Communities

Contact Us:

Email: info@nmmainstreet.org

Phone: (505) 365-3998

New Mexico MainStreet Program

A program of the New Mexico Economic Development Department, New Mexico MainStreet (NMMS) works throughout the state to help affiliated local organizations create an economically viable business environment while preserving cultural and historic resources. NMMS uses a community asset-based approach to economic development in partnership with local revitalization organizations to rebuild the local downtown economy. Learn more about NMMS’s services.

As a Main Street America™ Coordinating Program, New Mexico MainStreet helps to lead a powerful, grassroots network consisting of over 40 Coordinating Programs and over 1,200 neighborhoods and communities across the country committed to creating high-quality places and to building stronger communities through preservation-based economic development.

Mission

New Mexico MainStreet develops local capacity to engage people, rebuild places and grow the entrepreneurial, creative and business environment resulting in economically thriving downtowns, greater business and employment opportunities and a higher quality of life.

Strategies

NMMS has adopted the following strategies in partnership with local organizations to implement asset-based community economic development. A community’s assets may include the natural environment, socio-cultural, and economic assets.

Build Capacity for Local Economic Revitalization and Re-development Efforts

Develop local leadership and capacity to implement projects and initiatives that accelerate community appropriate economic growth and revitalization through the MainStreet Approach™.

Enhance the Entrepreneurial and Creative Economy

Building on the existing commercial base, arts, culture, advanced technology and creative assets in New Mexico MainStreet communities, strive to strengthen and support entrepreneurial and creative endeavors through assessment, education, planning, and collaboration.

Create Thriving Places in New Mexico

Develop strategies, tools and techniques and implement them with local partners to transform our downtowns, squares and villages into community assets where their greatest economic potential and realization can occur. This includes great public spaces, buildings, streets and pedestrian areas, increasing economic viability through revitalization and placemaking, resulting in places to live and work that enhance people’s health, happiness, and well-being.

Impact

Since 1985, NMMS has been helping local communities revitalize their downtown commercial districts with remarkable results. Thousands of jobs have been created and millions of dollars in private funds have been invested in New Mexico’s downtowns since the program began.

10-Year Performance Measures, FY2014—FY2024:

All NMMS Districts/Projects	RURAL NMMS Districts/Projects (less than 50,000 in population)
Private Sector Reinvestment: $386,358,795	Private Sector Reinvestment: $183,048,571
Private Building Rehabilitations: 2,789	Private Building Rehabilitations: 2,390
Net New Businesses and Business Expansions: 1,648	Net New Businesses and Business Expansions: 1,235
Net New Jobs: 6,006	Net New Jobs: 4,262
Volunteer Hours: 386,574	Volunteer Hours: 315,090

Programs & Initiatives

MainStreet Districts

The New Mexico MainStreet Program fosters economic development in the state by supporting local MainStreet revitalization organizations and their local government partner in their economic work in downtowns and adjacent neighborhoods.

Arts & Cultural Districts

The Arts & Cultural Districts program was established by the Legislature in 2007, as a comprehensive economic development strategy designed to capitalize on the expanding “creative economy.”

Capital Outlay Public Infrastructure

Public Infrastructure leverages substantial private sector reinvestment and demonstrates visible improvements in downtown through upgrades to pedestrian safety and lighting, sidewalks, curbs, utilities, drainage, and landscape to create vital spaces for economic growth.

Historic Theaters Initiative

The New Mexico Historic Theaters Initiative provides funding and technical assistance from the Economic Development Department and New Mexico MainStreet Program to rehabilitate historic theaters, install new digital projection and sound equipment, and improve theater performance.

Network Map

Project-Based Initiatives

NMMS provides project-based community economic development support through three Initiatives:

Frontier and Rural Communities – supports communities under 50,000 in population during a 12 to 18-month affiliation, focused on one economic development project within a traditional or historic village or town center.

Native American Communities – supports New Mexico’s indigenous communities during a 12 to 24-month affiliation, focused on one economic development project within a pueblo, reservation, or village or town center.

Urban Neighborhood Commercial Corridors – supports cities with more than 50,000 in population during a 12 to 18-month affiliation, focused on one economic development project within a traditional or historic village or town center.

How to Join the Network

When resources are available to add new MainStreet projects or programs, local communities can enter the NMMS program by participating in one of NMMS’s Project-Based Initiatives and follow-up participation/acceptance into the NMMS Accelerator.

Applications can be submitted on a rolling basis, however, interested communities should contact NMMS Leadership to discuss potential projects, receive preliminary approval, and then apply to receive support when NMMS has the available resources to support the proposed project.

Once approved, communities receive guidance and training from NMMS personnel. No funding is associated with this program. Projects and activities are supported through local fundraising efforts from public and private sectors.

Interested communities are also encouraged to attend NMMS trainings to learn about downtown revitalization topics.