Through grant program, local and tribal communities develop and sustain projects that support beautification and recycling initiatives

SANTA FE, NM - Applications for the New Mexico Tourism Department's (NMTD) Clean and Beautiful Grant Program, which empowers local and tribal governments to develop and sustain programs that curb litter, reduce blight, and support beautification, waste reduction, and education initiatives, are now open for FY22.

Applications for FY22 officially opened today at 8:00 am (MT) and will close on Thursday, April 15, 2021, at 5:00 pm (MT). Municipal, county and tribal governments are eligible for grant funding through this program.

“The Clean and Beautiful Program empowers local communities with the necessary funding to protect some of our most precious resources – our public lands,” Tourism Secretary Jen Paul Schroer said. “We need to do our part to preserve and restore our public lands so that residents and visitors alike can enjoy the outdoors throughout 2021 and beyond.”

Applicants that receive grant funding to implement projects will receive technical assistance on project implementation and access to a professional network of Clean and Beautiful communities. Projects and initiatives that aim to end littering, reduce waste, beautify communities, empower youth, and increase program capacity are eligible for funding through this program.

Because of the unprecedented economic injury realized by the tourism industry during the COVID-19 pandemic, applicants are also encouraged to submit project proposals that support local, such as working with local contractors or buying local for supplies.

In FY21, NMTD issued $778,700 in grant funding to 37 communities throughout New Mexico, representing a 20 percent increase in grant funding from the previous fiscal year.

Those who are interested in applying for the Clean and Beautiful Grant Program can learn more about the application process by watching a recording of the grant application process here. More information and guidelines about the grant program are also available on the NMTD website.