Village officials, affordable housing advocates, and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (FHLB Dallas) came together this week to celebrate the opening of a housing development serving low-income residents in the Village of Ruidoso, New Mexico. FHLB Dallas provided a $200,000 donation through the Village’s Affordable Housing Bank and Trust following the fatal 2022 McBride Fire.

Businesses and self-employed individuals who experienced financial loss due to recent wildfires will soon be able to apply for financial assistance through the Economic Development Department's Wildfire Business Assistance Grant Program. Eligible applicants may qualify for up to $20,000 in support. Applications will open on Aug. 15 and will close on Aug. 26, 2022. The NM Economic Development Department is hosting an informational webinar on Aug. 11 at 9:00 am to review details and answer questions. Click here to register for the webinar.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has granted New Mexico’s request for Direct Temporary Housing Assistance, initiating a process that will make housing assistance available to eligible New Mexicans who have been affected by wildfire in Lincoln, Mora, and San Miguel counties. Learn more >>

SANTA FE— Gov. Lujan Grisham announced on Wednesday, May 18, 2022, that $200 million in household relief is on its way to over 550,000 New Mexico taxpayers. Taxpayers who receive funds through direct deposit are scheduled to receive at least $250 in relief in the next day. Paper checks for another 200,000 taxpayers will begin going out in the following days and will continue to over the next few weeks.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, the New Mexico Department of Health and the New Mexico Lottery on Tuesday announced New Mexico’s Vax 2 the Max Sweepstakes, a statewide vaccination incentive program that will make available $10 million in total prize money to New Mexicans who receive their COVID-19 vaccinations, among other prizes and awards throughout the summer. Drawings will begin mid-June with $1M awarded weekly for five weeks (four $250,000 regional winners) and then, in early August, a statewide $5M grand prize.

Applications are now being accepted for Local Economic Development Act (LEDA) Recovery Grants of up to $100,000 to support New Mexico small businesses that are experiencing financial hardship due to the pandemic.

Registration for the $28.6 Billion Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) will begin Friday, April 30 at 9 a.m. EDT and SBA will begin accepting applications via the application portal on Monday, May 3 at 12 p.m. EDT. The application portal will remain open to any eligible establishment until all funds are exhausted.

The Village of Ruidoso Community Development Department is now offering Business Analytic Mapping (BAM), a program that uses mobile analytic software tool to help businesses learn about industry trends and market traffic that is designed to give them insight into reaching more customers. This free consultation is open to all Village of Ruidoso businesses. To sign-up for a consultation, contact Samantha J. Mendez at 575-258-6669 or via email at SamanthaMendez@ruidoso-nm.gov. There is also an online registration form.

The State of New Mexico will grant $170M of federal aid to New Mexicans for rental and utility assistance to households experiencing financial hardship due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The rental assistance and utility assistance program will begin taking applications starting April 5, 2021 thru August 2021. See if you qualify at RentHelpNM.org

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Friday applauded the legislative passage of House Bill 11, a priority for economic relief that will now head to her desk for signature. Sponsored by Speaker Brian Egolf and Rep. Christine Chandler, HB 11 provides $200 million in grants to support New Mexico businesses to ease the hiring or rehiring of employees. Each business may qualify for up to $100,000 to be distributed in four quarterly payments.

In an effort to help small businesses that have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Village of Ruidoso recently applied for and received $2,787,792 from the State of New Mexico. Of that amount, $1,171,500 was earmarked specifically for loans to small businesses in the Village that have suffered economic hardship during the past seven months.

For the first time since 1986, the Village of Ruidoso recently applied for a Community Development Grant to improve the Town and Country Subdivision. Last week, Village management was notified that its application was ranked #1 in the state and was fully funded the maximum amount of $750,000.00. Construction is scheduled to begin in the spring and is expected to last for 18 months.