The New Mexico Tourism Department announces it has issued a $50,000 grant in partnership with Rio Arriba County and the Española Lowrider Coalition to build out the Española Lowrider Museum, which will be the first museum of its kind in the world.

The $50,000 grant is a part of the New Mexico Tourism Department’s Rural Pathways Project. This grant will provide Rio Arriba County and the Española Lowrider Coalition with the resources to build out exhibits, infrastructure, and a world-class visitor experience for guests who wish to learn about lowrider culture and heritage at the museum.

“This project is a great example of how rural communities can leverage a tourism project as an anchor for community building and economic development,” said Tourism Secretary Jen Paul Schroer. “The Tourism Department is happy to partner alongside Rio Arriba County and the Española Lowrider Coalition for this project, creating another tourism asset for New Mexico.”

The Española Lowrider Museum will be housed at the Cariños Community Hub, a space the county hopes will be the center of more community projects and public spaces.