Property & Business Owners in Deming, Gallup, and Silver City Historic MainStreet Districts Can Apply Now
Santa Fe, N.M. – Main Street America announced that New Mexico MainStreet (NMMS) was selected as one of four coordinating programs nationally to participate in the inaugural National Park Service (NPS) Main Street Façade Improvement Grant Program. The grant program significantly expands the funds available for façade improvements in rural communities in order to preserve historic resources and spur economic growth. The NMMS districts in Deming, Gallup, and Silver City will award between two and nine grants of up to $25,000 each for façade improvements in their downtown districts. In addition to the grants, property and business owners will receive expert technical assistance from NMMS revitalization specialists.
“Restoring and improving buildings in our MainStreet districts will reinvigorate downtown’s image and attract private investment,” Economic Development Secretary Alicia J. Keyes said. “This opportunity will help communities reach the goal of full economic recovery.”
Possible uses of the façade improvement grants could include: storefront rehabilitation, signage, façade restoration, historic preservation, awning repair, window repair, lighting restoration, and more. NMMS revitalization specialist may help guide design decisions, offer assistance, and give historic preservation advice.
“Deming, Gallup, and Silver City has the capacity and innovative leadership to make this program a success,” NMMS Director Daniel Gutierrez said. “By helping our communities improve storefronts, we’re working together to welcome customers back downtown so they can shop locally and support the economy.”
Property and business owners in Deming, Gallup, and Silver City interested in applying should contact their local MainStreet organization.
“Deming Luna County MainStreet is honored to be one of three communities in New Mexico selected for participation in the National Park Service MainStreet Façade Improvement Grant Program,” Deming Luna County MainStreet Executive Director Christie Ann Harvey said. “This grant program allows us to leverage additional resources as we improve and preserve our Historic District’s assets while enhancing the local economy and amplifying new business creation, retention and property values.”
“We are thrilled to bring these funds to our downtown community to make crucial improvements to deteriorating façades and historic structures,” Gallup MainStreet Arts & Cultural District Executive Director Kara Q. Smith said. “This will contribute to so much more than aesthetic upgrades; it will help drive economic development while ensuring that we take care of our greatest assets in the process.”
“Silver City MainStreet is grateful to receive this funding that, now more than ever, will help revitalize our historic downtown,” Silver City MainStreet Project/Arts & Cultural District Executive Director Charmeine Wait said. “We are excited about the improvements we can help facilitate with this grant.”
The Main Street Facade Improvement Grant Program is made possible by a $746,900 grant from the Historic Revitalization Subgrant Program as administered by the National Park Service, Department of Interior.
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About New Mexico MainStreet: New Mexico MainStreet develops local capacity to engage people, rebuild places and grow the entrepreneurial, creative & business environment resulting in economically thriving downtowns, greater business & employment opportunities and a higher quality of life. Learn more about New Mexico MainStreet’s programs and initiatives at www.nmmainstreet.org.
New Mexico MainStreet is a program of the New Mexico Economic Development Department, gonm.biz.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 16, 2020
Contact: Jessica Mraz
JessicaL.Mraz@state.nm.us
(505) 365-3998