
New Mexico MainStreet (NMMS) staff and network members recently returned from Main Street America's national conference in Philly, where two NM districts received special recognition for excellence (see below). More than 60 New Mexicans attended this year's national conference, the most attendees in recent history!
2025 is shaping up to be a year for the books as we celebrate NMMS's 40th anniversary and welcome a new staff member (more below).
Other exciting updates from NMMS this year:
- Save the date for NMMS's Institute in Alamogordo on October 15-17. Thank you to Alamogordo MainStreet for hosting the network for this event! The Institute will also feature an anniversary celebration and awards ceremony. More details to come.
- NMMS is getting ready for the 2026 Route 66 Centennial. We're planning two special events on the Mother Road next year. Stay tuned for more updates.
- The New Mexico Resiliency Alliance's Resilient Community Fund grant application window closed recently. An announcement for grant awardees will be distributed soon.
NMMS pennant designed by Leighton Moon.
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| Raton MainStreet Wins GAMSA! | | |
It's official: Raton is a Great American Main Street Award (GAMSA) winner this year! Raton is the second NM GAMSA winner, after Silver City in 2011. This prestigious honor from Main Street America is the nation’s top award recognizing communities for their excellence in exemplary preservation-based commercial district revitalization.
“We’re deeply honored to be recognized as a 2025 GAMSA winner,” Raton MainStreet Executive Director Brenda Ferri said. “This award is a validation of the dedication of our board members, volunteers, business and property owners, and local and state partners who together have worked tirelessly to revitalize downtown Raton. Through collaboration and the Main Street Approach, we’ve successfully transformed Raton into a thriving community, while honoring our rich history.” Read more.
Raton MainStreet:
- Implemented major public improvement projects, including a $2.2 million upgrade of infrastructure and streetscapes, revitalizing three blocks in the downtown district.
- Provided over $25,000 in grants to help small businesses improve their storefronts and stay resilient, prioritizing support for women and minority-owned businesses.
- Hosts an annual Gate City Music Festival featuring a full-day dedicated to music recognizing and honoring Raton’s large Hispanic population.
Learn more:
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Claudia Loya receives 2025 Mary Means Leadership Award!
Alamogordo MainStreet Board President Claudia Loya received the Mary Means Leadership Award this year! Claudia is the first New Mexican to earn this award. The prestigious award is Main Street America’s top honor recognizing individuals who demonstrate outstanding leadership in the field of comprehensive preservation-based economic development and commercial district revitalization.
About Claudia:
- Under Claudia’s leadership, Alamogordo MainStreet secured significant public and private investment, including a $1.9 million grant from NMMS/EDD to launch MainStreet Makeover.
- Through her efforts coordinating the Side Street Art alley beautification project, local residents amassed over 1,600 volunteer hours to transform a downtown alleyway into a vibrant public space.
- Claudia spearheaded the launch of the Alamo Venture Academy, a small business accelerator housed in a formerly vacant downtown building.
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Learn more about Claudia's work from MainStreet America's profile.
Photo: Claudia Loya and James Sheppard.
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Welcome Cherise Urioste-Martinez
NMMS’s new Community Economic Development Specialist
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NMMS is thrilled to introduce our new team member, Cherise Urioste-Martinez! She brings oodles of valuable experience to NMMS/EDD and we’re so proud to welcome her.
As a Community Economic Development Specialist, she’ll provide Capital Outlay, project management, and community economic development support to NMMS, MainStreet/ACD districts, local government partners, and economic development projects.
Cherise was born and raised in Santa Fe with two sisters. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from UNM with a minor in math. Her professional experience includes teaching middle and high-school students, childhood development, and managing clean energy programs and state incentives. Cherise previously worked at St. Michael’s High School, NMFA, EMNRD, PED, and the Santa Fe Youth Shelter.
When not working, Cherise spends time with her family in Santa Fe and playing sports.
“In this new job, I’m most excited about building partnerships with other programs and supporting MainStreet districts with their vital partnerships. I find joy in making relationships stronger. Growing trust and strengthening connections is a really good feeling,” Cherise said.
| | ABQ MainStreet Advantage Collaboration | | |
Four Albuquerque MainStreet districts (Barelas, San Pedro, Nob Hill, and Downtown ABQ) are collaborating with the City of ABQ to provide a free ABQ MainStreet Advantage workshop series for business owners and entrepreneurs. Workshops will take place at the new Business Resource Center in May and June. Workshops will feature local experts and case studies to help ground businesses in MainStreet districts.
NMMS Project Coordinator Lucas Pedraza helped coordinate this effort with CABQ. "The ABQ MainStreet Advantage initiative will help MainStreet districts and the City of ABQ partner to build more collaborative work and leverage resources together," Lucas said.
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Thank you, Willie Lambert and the Historic Santa Fe Foundation
At April's network roundtable, Willie Lambert and Giulia Caporuscio from the Historic Santa Fe Foundation presented on Willie's Route 66 guides. They graciously showed off Willie's binders, which archived Route 66 maps, postcards, photographs, and history throughout NM.
It was an incredible experience to see NM's Route 66 history documented so thoroughly, and it was an inspiration for MainStreet districts who are preparing for the Route 66 Centennial.
You can view the roundtable recording on YouTube and we highly encourage you to donate to this amazing project!
Photo credit: Hanna Churchwell
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| Belén's refreshes name and branding | | |
To show their commitment to preserving and promoting the charm of their historic downtown area, Belén MainStreet Partnership has rebranded to Belén Historic Downtown Partnership.
According to their newsletter, the Belén Historic Downtown Partnership is reimaging their downtown, one building at a time. Their Board visualizes Belén as a fusion of past, present and future. They're proud to be a small town that honors its history, celebrates the present and crafts its future.
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Carlsbad MainStreet to manage historic Cavern Theater
Great news from Carlsbad - Carlsbad MainStreet was granted funding to manage the Cavern Theater for one year by the city and city council, according to the Carlsbad Current-Argus!
Carlsbad MainStreet Executive Director Kat Davis said the organization plans to host events and build local partnerships to improve downtown Carlsbad's economic vitality and nightlife.
This is a "big deal" (Mary Garwood's words!) as the theater is undergoing a multi-million dollar renovation, thanks in part to NMMS's Capital Outlay program. Renovations will be completed soon and the theater will open to the public in June.
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Check out recent headlines from NMMS communities:
| | View more on our news webpage. | | NMMS 40th Anniversary Excellence Awards | |
To celebrate NMMS's 40th Anniversary, we'll be hosting an awards ceremony at the Alamogordo Institute on Oct. 15-17! These awards will recognize people and projects that exemplify excellence.
Nominate by May 18
| |  | ABQ Mural Grant Opportunity | |
To celebrate the upcoming Route 66 Centennial, the Metropolitan Redevelopment Agency is partnering with Creative Campus Collective–Albuquerque Public Schools on an exciting community beautification project.
Apply by April 30
| | | Levitt Music Series Grant Opportunity Webinar | |
Check out this webinar on Thursday, May 15, at 11 am to learn about a multi-year matching grant opportunity to present a free outdoor concert series.
Register
| | | Homewise Livability Speaker Series | |
Eric Williams will share his inspiring work revitalizing Chicago’s South and West side neighborhoods on May 8 from 6-8pm at ABQ's NHCC.
Register
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T‑Mobile is supporting community spaces in towns with 50,000 people or less, and Main Street programs are encouraged to apply.
NM towns that previously received this grant include Raton, Los Alamos, Taos, Doña Ana, Carlsbad, Lovington, and Las Vegas.
Apply by June 30
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The Sacramento Mountains Foundation presents a series of free webinars designed to enhance your fundraising skills and donor engagement strategies.
Register
| | | NM Route 66 Centennial Grant Program | |
Applications for the Infrastructure and Special Events track are accepted through May 5, 2025.
Learn more
| | | National Trust Preservation Funds | |
With funds ranging up to $5,000, these grants help support preservation projects.
Apply by June 2
| | | Backing Small Businesses: Disaster Recovery Grants | |
The Backing Small Businesses grant program, supported by American Express, is expanding to support disaster recovery. Applications are open from May 7-21, 2025.
Learn more
| | | Governor's Conference on Hospitality and Tourism | |
The 2025 Governor's Conference on Hospitality & Tourism is set for May 21-22, 2025 at the Albuquerque Sheraton Uptown.
Learn more.
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