New Mexico Match Fund Passed Will Help Communities Secure Federal Matching Funds

The New Mexico Legislature passed House Bill 177, and it is on the way to the governor for signature.  The New Mexico Match Fund, will help local and tribal governments access untapped federal funding opportunities by providing the required match funds, helping to transform our communities through hundreds of millions of federal dollars.

House Bill 177 (HB177) creates the New Mexico Match Fund (“Match Fund”) as a non-reverting fund in the State Treasury and appropriates $100 million from the general fund to this Fund. The Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) will administer the Fund for the purpose of the Fund. DFA may use money in the Fund to: (1) make grants to an eligible entity for state matching funds for federal grants and to offset higher project costs incurred to comply with federal requirements; (2) make grants to an eligible entity that receives a grant for state matching funds for federal grants to administer that grant provided that a grant shall not exceed five percent (5%) of the combined total amount of the federal grant and state matching funds awarded to an eligible entity, and (3) use to administer the Fund provided that the DFA use no more than three (3) percent of the total appropriation amount. DFA will track the federal funds leveraged through the Match Fund and report annually to the Legislative Finance Committee. This bill has an emergency clause and would take effect immediately upon signature by the governor.

HB177 appropriates $100 million from the general fund to the Match Fund for expenditures in fiscal year 2025 and subsequent fiscal years to provide grants. Up to three percent of the appropriation can be used by DFA for administration of the fund.

New Mexico is presented with a unique opportunity to leverage once-in-a-lifetime federal funding for infrastructure, research, economic development, energy transition, and other projects that foster healthy communities. Many federal programs require matching funds, sometimes up to 50% of the federal award amount. State agencies, tribal governments, counties, municipalities, and other entities who are eligible to apply for federal grants may devote significant time and resources to identify required match funding and still come up short. This bill would ensure that the lack of match funding is not a hindrance to infusing federal dollars into our communities.

Additionally, in some cases, New Mexico communities cannot leverage federal dollars because federal requirements can drive up the total cost of a project. For example, federal funding requirements in the Build America, Buy America Act sometimes result in higher project costs because the domestic manufacturing sector is still growing to meet current rising demands for materials. The higher costs may leave communities no choice but to opt out of federal programs.

Without the New Mexico Match Fund, the state lacks a mechanism to strategically use state funds to mitigate these incremental costs so that communities do not opt-out. HB177 creates a new reliable and flexible source of funding to be used by state, tribal, and local entities seeking federal grants that require matching funds to be eligible. The Match Fund will also create opportunities for match grant recipients to receive an additional grant award to cover the
costs of administering their project, thereby addressing the lack of capacity that too often holds our communities back from making needed investments. This bill will prioritize state funding for match and enhance support in pursuing and managing federal grants which will result in the state being more competitive for federal dollars.

This bill passed with bipartisan support in the New Mexico House of Representatives - Yes:65, No:0 and passed in the Senate - Yes:37 No:0. It is expected that the governor will approve.

Source: Mica Maynard at the Roundhouse for KALHRadio.org

More News from Alamogordo

• Early Voting Begins May 7th, 2024 for Primary Election. Must Be Registered with a Party to Participate in Primary in New Mexico Voting in the primary is important, if registered as an independent a voter may register with a party the day they vote.
• Public Health Alert for Raw Pork Chorizo Products Due to Possible Foreign Matter Contamination Public health alert