Outdoor Equity Fund & Trails+ Grant Opening

Dispatches from the NM Outdoor Recreation Division

ORD Newsletter | June 19, 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 Deputy Director

We are excited to announce that the 2024 New Mexico Outdoor Equity Fund and Outdoor Recreation Trails+ Grant applications will open in less than two weeks! Mark your calendars for the application opening date on July 1, 2024 . Stay tuned for additional announcements on our website, social media, and in upcoming newsletters.

We are pleased to note that ORD’s grant programs have recurring funding through the Land of Enchantment Legacy Fund (LELF). This is the first year of distribution from New Mexico’s first-ever dedicated source of recurring funding for land, water, agriculture, and outdoor recreation projects.

The Outdoor Equity Fund will feature a single grant cycle. The application window will close on August 31, 2024 , with a review committee evaluating submissions in September. Despite the LELF funding, the Outdoor Recreation Division (ORD) has significantly less funding (under $1 million) to distribute compared to last year's $3.7 million, making the grant highly competitive. The updated Outdoor Equity Fund Grant Guide will be available at NMOutside.com by the opening date. Please share this opportunity with nonprofits, Tribes, Pueblos, schools, and municipalities that offer programs to engage underrepresented youth in outdoor activities.

The Outdoor Recreation Trails+ Grant application will be open on a rolling basis with three review cycles or until funds are exhausted. We are grateful for an additional $10 million special appropriation received during this year’s legislative session to support the 2024-2025 program.

Exciting changes are outlined in the new Trails+ Grant guide (available on our Grants page July 1) , including:

New Tier 3, offering the possibility of a $500,000 to $1 million Trails+ Grant for major regional projects if applicable.

Nonprofits will now be eligible for Tier 2 projects.

Applicants demonstrating capacity and solid progress on current projects can apply for Trails+ Grants in consecutive years.

We look forward to seeing your 2024-2025 applications!

AJ Jones

ORD Deputy Director

In Other News

Application Closes June 27 for the FREE ActivatOR Outdoor Business Accelerator

ActivatOR accelerates growth for small businesses in the outdoor recreation sector. Companies at any stage seeking growth are welcome, from concept to established businesses to owners seeking a successor. Our program supports your growth goals: customers, revenue, jobs, succession, and more.

Gain invaluable insight and personalized coaching from industry leaders in outdoor recreation. Our mentors are seasoned entrepreneurs and professionals who understand the unique challenges of the outdoor market and are committed to helping you refine your business model, improve your product offerings, and increase market penetration.

Connect with a community of like-minded founders, potential investors, and strategic partners focused on the outdoor recreation sector. Our events and workshops are great opportunities to expand your professional network and find collaborators who can help drive your business forward.

ActivatOR is FREE thanks to funding from the NM Outdoor Recreation Division, a division of the NM Economic Development Department.

Final accelerator applications deadline extended to June 27 at 11:59 PM MST

Accelerator Acceptance will be announced on July 8

Recent Press Release

Recent News Article

Learn More & Apply

ABQ to Host the World Indigenous Business Forum in October

The World Indigenous Business Forum (WIBF) will be held in Albuquerque, New Mexico, October 28-30 , 2024, hosted by the Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce. The WIBF was initiated by the Indigenous Leadership Development Institute and draws attention to Indigenous economic development around the world. Leadership will be coming from across the globe to New Mexico for the conference, bringing both an economic boost and future opportunities to the Land of Enchantment, along with promoting local Native-owned businesses. The Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce said in a recent news release the forum will bring 1,000 delegates of Indigenous and non-Indigenous people to help elevate the Indigenous business movement.

Learn More

Outdoor Recreation Roundtable Report Release

On June 4, 2024, Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR) released “Recreation Funding in America: Current Results and Future Insights.” The comprehensive study, conducted by Southwick Associates, Inc. on behalf of ORR, aggregates and analyzes current federal funding streams for outdoor recreation and identifies potential future threats to these funding sources, including changing energy demands, evolving participation, impacts of inflation, weather events and climate change, and stagnant appropriations trends.

The report highlights the pressing need for innovative solutions to ensure sustainable funding for the $1.1 trillion recreation economy and the millions of Americans and communities who rely on it in the face of these threats.

Read Report

Heat Advisory Issued by Department of Health Ahead of Summer

The New Mexico Department of Health (NMHealth) urges New Mexicans to take precautions to avoid heat-related illnesses as much of the state warms up.

“We continue to see an increase in heat illnesses in New Mexico. Since April 1 there have been at least 224 heat-related visits to emergency departments around New Mexico,” said Dr. Miranda Durham, Chief Medical Officer for NMHealth. “Protect yourself and others when it’s hot outside by staying cool, staying hydrated, and knowing the symptoms.”

Heat-related illness symptoms include:

Cold, pale, and clammy skin

Fast, weak pulse…