New Mexico Economic Development Department’s (EDD) Outdoor Recreation Division announced $851,400 in grants awarded to 43 organizations as part of the Fiscal Year 2025 Outdoor Equity Fund . According to a news release, these grants will benefit programs across 15 counties and seven tribal communities and are aimed at enhancing youth access to outdoor activities statewide.
In Sandoval County, over $135,000 was awarded to four programs.
Trout Unlimited, which serves Sandoval, Rio Arriba and Santa Fe Counties was awarded $38,834.40. Trout Unlimited and The Uncivilized Outdoorsman partner to bring an annual Indigenous and Hispanic Youth Fly Fishing Camp to reconnect youth of Indigenous and traditional Hispanic communities in northern New Mexico to their landscapes, traditions, language and traditional ecological knowledge through the medium of fly fishing and outdoor recreation, to cultivate a generation of young leaders.
Santo Domingo Pueblo received $40,000 for its program, The Mountain Movers which engages pueblo youth in seasonal activities, guides them to lead community service projects and encourages conservation career exploration, deepening their cultural identity and commitment to protecting their ancestral lands.
The Pueblo of Jemez also got $40,000. The pueblo’s Youth Outdoor Education & Bicycle Safety Program will provide Indigenous K-6 children with a bicycle and helmet and teach environmental conservation, bicycle safety and health and wellness through guided exploration of their natural surroundings.
Adaptive Sports Program New Mexico, a Sandoval County program offering an inclusive ski and snowboarding program for public school students with disabilities, received a grant of $17,572.50.
“Investing in these programs provides immediate benefits to youth and communities and also builds long-term economic opportunities in the outdoor recreation sector,” Economic Development Secretary-designate Rob Black said. “By empowering young people through these initiatives, we nurture New Mexico’s next generation of outdoor leaders and professionals.”
This year, the Outdoor Recreation Division received a record-breaking 96 applications, with more than $3 million in eligible requests.
“The substantial increase in applications reflects both a growing need and the effectiveness of these programs,” Division Director Karina Armijo said. “We’re thrilled to see more tribal communities and organizations eager to create transformative outdoor opportunities for New Mexico’s youth.”
The funding is provided in part by the Land of Enchantment Legacy Fund, New Mexico’s first dedicated funding stream for land and water conservation and outdoor recreation. Additionally, awardees will contribute nearly $2 million in matching funds, further amplifying the impact of these programs and fostering economic growth and career pathways in outdoor recreation across the state.
More than half of the funded programs will serve rural and tribal communities, providing access to outdoor recreation opportunities to many of our state’s youth for the first time.