Michelle Lujan Grisham • Governor
Rob Black • NM Economic Development Department Secretary Designate
Daniel J. Gutierrez • NM MainStreet Director
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
October 1, 2024
Contact: Jessica Mraz
Jessica.Mraz@edd.nm.gov
(505) 365-3998
Raton MainStreet is Semifinalist for 2025 Great American Main Street Award
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 their excellence in comprehensive preservation-based commercial district revitalization. Three of the eight semifinalists will receive the coveted honor at the Main Street Now Conference in Philadelphia on April 7, 2025.
“Congratulations to Raton MainStreet and to all the dedicated community members who are working to improve the quality of life for their residents everyday. The recognition is well deserved and we are honored to partner with such dedicated local leadership,” EDD Secretary Designate Rob Black said.
“As a Raton native, I know how special downtown Raton is and I’m proud that Main Street America is recognizing Raton MainStreet’s outstanding efforts to revitalize their district,” EDD Division Director Mark Roper said.
A jury of community economic development professionals reviewed a nationwide pool of GAMSA applicants. After thoughtful deliberation, they unanimously selected eight semifinalists that demonstrate exemplary use of the Main Street Approach™ to lead community-based transformation strategies in their downtowns.
“Raton MainStreet has been an affiliated district continuously since 2005 and a perennial Main Street America Accredited program since 2014. We’re very grateful for the for the extraordinary partnership between Raton MainStreet, the City of Raton, and NMMS State Coordinating program that has led to the positive transformation of Raton’s MainStreet District. I’m so proud to congratulate them as a GAMSA semifinalist,” NM MainStreet Director Daniel Gutierrez said.
“I am honored to congratulate the eight Main Street organizations as 2025 Great American Main Street Award semifinalists and to celebrate their incredible accomplishments,” Main Street America President and CEO Erin Barnes said. “This year’s semifinalists demonstrate exceptional achievements in reenergizing their downtowns through inclusive, collaborative organizing and innovative economic development, arts and culture, and historic preservation initiatives.”
Competing for the Great American Main Street Award is a significant achievement in the Main Street Movement, and receiving the award is an esteemed honor. Since its establishment in 1995, only 112 of more than 2000 Main Street programs have been acknowledged as GAMSA-winning communities.
“We are so honored to be named as a semifinalist. Some days the work we do feels like a struggle, but this makes it all worth it. We love Raton and we will continue to work hard to improve the quality of life for our community residents and visitors,” Raton MainStreet Executive Director Brenda Ferri said.
Collectively, the 2025 GAMSA semifinalists have generated more than $695 million in local reinvestment, helped open 975 net new businesses, facilitated the creation of 7,190 net new jobs, catalyzed the rehabilitation of 1,568 historic buildings, and leveraged 333,050 volunteer hours.
Learn more about Raton MainStreet and the other semifinalists on Main Street America’s website.
