New Changes to the Trails+ Grant Program
Dispatches from the NM Outdoor Recreation Division
ORD Newsletter | July 17, 2024
Dispatches from New Mexico's
Outdoor Recreation Division
In the Outdoor Recreation Division’s biweekly newsletter, find the latest on office and New Mexico’s outdoor recreation initiatives.
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Letter from the Outdoor Recreation Planner
As we wrap up the 2024 fiscal year with the Trails+ Grant program, we want to acknowledge some milestones.
Since the program's inception in 2020, ORD has awarded over $15 million in grants across 29 New Mexico counties and 10 Tribal communities. In the program’s first year, ORD funded six projects, followed by 25 projects in 2021, and 59 in 2022. We are on track to award more than 75 grants for the program’s fourth year, and applications for the fifth year are now open.
This progress demonstrates the state’s alignment with ORD’s mission.
Outdoor Recreation Trails+ Grant projects extend beyond trail creation. We have funded massive group shelters in small communities like Cimarron, Springer, and Lovington, creating spaces for community gatherings. Environmental education is now being taught in outdoor classrooms funded by Trails+ in Taos, Mora, and Silver City. Grant funding has also supported river access and on-river signage in San Juan County, Carlsbad, and on the Rio Grande with the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District. And, of course, we also fund various trail projects.
We have some exciting changes to the program for the next fiscal year:
We've added a new Tier 3
Tier 1: Up to $100,000
Tier 2: Up to $500,000 for more regional projects
Tier 3: $500,000 to $1 million for larger-scale projects
Nonprofits with capacity are now eligible for Tier 2 grants. Capacity is defined in our Grant Guide .
Current grantees on schedule with their projects can now apply for an additional Trails+ Grant in the next consecutive fiscal year.
See our Grant Guide on our Trails+ Grant page for all the details. We hope you can join us for the online information session on August 1, 2024 , at 3 pm. Applications are being accepted now and will be reviewed in three rounds.
We look forward to working with you to get outside!
Carl Colonius
ORD Outdoor Recreation Planner
In Other News
President of the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable Calls for an Increase in OR Funding
The Outdoor Recreation Roundtable’s latest report, “Recreation Funding in America: Current Results and Future Insights,” highlights the challenges and opportunities for the outdoor recreation economy.
Recent data from the Department of Commerce underscores the importance of this industry. In 2022, outdoor recreation generated $1.1 trillion in gross output and supported 5 million jobs, comprising 2.2 percent of the nation’s economy and 3.2 percent of all U.S. employees. This sector is growing 2.5 times faster than the economy as a whole. Leading companies across the outdoor industry’s top segments are determined to think long-term, big-picture, and proactively to ensure this thriving economic sector continues to support future generations and communities.
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ORD Signs Letter in Support of Pass the EXPLORE Act
The New Mexico ORD joined over 250 outdoor recreation industry organizations, leaders, and businesses to call for the EXPLORE Act to be passed by the Senate. The broad coalition was led by ORR, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, and Outdoor Alliance. The letter was addressed to the U.S. Senate, asking them to make history during Great Outdoors Month by expanding access to outdoor recreation for all.
Read the Letter
ORD Director Armijo Calls for Safer Wildlife Crossings
“Hunting, birding, wildlife viewing and eco-tourism are huge economic drivers statewide, drawing New Mexicans and visitors alike. Our tapestry of protected habitats supports a variety of species, making the state a prime destination for hikers and campers, boaters and wildlife photographers, hunters and anglers, and others. These activities not only connect people to our great outdoors but sustain rural economies through dollars spent at local businesses. In fact, in 2022, the outdoor recreation industry generated $2.4 billion in added value and created almost 28,000 jobs across the state.
By investing in wildlife connectivity, we can build effective wildlife crossing solutions that enhance public safety, support our economy, and preserve our natural heritage. This is a win-win scenario for drivers, wildlife, and the outdoor recreation industry. Together, we can ensure that our roads are safe, our wildlife thrives, and our outdoor recreation industry continues to flourish.”
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3,700 acres Adjacent to the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument Protected
This project was made possible thanks to a remarkable collaboration among Trust for Public Land, New Mexico elected officials, the Bureau of Land Management, many members of the Taos community, the Taos Pueblo, the Klauer family, and others. The first $4 million to support this $16.6 million acquisition was made possible through a Congressionally designated spending request, secured by U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich. The balance of the funding came from the BLM’s Recreation Access Fund, which is funded by the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
“The Rio Grande del Norte National Monument has protected the natural wonders and cultural heritage that have always made Northern New Mexico unique. This historic expansion of our public lands system will block future commercial development near the Monument, protecting the hiking, whitewater rafting, hunting, fishing, and traditional land uses that have made the Rio Grande del Norte such a treasured place,” Senator Martin Heinrich of New Mexico said. “It’s why I’ve worked so hard to secure federal resources and work with the local Taos community to steer this acquisition through every step of the process. With the support and partnership of TPL, we are…