News

Press Release | October 8, 2025

Taos County Receives Nearly $150,000 in Federal, State and Local Funds to Support the Cultural Treasures Project

Taos County is honored to recently be awarded three funding opportunities from Federal, State and Local sources to support the Cultural Treasures Project (CTP). Taos County has received a $65,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts’ (NEA) Our Town program; $22,300 from the New Mexico Tourism Department’s Destination Forward Program; and a generous, $61,800 investment from the Town of Taos. This infusion of resources is in addition to the initial and foundational funding received from the LOR Foundation, Taos County and the Northern Rio Grande National Heritage Area. Read More >>

Press Release | September 9, 2025

Taos County Announces Construction of New Walking Path Behind County Administrative Complex

Taos County is pleased to announce the start of construction on a new, short walking path located behind the Taos County Administrative Complex. Fabrication of the path will begin on September 10, 2025, and is expected to take approximately 7–10 days, depending on weather conditions. The project was funded by the New Mexico Outdoor Recreation Trails+ Grant Program and designed in collaboration with the Rio Fernando de Taos Revitalization Collaborative. Read More >>

Press Release | July 1, 2025

Taos County Lodger's Tax Grant Program Approves Over $400,000 in Funding

Taos, NM – On Tuesday, June 3, 2025, the Taos County Board of Commissioners approved 30 funding recommendations made by the Taos County Lodger’s Tax Advisory Board (LTAB) in the amount of $409,085 for the Fiscal Year 2026. The mission of the Taos County Lodger’s Tax Grant Program (TCLTGP) is to support tourist-related, facilities, attractions, and events within Taos County by investing in funding proposals that use advertising, publicizing and promotion to enhance the lives and journeys of locals and visitors alike.  Read More >>

Press Release | April 21, 2025

Taos County Creative Entrepreneurs Invited to Business Development Workshop Series in May

Taos, NM – Taos County Economic Development is organizing a series of Creative Entrepreneur Business Development Workshops from May 9-18, 2025 to be held at the TCA Stables Gallery. Creative professionals in Taos County will have a unique opportunity to strengthen their business skills this May through a free, weeklong workshop series tailored specifically for makers, designers, artists and freelancers working in the creative economy.  Read More >>

Press Release | February 3, 2025

Taos County Invests $400,000 in Transformative Youth Work-Based Learning Program in the Arts and Creative Economy

Taos, NM – Taos County, with the support of the Taos Community Foundation, proudly finalized and awarded the Taos Center for the Arts (TCA) with a historic investment of $400,000 in American Rescue Plan (ARPA) funds. This partnership will support building renovations of 132 Paseo del Pueblo Norte to serve as a hub for TCA's Inter-Arts internship program and an arts enrichment and education space. The space will support work-based learning opportunities that connect youth and young adults to career pathways throughout the creative economy.  Read More >>

News | January 13, 2025

Kit Carson Electric Cooperative Awarded $231 Million for Construction of 104 MW of Renewable Energy Generation from Hydrogen and Solar Facilities with Battery Energy Storage Systems in Northern NM

Taos, NM - Kit Carson Electric Cooperative (KCEC) has received $231 million in investment funding for green hydrogen-driven power generation. The new renewable energy facility will enhance power distribution system resiliency for the entire KCEC service area.  Read More >>

Press Release | December 17, 2024

Taos County Economic Recovery Corps Fellow Contessa Trujillo Named National Folklife Network Community Voice for the Southern Plains

Taos, NM – Contessa Trujillo, currently working with Taos County as the Economic Recovery Corps Fellow, who is a champion for cultural heritage, community-driven initiatives, and sustainable tourism, has been named a National Folklife Network (NFN) Community Voice for the Southern Plains. This appointment recognizes her ongoing dedication to uplifting tradition-bearers and cultural workers across her region while fostering connections that honor and sustain cultural treasures.  Read More >>

Press Release | November 27, 2024

Taos County and the Town of Taos Adopt C-PACE Legislation for Clean Energy Financing

Taos, NM – Taos County and the Town of Taos have officially passed legislation opting into the New Mexcio C-PACE Program, which opens pathways for low-interest financing for clean and renewable energy improvements on commercial and multi-unit housing developments. The C-PACE, Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy program assists eligible property owners to obtain long-term financing for a range of energy efficiency and resiliency improvements. The financing is then secured via a special improvement assessment on the improved property.  Read More >>

Press Release | October 15, 2024

Taos County to Invest $1.4 million of American Rescue Plan Funds in Youth-to-Adult Career and Business Development Services

Taos, NM – On Tuesday, October 15, 2024, the Taos County Board of Commissioners formalized a number of contracted services with community partners to invest a portion of remaining American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to support the development of youth-to-adult career and business development services that will create economic recovery and resiliency, and career readiness for Taos County residents and businesses. Read More >>

News | September 25, 2024

Taos Secures $8.2 Million to Expand Air Service—Paving the Way for New Flights, Economic Growth

Taos, NM – The Town of Taos proudly announces a significant advancement in regional transportation: an $8.2 million grant awarded by the New Mexico Department of Transportation’s Aviation Division through the Rural Air Service Enhancement (RASE) program. Year-round flights continue to Denver, Colorado (BJC). Las Vegas flights will be available in October only. The new funding will significantly expand Taos' air service offerings to three states and five destinations, which is expected to drive an increase in visitor numbers, spur new business opportunities, and create jobs—delivering a meaningful economic boost to local businesses. Read More >>

Press Release | September 3, 2024

Taos County Awarded $199,000 USDA Rural Business Development Grant on Behalf of Local Businesses

Taos, NM – Taos County Economic Development was recently awarded $199,000 from the USDA Rural Development Rural Business Development Grant Program (RBDG) on behalf of a partnership of five businesses to revitalize a blighted property in the historic community of El Prado, NM. Read More >>

News | July 9, 2024

Taos County one of 12 recipients of NM Tourism's Destination Forward Grant Program

SANTA FE – The New Mexico Tourism Department (NMTD) is ramping up its investment in New Mexico’s tourism infrastructure for year two of the Destination Forward program, awarding a total of $2,350,287 in grant funding to 12 tourism infrastructure projects across the state. Destination Forward was created to support the planning and implementation of tourism infrastructure projects that enhance the visitor experience at tourism-related amenities, facilities and points-of-interest throughout the state. Taos County was awarded $500,000 to support the renovation of the Historic County Courthouse that will act as a hub for residents and visitors in the Taos Plaza area. Read More >>

Press Release | July 3, 2024

Taos County Lodger’s Tax Grant Program Approves over $288,000 in Funding

Taos, NM – On Tuesday, July 2, 2024, the Taos County Board of Commissioners approved 21 funding recommendations made by the Taos County Lodger’s Tax Advisory Board (LTAB) in the amount of $288,319. The mission of the Taos County Lodger’s Tax Grant Program (TCLTGP) is to support tourist-related, facilities, attractions, and events within Taos County by investing in funding proposals that use advertising, publicizing and promotion to enhance the lives and journeys of locals and visitors alike; and that highlight the uniqueness of Taos County’s culture, heritage, innovation, and diversity. Read More >>

News | June 27, 2024

EDD Awards Grants to Support Economic Capacity Initiatives - Taos County Receives Funding to Build a BRE Program

SANTA FE, N.M. – New Mexico Economic Development Department (EDD) Acting Cabinet Secretary Mark Roper announced that 11 organizations and local governments have been awarded grants from the LEADS program to further economic capacity across the state and create jobs. Taos County will create a program plan, activate newly created tools and protocols, launch a phased BRE program beginning with the creative industries, and engage the 59 creatives recently trained in business development skills through inaugural EDD Creative Industries Division funding. This project seeks to launch phased BRE services by building off Creative Industries Division support. Phase 2 will include visitations with businesses across the Creative Economy and with workshop participants and include a juried exhibition. Read More >>

Press Release | February 15, 2024

Taos County Selected to Join Inaugural Economic Recovery Corps Cohort

From over 500 hosts applications, Taos County is among 65 host sites selected to receive help in advancing a project critical to the economic recovery of our community. Taos County is the only community in New Mexico to be selected. ERC projects represent the interconnectedness between economic development and the pressing needs in communities of all sizes, including workforce development, entrepreneurial ecosystem building, housing, childcare, climate resiliency, broadband, and access to capital. Taos County sought capacity to conduct a Cultural and Outdoor Asset Mapping Study. This study will identify tangible assets such as venues, vacant facilities, trails, underutilized resources, and community centers that support the outdoor and creative economies. This research-informed approach will give us an opportunity to make mindful decisions, combat gentrification, and move with intentionality. Read More >>

News | October 11, 2023

State Grants $150,000 to Red River Distillery Expansion

The Red River Brewing and Distillery Company is set to benefit from an agreement with Taos County that will funnel $150,000 in state economic development funds to the company's soon-to-open second location at 619 E. Main St. The Taos County Commission adopted an ordinance at its regular meeting last Tuesday (Oct. 3) authorizing the agreement, which permits the brewery and distillery to receive funding under the Local Economic Development Act (LEDA), administered by the New Mexico Economic Development Department. The county will serve as the fiscal agent for the grant. Read More >>

News | October 2, 2023

Creative Industries Funds Awarded to 18 Projects Statewide, Including Taos County

SANTA FE, N.M. – The New Mexico Economic Development Department (EDD) announced that 18 projects in 15 communities and 3 pueblos across New Mexico are recipients of the inaugural Creative Industries Grant Awards. Taos County will work in partnership with the Taos Arts Council, Taos County Chamber of Commerce, and Taos Center for the Arts to conduct a synergistic, two-part project that develops local creative entrepreneurs through business development training workshops and provides educational and work-integrated learning opportunities for young people. Read More >>

News | September 26, 2023

Outdoor Recreation Division Awards $2.3 Million for Outdoor Infrastructure, Including Taos County

SANTA FE, N.M. – The Economic Development Department (EDD) Outdoor Recreation Division Director Karina Armijo announced today the first round of Outdoor Recreation Trails+ Grant awardees for 2023. Awards total $2,360,289 for 20 projects by organizations bringing in an additional $1,953,453 in matching funding. Taos County's project will entail planning and designing a vibrant, accessible multi-use 9-acre development Phase one will identify the desired community pathways and outdoor recreational amenities through a community-led, emergent design process, including a walking path and other recreational amenities. Read More >>