New Mexico MainStreet's Institute in Alamogordo a success | | |
New Mexico MainStreet (NMMS) extends our heartfelt thanks and sincere appreciation to Alamogordo MainStreet, the City of Alamogordo, the Alameda Park Zoo, the Dudley School and Joe Lewandowski for graciously hosting our Institute and 40th anniversary celebration this month. From the warm welcome to the thoughtful planning and generous hospitality, every aspect of our visit reflected the spirit, pride, and character of Alamogordo's community.
The vibrant downtown, engaging local businesses, and collaborative energy of their MainStreet program provided an inspiring and memorable setting for our event. We especially want to thank the city officials, MainStreet staff, volunteers, and all those behind the scenes who made this event possible.
More from this event:
- Presentations and resources available on the conference webpage.
- San Pedro, Lordsburg officially designated as “NM MainStreet” programs. Read more.
- NMMS Celebrates 40th Anniversary with Excellence Awards. Read more.
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| Alamogordo's MainStreet Makeover Grand Opening | |
Join Alamogordo Mainstreet on Nov. 29 to celebrate the grand opening of their MainStreet Makeover! This multi-million dollar project is updating the infrastructure and streetscape of the 800 & 900 blocks of New York Avenue. Alamogordo is currently installing ADA compliant sidewalks, new public art features, lamp posts, benches, and trash cans. Alamogordo received $3M from New Mexico MainStreet's Capital Outlay program to help design and construct this public infrastructure project. Learn more.
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| Taos MainStreet's inaugural Meet Me at McCarthy's | | |
Taos MainStreet hosted 21 weeks of Meet Me at McCarthy’s (MMM) events this year, concluding the inaugural season this month. MMM is a free weekly walk, jog, or run event held every Monday evening from 5–7 PM in downtown Taos. It’s designed to bring people of all ages together for outdoor movement, community connection, and wellness in an inclusive, non-competitive setting.
This season hosted 1,000 visits from more than 400 attendees and involved more than 10 downtown businesses. Taos MainStreet thanks their sponsors (the LOR Foundation and Taos Pueblo Athletics) as well as their volunteers, Melody Stalians, Centinel Bank, Legacy Cafe, and all the raffle donors.
Taos MainStreet plans to launch season two of MMM next year.
When asked what he learned from hosting this event series, Taos MainStreet Executive Director Charles Whitson said, "We learned this model of frequent activity as opposed to single one-off events is a very effective strategy for encouraging local residents to spend more time downtown. Additionally, we plan to use MMM as a model for a couple of new activities in the coming year."
Learn more.
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| Amy Bell presents an MRA Roundtable | |
Join Amy Bell (Anthropopulus Design + Planning) and her team on Nov. 19 to discuss MRA Plans.
Does your community have an MRA Plan?
Is your MainStreet organization helping to implement it?
In 2020, NMMS developed the MRA Implementation Toolkit to help MainStreet communities decipher their MRA Plans and use them to their full potential in supporting healthy downtown revitalization. After working with several communities on MRA designation, planning, and implementation – with many lessons learned, we’ve decided it’s time for an update.
Please join us review the new and improved Toolkit contents, including shiny graphic visualizations that unpack complicated concepts like a TIF district. We want to hear from you – so bring your MRA questions, frustrations, confusions, and suggestions for how to make this Toolkit useful for you and your municipal partner.
Learn more.
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| Clovis's first food accelerator program welcomes ten participants | | |
The Switchyard Restaurant Accelerator program launched in Clovis on Sept. 30. Ten current and aspiring business owners in the Clovis region participated in the program's inaugural cohort. Throughout the program, students have gained valuable insight into what it takes to open and operate a restaurant business in Eastern New Mexico. From business planning and marketing to operations and customer engagement, participants have developed the skills and confidence to turn their food service dreams into reality.
As a culminating opportunity, three students will be selected to receive a one-month downtown pop-up shop experience in a local downtown bakery building, allowing them to test their business concepts, serve real customers, and experience firsthand what it takes to successfully run a food business.
The program is a partnership between Clovis MainStreet and Clovis Economic Development, and is led by New Mexico MainStreet Revitalization Specialist Sean O’Shea (Hatchform). The unique and innovative concepts in the accelerator include Chicago style deep dish pizza, traditional German food, sourdough creations, and baked goods with a Cajun twist.
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Welcome Camille Vasquez
NM MainStreet’s new Community Economic Development Specialist
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As a state staff member, Camille will provide community economic development support to New Mexico MainStreet’s network organizations/projects and local government partners. She’s based in ABQ and can be reached at (505) 709-0798 or camille.vasquez@edd.nm.gov.
Camille has over eight years of experience in community and economic development working on programs and projects focused on public health, NM food systems, and supporting local entrepreneurship. She is a first-generation, native Northern New Mexican from Tecolote, a small rural village outside Las Vegas. Camille’s commitment to social equity, improving health outcomes and grassroots community development has been deeply informed by her background and roots. She holds a B.A. in Spanish with a minor in Chicano/a Studies and an A.A.S. in Nursing.
Learn more about Camille on our website.
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| Congratulations to these NMMS communities: |
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Revitalize San Pedro Partnership was awarded an Outdoor Equity Grant from the NM Outdoor Recreation Department. Learn more.
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Deming Luna County MainStreet, Grants Mainstreet, and MainStreet Truth or Consequences submitted proposals to the Levitt Music Series. Truth or Consequences is one of fifty national finalists! Grant recipients will be announced on November 18. Learn more.
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Zuni, Gallup, Roswell, Ruidoso, Artesia, Silver City, Las Cruces, Taos, Grants, Deming and other communities were awarded Tourism Event Growth and Sustainability Grants from the Tourism Dept. Learn more.
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Lordsburg Economic Advancement Project was awarded a Cooperative Marketing Grant from the Tourism Dept. Learn more.
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Downtown Albuquerque, Artesia, Carlsbad, Gallup, Las Cruces, Las Vegas, Los Alamos, Mora, Raton, and Silver City Arts & Cultural Districts received grants from EDD's Creative Industries Division. Learn more.
| | Check out recent headlines from local communities: | | View more on our news webpage. | | Main Street America Academy | From interactive self-paced courses and immersive in-person workshops, the Main Street America Academy offers practical, engaging, and flexible learning experiences designed to help you grow your impact, sharpen your skills, and lead with confidence. Check out free on-demand courses. | |  | Nuestra Herencia Grant Cycle 2 | |
The Nuestra Herencia Grant Program supports grassroots organizations protecting Latinx heritage.
Applications for their second grant cycle open on Nov. 4.
Learn more and signup for a webinar
| | | Virtual Lunch & Learn: You Invested in a Plan. Now What? | |
Join NMIDEA on Nov. 13 for a virtual Lunch & Learn, You Invested in an Economic Development Plan. Now What?, featuring Sean O’Shea, founder and lead consultant of HatchForm.
Learn more
| | | 2026 Mary Means Leadership Award | |
Join Main Street America in celebrating the immeasurable impact of exceptional leaders who are shaping the Main Street movement by nominating your organization’s stellar team member for this prestigious award.
Nominate your community’s visionary volunteer, board member, or staff person by Dec. 5.
Nominate here
| | | Helping Nonprofits Survive and Thrive in Chaos, Together | |
How are nonprofit leaders connecting to gather and share insights, discuss what's working and what isn't, and gain knowledge and support from a supportive network of peers? Learn about one community of practice model taking place in New Mexico with Prospera Partners on Nov. 13.
Learn more
| | | Healthy Food Financing Fund | |
EDD's Healthy Food Financing Fund is accepting applications through Nov. 19 to invest in food retailers, food processors, food hubs/distributors, and climate-smart pre-production projects.
Learn more
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T‑Mobile is supporting community spaces in towns with 50,000 people or less, and Main Street programs are encouraged to apply.
NM towns that previously received this grant include Raton, Los Alamos, Taos, Doña Ana, Carlsbad, Lovington, and Las Vegas.
Apply by Dec. 31
| | | Free IEDC course for MainStreet leaders: Rightsizing Resources in Uncertain Times | |
This course on Nov. 7 prepares nonprofit and economic development leaders to navigate disruptions and scarce resources. It provides frameworks for assessing vulnerabilities, sustaining stakeholder support, and reallocating resources to ensure long-term resilience.
Register
| | | Be a Small Business Saturday® Neighborhood Champion | |
All Main Street America members have been pre-qualified to serve as Neighborhood Champions on a first-come, first-served basis. Applications will remain open through mid-November or until spots are filled, so be sure to apply soon!
Learn more from Main Street America:
9 Ways Community Leaders Can Drive Business to Local Stores on Small Business Saturday®
| | | Save the Date for NM MainStreet's Conference in Albuquerque | |
NMMS's next network meeting will take place in ABQ to kickoff the Route 66 Centennial!
Save the date for NM MainStreet's Conference in Albuquerque on February 18-20, 2026.
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