Quartet of Tourism Department grant programs set to open for applications in March

Applications for the New Mexico Tourism Department’s Cooperative Marketing Grant Program and three infrastructure and development grants for fiscal year 2026 are set to open during the month of March.

Over the past few years, NMTD has expanded its capabilities to support local and tribal governments with tourism-related infrastructure and product development projects. NMTD unveiled its Tourism Event Growth and Sustainability Program in 2022, followed by the launch of Destination Forward in 2023. These newer programs joined the long-standing New Mexico Clean and Beautiful Grant Program as the agency’s menu of grant funding options for tourism-related infrastructure and product development support.

“Over the past few years, the Tourism Department has set a standard for how a state tourism agency invests in tourism infrastructure and product development,” said Acting Tourism Secretary Lancing Adams. “We’re grateful that these programs have been so well-received over the past few years and we’re hopeful that we can continue to meet the demand for these programs.”

The New Mexico Clean and Beautiful Grant Program is a competitive grant that offers funding to eligible entities to assist with litter eradication, waste reduction and community beautification initiatives. Applications for this program open Tuesday, March 4, and close Friday, April 4.

The Tourism Event Growth and Sustainability Programprovides technical assistance, marketing and sponsorship support to qualified tourism events within New Mexico to support their growth and sustainability. Applications for this program open Wednesday, March 19, and close Thursday, April 17.

Created in 2023, the Destination Forward Program is a competitive grant that supports the long-term destination development and revitalization of community-based, sustainable tourism infrastructure projects across New Mexico. Applications for this program open Monday, March 10, and close Tuesday, April 8.

The Cooperative Marketing Grant Program is a co-branding marketing program that allows for eligible entities to pool resources with the Tourism Department to further extend marketing investments. Applications for the program open Tuesday, March 11, and close Tuesday, April 8. Prospective applicants are asked to complete a pre-application survey that closes Wednesday, February 26.

In FY25, NMTD awarded $7.7 million in total grant funding through these programs, representing a 15 percent increase from FY24.

The department’s FY26 executive budget recommendation includes a $1.9 million special appropriation for the Destination Forward Program, which is also included in the Legislative Finance Committee budget recommendation.

More information such as eligibility and application deadlines for all four grant programs is available at www.newmexico.org/industry.

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