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Monthly Newsletter

March 2025

Big Rock

Message from the Executive Director



February and March continue to keep us busy at the Legislature. Our efforts this year are focused on increased funding for seniors, as detailed in the Non-Metro Area Agency on Aging update in this newsletter.


We've had success with our capital outlay requests, including vehicles for the Non-Metro Area Agency on Aging, and renovations for our new building in Santa Fe. I look forward to thanking the many Legislators who contributed to these projects once I have a full list in the upcoming week.


Work throughout the region continues even as we hold down the fort in Santa Fe. We look forward to seeing our members and community leaders at upcoming Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) meetings, which are already underway. Please attend and add your voice to our new five-year strategy for the region.

 

Here's wishing you a great start to spring!

Monica Abeita

CEDS First County Economic Development Stakeholder Meeting!

San Miguel County Meeting

NCNMEDD kicked off its eight-county regional CEDS campaign with City of Las Vegas Mayor David Romero hosting the first meeting in San Miguel County at the City Council Chambers on February 25, 2025. NCNMEDD coordinated with Mayor Romero to attract about 25 people in person and via Zoom.


Elected officials, along with the area’s major employers, local businesses, local governments, community foundations, and members of the public focused on county economic development issues and discussed solutions for economic growth in San Miguel County. Small group discussions centered on infrastructure, workforce housing, economic development, including outdoor recreation and tourism. The Las Vegas Optic published a great article about the event. See it HERE.


We appreciate everyone who participated to identify and address the county’s pressing needs and working together to solve them.


Upcoming March County CEDS meetings:

  • Los Alamos County: March 13 at the White Rock Fire Station, 129 NM 4, White Rock, NM 87547, from 5:30 - 7:30 pm. REGISTER for the Los Alamos County meeting.
  • Mora County: March 18 at the David Cargo Luna Community College Library, Highway 518, Mora, NM 87732 from 12:30 - 2:30 pm. REGISTER for the Mora County Meeting.
  • Taos County: March 25 In Taos, Location and time to be determined. REGISTER for the Taos County meeting.

County Stakeholder Meetings are in-person and online and open to interested parties.


Questions: contact Angela Bordegaray at angelab@ncnmedd.com; 505-787-3356.

NCNMEDD and NMED Brownfields Program Information Session a Success!

NCNMEDD partnered with New Mexico Environment Department to host a Brownfields Program information session. Brownfields Program Manager Savanah Richards described the program and process to a large audience of community leaders who attended in person and online. See the presentation: NMED Brownfields Presentation February 19, 2025.


The Brownfields Program helps communities who are considering vacant, abandoned or dilapidated buildings and lots for rehabilitation and revitalization. Staff work with you to address possible contamination issues through targeted Brownfields Assessments, asbestos surveys, sampling, due diligence reviews, and clean-up planning.


Thanks to everyone who attended.


Find more information on the New Mexico Environment Department website https://www.env.nm.gov/gwqb/brownfields-program/ or contact Savannah Richards, Manager of the Brownfields Program, or Felicity Fonseca, NCNMEDD Community Development Director.

Transportation News and Funding

Funding Opportunities

The Rural and Tribal Assistance Program with the Build America Bureau application portal closes on April 3, 2025. This program offers grants of $200,000 - $750,000 for single projects and up to $2.25 million for multi-community projects. For more information, visit: Rural and Tribal Assistance Pilot Program | Build America


The Federal Transit Administration's Mobility, Access and Transportation Insecurity Program explores strategies to improve people’s mobility and access to daily needs. Send required Expression of Interest by March 14, 2025; the complete application is due on April 30, 2025. For more information, visit: Mobility, Access, and Transportation Insecurity (MATI) | Center for Transportation Studies


The Transportation Project Fund is open for project applications.

  • Northern Pueblos RTPO Project Feasibility Forms (PFF) are due on March 5, 2025 to Patrick Million. The TPF rating and ranking meeting will follow on April 2, 2025.  
  • Northeastern RTPO Project Feasibility Forms (PFFs) are due to either Patrick Million or Julie Surina on March 21, 2025. The TPF rating and ranking meeting will follow on May 14, 2025. Contact Patrick Million or Julie Surina for assistance and information.


Active Transportation and Recreational Programs | NMDOT Deadline: March 14, 2025


PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT



At NCNMEDD:

Transportation Day and Mini Planning Grants

Transportation Day was held Tuesday, February 11, 2025 at the New Mexico State Capitol. NCNMEDD and other New Mexico Councils of Government (COGS) informed legislators and the public about transportation planning.


Patrick Million of NCNMEDD and Julie Surina of the Eastern Plains Council of Governments (pictured at right) wish to thank everyone who stopped by their table.


NCNMEDD offers transportation and planning mini grants up to $25,000 to prioritize projects that enhance and facilitate compliance, remove barriers, and support project development. Examples include: ADA transition plans; traffic, feasibility and safety studies; NEPA assistance; outreach campaigns; and walk audits. For more information and an application, please see: NORTHERN PUEBLOS | rtponm or contact Patrick Million at patrickm@ncnmedd.com.

Non-Metro Area Agency on Aging

Legislative Update

Senior Day 2025

The Non-Metro Area Agency on Aging is working to obtain an additional $2.5 million in recurring funding for the Aging Network. This funding would allow our 125 senior centers and 55 providers to better support operations, serve additional seniors, and expand services. Senate Bill 288: Increase Aging Network Reimbursements, unanimously passed the Senate Health and Public Affairs Committee on March 5, 2025. Sponsored by Senator Roberto "Bobby" J. Gonzales, SB 288 now heads to the Senate Finance Committee. Please contact your Senate Finance Committee members and ask for their support to include this funding in House Bill 2. Let them know how important it is to support our seniors and senior centers, and to provide for our growing senior population in New Mexico.


Special thanks to Representative Joseph Sanchez and House Appropriations and Finance Committee (HAFC) Chairman Nathan Small for including $2 million in the HAFC version of House Bill 2 for mobile home replacement in our senior home repair program. We are hopeful that the Senate version of House Bill 2 will also contain this funding, as many low-income seniors live precariously in substandard mobile homes that need complete replacement.


Thanks to all who attended Senior Day at the Legislature, January 27, 2025, pictured here. We had a great crowd!

Small Business Training Opportunities

Grant and Funding Opportunities

NCNMEDD continues the grant writing and technical assistance program funded by North Central New Mexico Legislators. Read about the program HERE and request grant writing assistance by contacting Felicity Fonseca at 505-356-9098.


ROLLING DEADLINES


EDA FY23 Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance Programs (PWEAA), Ongoing. To meet the full range of communities' and regions' economic needs, from planning and technical assistance to construction of infrastructure.


Land & Water Defense Fund - The Conservation Alliance will make grants of up to $50,000 that support grassroot organizations working to protect our public lands, local economies and recreation opportunities.

UPCOMING:


EPA Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling (SWIFR) Grants for Tribes and Intertribal Consortia, Deadline March 14, 2025. To Improve local post-consumer materials management programs and make improvements to local waste management systems.


NPS Historic Preservation Fund-Semiquincentennial Grants, Deadline March 18, 2025.

To fund physical preservation to properties listed in or eligible for the National Register of Historic Places, including buildings, sites, structures, objects, or historic districts.


NMSHPO Cultural Properties Restoration Fund Deadline: March 18, 2025. Grants for the restoration, preservation, stabilization, protection and interpretation of significant cultural properties in New Mexico. 


DOJ Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation, Deadline March 18, 2025.

For tribes to apply for funding to aid in developing a comprehensive and coordinated approach to public safety.


NM OBAE Promoting Internet Needs of New Mexicans (PINON) Grant Deadline 12pm noon March 21, 2025.

To enhancing digital equity programs tailored for populations that are particularly vulnerable to digital exclusion.


USDA Bison Production and Marketing Grant Program, Deadline March 26, 2025.

To strengthen and enhance the production and marketing of bison and bison products.


USDA Rural Energy for America Program, Deadline March 31, 2025 and Quarterly.

Loan financing and grant funding to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for renewable energy systems or to make energy efficiency improvements.


BIL-DE-Renew America's Schools Prize, Deadline April 3, 2025.

To transform decaying public school infrastructure into healthier, more energy efficient learning environments.


DOT Rural and Tribal Assistance Pilot Program, Deadline April 3, 2025.

For planning and design phase activities for developing transportation projects in rural or tribal communities.


HHS Native American Language Preservation and Maintenance Esther Martinez Immersion, Deadline April 14, 2025.

For immersion-based language instruction.


HHS Environmental Regulatory Enhancement for Tribes, Deadline April 14, 2025.

For planning, developing, and implementing programs designed to improve the capability of tribal governing bodies to regulate environmental quality pursuant to federal and tribal environmental laws.


BOR Water SMART Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Projects for FY 25 and 26, Deadline April 15, 2025 and rolling until 2026.

To restore and protect aquatic ecosystems.


FEMA 2024 Flood Mitigation Assistance, Deadline: April 18, 2025.

To reduce or eliminate the risk of repetitive flood damage to buildings and structures insured under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and within NFIP-participating communities.


US Forest Service Community Wildfire Defense Grant 2024 (CDWG) (FY25) – Deadline March 14, 2025.

To help wildland urban interface (WUI) communities be resilient to fire, insect, disease, invasive species, and climate change disturbances through fire-adapted communities.


Department of Homeland Security - FEMA's Public Assistance Program Deadline: work with FEMA to determine.

Provides supplemental grants to communities to quickly respond to and recover from major disasters or emergencies.


USDA Value Added Producer Grant, Deadline April 17, 2025.

To assist Agricultural Producers, Farmer and Rancher Cooperatives, and Majority-Controlled Producer-Based Businesses in starting or expanding value-added activities related to the processing and/or marketing of Value-Added Agricultural Products.


FEMA Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities, Deadline April 18, 2025.

For hazard mitigation activities.


USDA RUS Community Connect Program, Deadline April 21, 2025.

To provide broadband service at or above 100 Mbps down and 20 Mbps up to all premises in rural, economically challenged communities where broadband service (10 Mbps down and 1 Mbps up) does not exist.


NEA Challenge America, Deadline April 24, 2025.

$10,000 grants, 1:1 match required, to extend the reach of the arts to underserved groups/communities.


Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program, Deadline April 30, 2025. Tribes eligible. To purchase local, unprocessed or minimally processed domestic foods from local producers, targeting historically underserved farmers/producers/fishers and small businesses including processors, aggregators, and distributors.


SAMHSA Tribal Behavioral Health, Deadline May 15, 2025.

To prevent and reduce suicidal behavior and substance use/misuse, reduce the impact of trauma, and promote mental health among American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) youth, up to and including age 24, by building a healthy network of systems, services, and partnerships that impact youth.


DOE Energy Improvement in Rural or Remote Areas, Deadline August 28, 2025.

Eligible activities include: 1) Improving overall cost-effectiveness of energy generation, transmission, or distribution systems; 2) Siting or upgrading transmission and distribution lines; 3) Reducing greenhouse gas emissions from energy generation in rural or remote areas; 4) Providing or modernizing electric generation facilities; 5) Developing microgrids; and 6) Increasing energy efficiency.


HUD FY 2024 and FY 2025 Continuum of Care Competition and Renewal or Replacement of Youth Homeless Demonstration Program Grants, Deadline August 29, 2025.

To quickly re-house homeless individuals, families, persons fleeing domestic violence, and youth while minimizing the trauma and dislocation caused by homelessness; to promote access to and effective utilization of mainstream programs by homeless; and to optimize self-sufficiency among those experiencing homelessness.


NIH Innovations for Healthy Living - Improving Minority Health and Eliminating Health Disparities, Deadline December 9, 2026.

For small business concerns to develop a product, process or service for commercialization with the aim of improving minority health and/or reducing and ultimately eliminating health disparities in one or more populations that experience health disparities. Appropriate technologies should be effective, affordable, and culturally acceptable.



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