RELEASE DATE: October 15, 2024
 

• A partnership with the Town of Taos and Taos MainStreet to support operational
  planning and construction/renovation for the Business Resources & Innovation Center
  (BRIC) at 115 Civic Plaza Drive. The BRIC will serve as a one-stop business services
  center for start-ups, entrepreneurs and all Taos County businesses who are looking for
  business development support. The BRIC will house the SBDC, Taos MainStreet, Taos
  County Chamber of Commerce, a satellite office of the UNM-Taos HIVE, and hold office
  hours for Town and County Planning and Economic Development, and additional
  community and economic development partners.
• A partnership with the Town of Taos and Taos MainStreet to take the first action steps
  in realizing the Destination Stewardship Plan. These initial investments will focus on
  building a permanent network structure while identifying opportunities for long-term
  equitable development within the tourism industry per the recommendations of the
  plan.
• A partnership with Taos Center for the Arts (TCA) to support building renovations of
  132 Paseo del Pueblo Norte to serve as a teen career center and culinary learning
  space that will act as a hub for classes, workshops, and work-based learning
  opportunities that connect youth to career pathways throughout the creative economy.
• A partnership with Friends of the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument to support
  work-based learning opportunities for local youth to gain job skills and career pathways
  in outdoor recreation, and to work with local outfitters to identify employment needs.
  The Friends group will work with the TCA to utilize 132 Paseo to cross-pollinate
  programming and educational opportunities.
• A partnership with the Taos Community Foundation to facilitate the partnerships with
  TCA and the Friends Group, and to offer an open grant application and pool for
  one-time investments towards workforce development and work-based learning
  programs throughout the County that can support economic recovery.

“Taos County is deeply proud to partner with the Town of Taos, and these incredible
community organizations to make significant investments that will support systemic impact
and opportunity for our local youth and businesses. Though the ARPA funds are a one-time
investment, we believe these efforts will create a lasting effect by building capacity,
infrastructure and a cohesive, collaborative approach that benefits our local residents, our
youth, and spurs healthy economic growth,” said Jessica Stern, Taos County Economic
Development Director.

ARPA funds will also be used to partner with Amigos Bravos to begin planning and design
for a walking and nature path along Los Pandos Road that will connect pedestrians from
Paseo del Pueblo to Witt Rd. This project is part of a larger effort to increase safety along
Los Pandos Road, and leverage potential grant funding to address watershed health and
vitality of the Rio Fernando de Taos.

Additional ARPA funds will be invested in affordable housing developments; and used to
complete all improvements to Blueberry Hill Road.

“Taos County is committed to fostering a resilient and thriving community through
strategic investments in our youth and local businesses. By leveraging the remaining ARPA
funds, we are not only addressing immediate economic recovery needs but also laying the
groundwork for long-term growth and sustainability. These partnerships with local
organizations are crucial in creating a cohesive network of support that will benefit our
residents for years to come. We are excited to see the positive impact these initiatives will
have on our community’s economic and social fabric,” said Brent Jaramillo, Taos County
Manager.

About Taos MainStreet
Taos MainStreet is a nonprofit organization and accredited member of the Main Street
America and New Mexico MainStreet networks. They believe that the Historic Taos Plaza
District is for everyone. Their mission is to work with the community to revitalize the
Historic Plaza District as a vibrant, civic space that is particularly welcoming and inviting for
families, youth, and seniors aging in place. At the core of their approach to revitalization is
a commitment to creating places of shared prosperity, equal access to opportunity, and
sustained, inclusive engagement.

About Taos Community Foundation
Taos Community Foundation (TCF) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting local
nonprofits, addressing community needs and promoting positive changes to nurture a
strong and vibrant community in Taos, New Mexico, and throughout the surrounding
areas. Through their various grantmaking programs, they invest in vitally important areas
of our community, including basic needs, education, healthcare, arts and culture,
environmental sustainability, and community advocacy. Taos Community Foundation
serves as a trusted intermediary that bridges the gap between their generous donors and
local nonprofit organizations that require resources and support. TCF is your community’s
trusted philanthropic partner, committed to nurturing philanthropy, fostering solidarity,
and pursuing initiatives to improve the well-being of Taos and western Colfax Counties.

About Taos Center for the Arts
The Taos Center for the Arts (TCA) draws on its history as a dynamic leader for arts
collaboration and partnership. Originally established by a group of working artists in 1953
and situated in the heart of Taos, the TCA serves and engages Northern New Mexico
communities. With a 275-seat theater and two galleries, the TCA curates culturally relevant
films, art exhibitions, and live performances as well as provides local, regional and
internationally renowned artists, thinkers and performers the space to inspire creativity
and foster a thriving love for the arts. Inter-Arts Internship Program engages youth and
young adults in paid work-based learning opportunities. Experiences focus on digital
literacy, technical production, professional development & administration.

About Friends of the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument
Friends Of RGDN believes that land protection can’t be fully realized without careful and
meaningful land stewardship. They strive to facilitate a connection between the local
community and the managing and governing agencies of our beloved National Monument.
Through outreach, conservation, and access projects, They work to enhance the National
Monument and the lives of the people who live, work and play in the Rio Grande del Norte.
The Outdoor Academy is their program designed to engage local youth with our National
Monument while instilling stewardship of public lands. The program nurtures a sense of
responsibility towards natural resources and offers enriching experiences through guided
instruction, as well as showcases potential pathways to local employment opportunities.

About Amigos Bravos
Amigos Bravos is a statewide water conservation organization (based in Taos, NM) guided
by social justice principles and dedicated to preserving and restoring the ecological and
cultural integrity of New Mexico’s water and the communities that depend on it. While
rooted in science and the law, our work is inspired by the values and traditional knowledge
of New Mexico’s diverse Hispanic and Native American land-based populations, with whom
we collaborate.

For additional information, please contact Jessica Stern, Economic Development Director at
575-737-6346 or jessica.stern@taoscountynm.gov.