| Contact: Michelle Simon Michelle.Simon@edd.nm.gov (505) 439-2320 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 2, 2025, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, Cabinet Secretary Rob Black, Deputy Cabinet Secretary Isaac Romero, ORD Director Karina Armijo. State awards $3.2M in Trails+ Grants supporting 105 jobs and funding approved across 13 counties, 3 Tribal communities. SANTA FE — The Outdoor Recreation Trails+ Grant has awarded over $3.2 million to 18 outdoor infrastructure projects across New Mexico. The New Mexico Economic Development Department’s (EDD) Outdoor Recreation Division is seeing a surge in funding requests from communities prioritizing outdoor access. This round of FY26 grantees includes 11 first-time recipients. EDD received a record-breaking 56 applications totaling $12.6 million in requests, a 60% increase in applicants compared to the last round. “New Mexicans are proud of their expansive vistas and unique outdoor spaces,” said EDD Cabinet Secretary Rob Black. “Communities across New Mexico are eager to improve accessibility and provide safe and beautiful spaces for locals and visitors to get outdoors and enjoy all that New Mexico has to offer.” More than $2 million in matching funds will be leveraged, further boosting the impact of the grants. The projects will support 105 jobs and improve or develop over 700 miles of trails in communities across the state. Additionally, $2 million from the Land of Enchantment Legacy Fund will support 10 projects. Trails+ awarded projects include ADA trail enhancements, amenities to improve Continental Divide Trail hiker experiences, a new campground in Hatch, NM, the development of connectors to the Rio Grande Trail (visit riograndetrailnm.org to learn more), a kids’ bike pump track for Navajo youth, trail signage upgrades, and more. Executive Director Prestene Garnenez of the Navajo Townsite Community Development Corporation said, “This grant will allow us to build a kids’ bike pump track for young cyclists, support our growing Navajo mountain biking community, and provide a healthy activity to connect our youth to the outdoors.” The final round of the FY26 Trails+ Grant is open for applications through Jan. 31, 2026, with $1.7 million in funding available. Interested applicants can learn more, apply, and register for an informational webinar taking place on Wednesday, Dec. 10, at nmoutside.com. Awarded projects in the latest round of grants include: Catron County: New Mexico Wilderness Alliance (New Mexico Wild), $99,891 Cibola County: Continental Divide Trail Coalition, $333,174 Colfax County: Friends of Sugarite Canyon State Park, $26,400 Doña Ana County: City of Sunland Park, $499,798; Village of Hatch, $99,999 Grant County: Grant County, $352,908 Guadalupe County: Guadalupe County, $499,999 Hidalgo County: City of Lordsburg, $69,214 McKinley County: Navajo Townsite Community Development Corporation, $33,333; The Zuni Youth Enrichment Project, $99,999 Otero County: CAPPED, Inc. (Center Advancing Primary Prevention through Enlightened Decisions), $99,999 Rio Arriba County: McCurdy Ministries, $99,000; National Indian Youth Leadership Development Project, $85,534 Sandoval County: City of Rio Rancho, $50,807 Santa Fe County: Spanish Colonial Arts Society Inc, $89,838 Taos County: Rocky Mountain Youth Corps, $500,000; Taos Center for the Arts, $99,214; Town of Red River, $99,999 |
