CID Biz Development & Expansion FY25 Grantees

Congratulations to the FY25 Business Development & Expansion grantees.

FY25 Business Development and Expansion Grant Final Reports

The Enchanted Circle News (Eagle Nest, Colfax County)

The Enchanted Circle News utilized a $10,000 Creative Industries Division Grant to strengthen and expand independent community journalism throughout Colfax County, New Mexico, including Eagle Nest, Angel Fire, Cimarron, Red River, and Questa. The project focused on modernizing operations, improving distribution, expanding readership, and creating new opportunities for local businesses, organizations, and community partners to reach residents and visitors. Grant funding supported website redevelopment, newspaper display racks, distribution enhancements, marketing initiatives, and workforce support through sales and delivery assistance. As a free monthly newspaper distributing approximately 6,000 copies with an online audience of more than 10,000 followers, The Enchanted Circle News serves as an essential source of local information, government reporting, community events, and economic development news in rural northern New Mexico.

Outcomes of the project included improved operational efficiency, increased advertising opportunities, stronger business partnerships, enhanced digital capabilities, and greater community engagement. The grant strengthened the long-term sustainability of the newspaper while creating additional opportunities to promote tourism, local commerce, and the creative economy.

The project expanded operational capacity by investing in both physical and digital infrastructure. Improvements included website modernization, enhanced newspaper distribution systems, professional display racks, expanded marketing efforts, and additional support personnel.

Harwood Museum of Art (Taos, Taos County)

Harwood Museum of Art used this grant to strengthen the Museum Store as an economic engine for Northern New Mexico’s creative economy by modernizing its retail infrastructure and preparing for an integrated point-of-sale (POS) and eCommerce platform. Grant funds supported new retail hardware, product photography equipment, inventory standardization, software evaluation, staff training, and extensive implementation time. After six months of implementation, however, it became clear that the originally selected Veevart platform could not adequately support the Museum Store’s consignment business model or required retail functionality. Rather than invest additional resources in a system that would not meet operational needs, the Museum made the strategic decision to transition to the Lightspeed retail platform. This pivot delayed implementation and required a significant investment of additional staff time but positioned the project for long-term success.

Despite these challenges, the project made substantial progress. The Museum Store expanded representation from 65 to 86 artists and makers, prioritized creatives from Taos and Northern New Mexico, completed inventory and product data preparation, and established the foundation for eCommerce and integrated retail operations. Despite a slower tourism season, a 14% decline in museum attendance, and a temporary store closure, revenue remained stable at $117,713. Approximately 73% ($45,994) of expenditures for consignment and wholesale purchases supported New Mexico artists and vendors, reinforcing the Museum Store’s commitment to investing locally. Lightspeed implementation is scheduled for Fall 2026, positioning the Museum to launch eCommerce, improve operational efficiency and reporting, and expand year-round market access for Northern New Mexico artists.

Katharsis Media Inc. (Albuquerque, Bernalillo County)

The Hot Sets Initiative transformed a portion of Katharsis Studios in Albuquerque, Bernalillo County, New Mexico, into a flexible production facility featuring seven professionally designed modular content creation environments. Supported by a $10,000 Creative Industries Division grant, the project created a Community Kitchen, Talk Show Set, Podcast Studio, Self-Tape/Interview

Set, two rotating sets, and a modular apartment set that can be quickly reconfigured into a variety of production spaces.

Since completion, the Hot Sets have supported fifteen productions and bookings, including community media programming, podcasts, photography sessions, acting workshops, student projects, public service announcements, and the pilot Professionally Morbid. The apartment set was transformed into a realistic morgue for production and has since been repurposed as a temporary creative installation supporting additional rentals, performances, photography, and community arts programming.

The project has already generated measurable economic impact. Studio booking revenue increased from $1,298.62 during the    comparable period before the project to $10,246.39 following completion. Community response has been overwhelmingly positive, particularly following the public ribbon cutting, demonstrating strong demand for affordable, professional production infrastructure.

Despite significant challenges, including reductions in workforce funding and the loss of a major operating contract, Katharsis Media successfully completed the project by investing additional organizational resources. The Hot Sets now serve as a permanent creative asset that expands access for filmmakers, educators, nonprofits, entrepreneurs, and artists while creating sustainable opportunities for workforce development, community engagement, and earned revenue within New Mexico’s creative economy.

Keshet Dance Company (Albuquerque, Bernalillo County)

This award supported the creation of Movement for Mercy (MfM) 2025, a performance experience which was guided by choreography, voice, and vision from currently and previously incarcerated artists, supported by “ambassador” performers and collaborating artists, Keshet Dance Company. With care towards the navigation of the New Mexico juvenile prison system and the safety of the young artists’ voices, visions, and emotional well-being, the project utilized a collaborative and durational iterative rehearsal process at three locations (July-Oct 2025): Youth Diagnostic and Development Center (NM State Juvenile Prison in Albuquerque, NM – Bernalillo County), John Paul Taylor Center (NM State Juvenile Prison in Las Cruces, NM – Doña Ana County), and Keshet Center for the Arts (KCA) (Albuquerque, NM – Bernalillo County). The show premiered November 7-8, 2025, at Keshet Center for the Arts in Albuquerque (Bernalillo County); toured to New Mexico State University in Las Cruces in December 2025 (Doña Ana County); and is now booked to perform at Clovis Community College (Curry County) in November 2026 and Western New Mexico University (Grant County) in Spring 2027.

KMRD Inc. (Madrid, Santa Fe County)

KMRD is Madrid Community Radio, serving the community of Madrid and Cerrillos and greater Santa Fe County as an FCC-licensed Low Power FM radio station.

The Creative Industries grant supported KMRD’s expansion and development by funding the 2025 youth summer radio program, contributing toward the production of KMRD’s 10th Anniversary Festival, developing educational and training opportunities for KMRD programmers, and supporting outreach and community engagement.

These projects focused on the aspect of KMRD’s mission that addresses the intersection of skill-building and creative social connection. Expanding the scale and scope of KMRD’s commitment to developing creative opportunities within our community yielded economic outcomes including hiring contractors and funding outreach endeavors that supported fundraising drives, new underwriting sponsorships, and organizational partnerships.

KMRD’s long-term success was celebrated by the 10th Anniversary Festival, and its longevity and sustainability are supported by the various other endeavors funded through this grant. Outcomes of the project included new partnerships and collaborations, expanded marketing materials, new relationships with and services provided by creative contractors, and deepening the consistency of the services KMRD provides to the community.

Luna and Luz (Albuquerque, Bernalillo County)

Sense of Place at Luna and Luz is a business expansion initiative that transformed Luna and Luz from a destination retail shop into a vibrant cultural hub where New Mexico’s creative economy comes to life through artist-led workshops, exhibitions, demonstrations, and community programming. Located in Historic Old Town Albuquerque, Bernalillo County, the project was made possible through the New Mexico Creative Industries Business Development & Expansion Grant.

Grant funding supported permanent creative infrastructure, including a custom-built community workshop table, seating, and a sound system, creating a flexible space for year-round programming. These improvements enabled Luna and Luz to expand beyond retail by offering immersive experiences that connect residents and visitors directly with New Mexico artists, makers, and creative entrepreneurs.

During the grant period, Sense of Place strengthened partnerships with local creatives by hosting workshops in stained glass, silversmithing, and other artisan disciplines, while welcoming new collaborators. The project also supported workforce development through expanded staff roles in event planning, marketing, and community engagement.

This initiative has increased Luna and Luz’s ability to attract visitors seeking authentic cultural experiences, enhance artist visibility and income opportunities, and encourage longer engagement within Historic Old Town. It has also established a sustainable foundation for ongoing programming that supports New Mexico’s creative industries and enriches Albuquerque’s cultural tourism.

The Creative Industries Division’s investment has catalyzed long-term business growth, community collaboration, and economic opportunity, positioning Luna and Luz as both an economic driver and cultural destination.

The Friends of the New Mexico Mining Museum (Grants, Cibola County)

Friends of the New Mexico Mining Museum (FOTNMMM), located in Cibola County, Grants, New Mexico, initiated the “Modernizing Educational Technology” project to transform historical interpretation through immersive storytelling. Partnering with New Mexico Tech, this initiative builds a dual Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) interpretative framework. The goal is to fundamentally improve how historical data is delivered to in-person guests and remote audiences, elevating immersion and comprehension rather than simply digitizing exhibits.

FOTNMMM and university student technicians executed comprehensive 3D structural scanning of underground exhibition tunnels, chambers, and historical mining tools. Recent site visits achieved a major development milestone by completely resolving complex low-lighting tracking calibration issues. Furthermore, technicians successfully developed an algorithmic correction method to stabilize software tracking inside the moving transit elevator.

While multi-stage software testing has extended the physical installation timeline past the June 30 closeout mark, development activities stimulated strong community impact. In May 2026, the museum recorded a robust baseline of 1,147 total visitors, including 189 international travelers representing 23 countries. Project networking also generated cross-county economic commerce via group attendance at CreativeCon in Gallup, driving direct spending into regional lodging, restaurants, and art galleries.

The $10,000 grant was fully executed for New Mexico Tech personnel, field travel, and development materials—including two VR headsets. FOTNMMM maintains an active baseline of one full-time and one part-time employee. Final media assets and the pending university invoice will be uploaded immediately upon final floor installation.

Paseo Pottery (Santa Fe, Santa Fe County)

Paseo Pottery utilized funding from the New Mexico Creative Industries Division Business Development and Expansion Grant Program to launch a new mobile pottery program, “Paseo Pottery Comes to You.” Grant funds were used to purchase five portable pottery wheels, allowing Paseo Pottery to expand beyond its brick-and-mortar studio and bring hands-on pottery experiences directly to hotels, resorts, conferences, weddings, corporate retreats, and community events throughout New Mexico.

The project was designed to create a new revenue stream while increasing public access to ceramic arts experiences. During the grant period, Paseo Pottery successfully piloted the program through several off-site events, including the International Folk Art Market, and private events. While direct revenue generated during the pilot phase remained modest, the project has already produced significant business development through new partnerships and upcoming contracts with Four Seasons, Bishop’s Lodge, Camp Airstream, Las Campanas, private wedding clients, and corporate event organizers.

In addition to supporting mobile programming, the five wheels have become an integral part of daily studio operations. They allow us to accommodate larger classes, more students, and expand participation in our monthly Pottery Throw Downs, charitable fundraising events whose net proceeds benefit local nonprofits selected by our customers. Since launching Pottery Throw Downs in 2018, Paseo Pottery has donated more than $130,000 to local nonprofit organizations. The project has positioned Paseo Pottery for long-term growth, expanded community engagement, strengthened partnerships within the hospitality sector, and created a scalable foundation for future revenue and creative-sector employment.

STEMarts Lab (El Prado, Taos County)

STEMarts Lab (Taos County, El Prado, New Mexico) utilized support from the FY25 Creative Industries Business and Development Grant to expand its creative enterprise through immersive SciArt experiences, creative technology programming, professional documentation, communications, and audience development activities.

Grant funding supported the presentation of Space Messengers AI, AstroTour[AR], SciArt Live Coding Performances and SPACE[AR]T in the Sky at major public events including The PASEO Festival in Taos, the Las Cruces Space Festival at Spaceport America, the Taos Film Festival and the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture in Santa Fe. These experiences integrated art, science, technology, artificial intelligence, augmented reality, creative coding, and public participation to engage diverse audiences across New Mexico.

The project exceeded its original audience reach goal of 5,000 participants, engaging approximately 6,350 attendees through public installations, educational programming, and community events. Investments in professional documentation, branding, communications, and outreach expanded STEMarts Lab’s visibility and strengthened its capacity to attract new partnerships, contracts, and funding opportunities.

The grant also supported organizational infrastructure, including creative technology instruction, digital communications systems, workforce development resources, and the continued development of the STEMarts Portal, a platform connecting youth to educational opportunities, certifications, mentorship, and workforce pathways.

Project outcomes included strengthened partnerships with cultural, educational, and technology organizations throughout New Mexico, expanded creative workforce opportunities, increased statewide visibility, and the successful securing of more than $281,000 in new grant funding, demonstrating the long-term economic and organizational impact of the State’s investment.

Taos Technology Inc. (Arroyo Seco, Taos County)

Through the support of this $10,000 grant, we significantly expanded our capacity to serve local organizations and businesses while strengthening our community-focused media and marketing efforts.

Grant funds were used in three primary areas:

1. Hiring a part-time photographer – We brought on a part-time photographer to increase the quality and consistency of our visual content production. This additional staffing allowed us to attend more community events, create professional marketing assets, and provide enhanced coverage for local organizations that otherwise may not have had access to affordable professional media services.
2. Subsidized advertising for local businesses and organizations – A portion of the grant was used to offset advertising costs (or make it free) on our social media platforms, enabling local businesses and community organizations to reach larger audiences at reduced cost. This initiative helped strengthen community engagement while supporting economic development and nonprofit outreach throughout the Taos area.
3. Purchase of new camera equipment – We invested in a new professional camera system, which substantially improved the quality of photography and video production. This equipment upgrade increased our ability to create compelling content, cover events more effectively, and provide higher-value services to our community partners.

Turquoise Skies Inc. (Albuquerque, Bernalillo County)

Turquoise Skies (T.Skies) is a jewelry design and manufacturing company in Albuquerque, New Mexico. With this $10,000 Business Development & Expansion grant, T.Skies co-created the Authentic Makers Program with Ralph Lauren — a logistics and compliance platform that lets individual Native and Indigenous artists work directly with a global fashion house. The barrier this solves major brands want authentic Native and Indigenous craftsmanship, but their supply chains require repeated third-party audits (labor, safety, environmental, social, and contractual compliance) several times a year. An independent artist working from a home or reservation studio cannot absorb that audit and paperwork burden — so brands rarely partner with individual makers, and makers cannot scale to brand-level demand. T.Skies acts as the bridge. As an audited compliant manufacturing partner working with Ralph Lauren, T.Skies absorbs the regulatory load and co-creates authentic pieces alongside the artists, then manufactures to brand standard.

Outcomes during the grant year: T.Skies and Ralph Lauren co-created and launched the Authentic Makers Program, and brought on its first independent Indigenous artist, Neil Zarama, whose work is now produced and distributed at brand scale through the program. The program is, in the State’s approved framing, “continuing to provide paid creative professional pathways to cultural heritage – based manufacturing opportunities for Native artists.”