ORD Continues to Celebrate 5 Years
Updates from the NM Outdoor Recreation Division
ORD Newsletter | April 24, 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 Director
The Outdoor Recreation Division (ORD) has invested over $20 million in the New Mexico outdoor recreation industry since its inception in April 2019. This journey has been one of innovation, collaboration, and transformative impact, and we are thrilled to share this momentous occasion with the outdoor recreation community.
Since the visionary establishment of ORD, profound changes have taken root, shaping the landscape of outdoor recreation in New Mexico and throughout the nation.
By creating the Outdoor Equity Fund (OEF), New Mexico stands as a beacon of progress, having conceived, supported, and successfully launched this first-of-its-kind program. As the movement for outdoor equity gains momentum nationwide, our state's initiative serves as a model for others, embodying the values of inclusivity and accessibility. Check out the Outdoor F.U.T.U.R.E. initiative that seeks to build momentum for the creation of a national equity fund.
When ORD was established, only eight other states had embarked on the journey of establishing state-specific outdoor recreation departments. At that time, we signed on to the Confluence of States as collective stewards of our great outdoors. Today, that number has swelled to 21 states, underscoring the collective vision shared by these entities. United in our dedication to conservation and stewardship, economic vitality, equitable access, workforce development, and health and wellbeing, we stand at the forefront of a nationwide movement toward a more vibrant and inclusive outdoor recreation landscape.
We are also proud to acknowledge the remarkable support and effort behind the historic $300 million appropriation to the Land of Enchantment Legacy Fund during the recent legislative session. Through the tireless dedication of a diverse coalition, spanning from conservationists and outdoor enthusiasts to agricultural and farming associations, alongside the unwavering backing of our lawmakers, New Mexico has taken a monumental stride forward. This investment underscores our collective recognition of the outdoors as a vital component in preserving a legacy for future generations—to hunt, fish, farm, and relish the bountiful lands and waters that define our state.
The efforts of ORD stand as a testament to great accomplishments and we are committed to furthering our endeavors to invest in the state’s outdoor recreation landscape.
Karina Armijo
ORD Director
In Other News
NEW Outdoor Business Accelerator Program to Launch this Summer
ORD has contracted with CNM Ingenuity to host another Outdoor Business Accelerator Program! Applications will open on May 1, 2024 . More details will be announced soon.
Company Criteria for Accelerator:
Location: headquartered or adding jobs in New Mexico
Outdoor Recreation: generating revenue from or has channel partnerships in outdoor recreation
Growth Potential: aiming to increase revenue or add jobs
Stage: new or mature, so long as the aim is growth (startups, small businesses, new owners needing guidance, owners seeking to sell, etc.)
Size: small businesses with less than 50 employees
Learn More
ORD Announces 12 New Outdoor Recreation Trails+ Grants
“We are thrilled to support these 12 new projects that foster connections between residents and visitors in the great outdoors,” ORD Director Karina Armijo said. “ORD remains steadfast in elevating awareness of the Trails+ Grant program, ensuring its significant funding bolsters outdoor recreation accessibility and fuels economic growth across all corners of New Mexico.”
We hope you’ll enjoy the press release and some of the articles highlighting how grant awards will expand equitable access to the outdoors and grow New Mexico’s outdoor recreation economy.
New Mexico’s outdoor recreation economy gets boost
Albuquerque, Las Cruces, Socorro getting recreation upgrades
Volunteers help enhance the trails in Socorro County
New disc golf courses could soon be coming to Albuquerque
Press Release
EXPLORE Act Passes House
The House of Representatives passed H.R. 6492, the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences Act (EXPLORE) Act on Tuesday, April 9, 2024. This is a significant piece of bipartisan legislation for the outdoor recreation community and industry across the country.
The EXPLORE Act will create more access to outdoor recreation, provide a better experience for visitors to public lands and waters, modernize the permitting process for guides and outfitters, create new accessible trails for veterans and the disabled community, expand the Every Kids Outdoors Act, codify the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Program (ORLP), identify new potential long-distance bike trails, create more health and wellness opportunities including mental health, and much more. This transformative legislation would be a win-win-win for businesses, our cherished lands and waters, and Democrats and Republicans alike, all while supporting rural economies, communities, and our American quality of life.
The EXPLORE Act would be the first-ever recreation package to pass the House and one of the most significant outdoor recreation legislative victories. Pieces of this historic legislation have been worked on by bipartisan congressional champions in the House and Senate and stakeholders for more than a decade. The passage of these policies will provide long-term benefits to local economies, every sector of the broader outdoor recreation industry, and every person who experiences more time outside.
Press Release
Section-by Section Breakdown
New Mexico Fishing Rules & Info Booklet Available Online
The New Mexico Department of Game and…