New Mexico Awards Over One Million Dollars In Route 66 Centennial Grants To Enhance Marketing, Events, And Tourism Infrastructure

Wednesday, August 6, 2025

Author: TTW News Desk

NEW MEXICO — Whoever cares astir Route 66 and its iconic centennial celebrating, New Mexico appears to beryllium nan spot pinch whom everyone wants to statement arsenic nan authorities originates accepting applications for NMTD’s Route 66 Centennial Grant Program for FY26. Supported by a dedicated appropriation of \$1,306,097 approved during nan 2025 Legislative Session, nan programme is designed to supply backing for trading and typical events successful Route 66 communities pinch an accent connected infrastructure improvements.

A Multi-Pronged Approach to Boost Route 66 Tourism

In its 2nd year, nan Route 66 Centennial Grant Program continues its ngo to revitalize and beforehand nan historical Route 66 corridor, ensuring that New Mexico is well-prepared for nan influx of visitors expected during nan centennial celebrations successful 2026. The NMTD will administer grants successful 3 categories: trading and promotion, typical events, and infrastructure improvements. This year’s fund breakdown is arsenic follows:

• Marketing and Promotion: \$752,538
• Infrastructure: \$423,559
• Special Events: \$130,000

These costs are designed to reside different phases of tourism growth. The trading and typical events backing intends to pull and animate travelers, aligning pinch nan early stages of leisure recreation planning. In contrast, nan infrastructure grants are dedicated to preparing communities to grip accrued visitation, ensuring that nan region’s cardinal attractions and humanities sites are equipped to meet nan demand.

Focus connected Community Investment and Tourism Enhancement

The Route 66 Centennial Grant Program has proven to beryllium a captious assets for New Mexico’s Route 66 communities, helping money important section projects that observe nan highway’s bequest and amended tourism infrastructure. Last year, nan backing helped amended section wayfinding systems, heighten nationalist art, and support various organization events. Some of these visible investments see a stunning Route 66-themed mural by creator Eric Sarracino successful Gallup and nan installation of a neon entranceway archway successful Albuquerque’s Historic Old Town.

For fiscal twelvemonth 2026, nan NMTD has taken a much targeted attack to assistance distribution, ensuring that trading and typical events return precedence to maximize awareness-building successful mentation for nan centennial. The program’s elasticity allows eligible entities—such arsenic nonprofit tourism organizations, municipal and region governments, tribal entities, and typical districts—to use for grants that align pinch nan value of Route 66 to their destinations.

Celebrating Events Along Route 66

A cardinal characteristic of nan Route 66 Centennial Grant Program is its support of typical events that bring communities together and tie visitors to nan region. Among nan recipients of typical events backing for FY26 are respective well-established festivals and celebrations, specified as:

• Route 66 Summerfest successful Albuquerque: \$10,000
• Gathering of Nations successful Albuquerque: \$20,000
• Día de los Muertos connected nan Santa Fe Plaza: \$15,000
• Railyard Route 66 Centennial Festival successful Santa Fe: \$10,000
• Route 66 Centennial Celebration successful Edgewood: \$4,000

These events play an basal domiciled successful commemorating nan Route 66 centennial and supply visitors pinch immersive taste experiences that showcase nan divers communities on nan route.

Infrastructure Improvements to Enhance Visitor Experience

The infrastructure grants attraction connected ensuring that communities are physically prepared for nan influx of visitors expected successful nan coming year. Notable projects funded done this inaugural include:

• Updates to nan Route 66 RV Village astatine EXPO New Mexico: \$75,000
• Installation of festoon lighting wrong Albuquerque’s Highland Neighborhood: \$48,070
• Route 66-themed sculpture installation and restoration of Route 66 arch successful Grants: \$38,635
• Restoration of a vintage-style state position successful Milan: \$57,586

These infrastructure improvements not only grant nan history of Route 66 but besides guarantee that communities on nan way tin connection visitors a seamless and memorable experience, whether they’re visiting iconic landmarks aliases exploring lesser-known attractions.

A Bright Future for Route 66 Tourism

The Route 66 Centennial Grant Program is group to beryllium a cornerstone of New Mexico’s efforts to observe nan centennial and position nan authorities arsenic a cardinal destination on nan historical route. By investing successful section communities, supporting imaginative tourism initiatives, and enhancing nan infrastructure that sustains tourism, New Mexico is preparing for a twelvemonth of unforgettable experiences for some travelers and locals.

Route 66’s bequest remains strong, and done nan Route 66 Centennial Grant Program, New Mexico is committed to keeping nan historical road alive, fostering adventure, exploration, and lasting connections for early generations.

Summary of Key Recipients and Projects

Special Events Grants

• Route 66 Summerfest – Albuquerque: \$10,000
• Gathering of Nations – Albuquerque: \$20,000
• Día de los Muertos connected nan Santa Fe Plaza – Santa Fe: \$15,000
• Route 66 Centennial Celebration – Edgewood: \$4,000

Infrastructure Grants

• Route 66 RV Village Updates – EXPO New Mexico: \$75,000
• Route 66-Themed Sculpture Installation – Grants: \$38,635
• Restoration of Vintage Gas Station – Milan: \$57,586

Marketing and Promotions Grants

• Visit Albuquerque – \$200,000
• City of Gallup – \$75,000
• Tucumcari Quay County Chamber of Commerce – \$25,000

As New Mexico prepares for nan Route 66 centennial, these investments will supply some nan infrastructure and promotional momentum to guarantee nan state’s spot successful nan world tourism spotlight.