SANTA FE, NM (September 1, 2021) – The New Mexico Tourism Department (NMTD) is bringing back the Rural Pathway Program as a 2-part complementary service to provide New Mexico communities with comprehensive technical assistance to bring tourism products to life.

The reimagined program consists of the Rural Pathway Tourism Incubator and the Rural Pathway Grant. Applications for each service are open to eligible entities on a rolling basis now through May 1, 2022.

“Restructuring the program to feature a grant funding opportunity alongside an incubator program allows us to support the tourism product development goals of New Mexico communities in a more holistic fashion,” Cabinet Secretary Jen Paul Schroer said.

The Rural Pathway Tourism Incubator is designed to provide nonprofit tourism-related organizations and municipal, county, and tribal governments with technical assistance in developing self-sustaining tourism products that provide equitable access and economic benefits.

Nonprofit tourism-related organizations and municipal, county, and tribal governments in New Mexico can also apply for up to $50,000 through the Rural Pathway Grant feature of the program to help bring viable tourism products to life. Rural Pathway Grants are approved on a rolling basis, but projects must be completed by June 30, 2022.

"Investment in tourism product development and infrastructure is one critical element of recovery and the partnerships forged through this program will be instrumental in our efforts to build back a better tourism ecosystem for New Mexico," Schroer said.

In 2019, NMTD issued a $50,000 Rural Pathway Grant in partnership with Rio Arriba County and the Española Lowrider Coalition to support the development of the Española Lowrider Museum. The grant provided partner entities with resources to build out exhibits and infrastructure for the museum.