Press Releases

Santa Fe, NM – A new statewide grant program administered by the New Mexico Historic Preservation Division (NMHPD) offers organizations across New Mexico an opportunity to receive up to $250,000 to fund historic preservation efforts on culturally significant properties. 

“One of New Mexico’s greatest treasures is its unique cultural heritage, and our many historic properties help us preserve and showcase that heritage for future generations to enjoy,” said New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs (NMDCA) Cabinet Secretary Debra Garcia y Griego. “Our department is honored to help administer a grant program that will contribute to these preservation efforts across our state.” 

The Cultural Properties Restoration Fund (CPRF) is part of the larger Legacy Conservation Fund, signed into law by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham earlier this year. NMDCA is one of eight departments receiving funding from the Legacy Fund, which will be administered by NMHPD through the CPRF. This grant program offers annual funding, expected to be around $1 million for the 2024 cycle, to support conservation and preservation efforts across the state.  

This funding is available to organizations ranging from land grants to acequia associations to public universities. NMHPD will begin accepting the first round of applications for the Cultural Properties Restoration Fund grant program in early 2024. 

“This new program allows us to fund preservation efforts at a wide array of cultural properties on a recurring basis,” said New Mexico State Historic Preservation Officer Jeff Pappas. “We’ve never had an opportunity like this. This is a far-reaching, impactful grant program that’s going to serve New Mexico’s preservation community for years to come.” 

Eligible applicants include state agencies and departments and political subdivisions of the state like cities, towns, counties, acequia associations, land grant associations, and universities. Eligible properties include structures, places, sites, or objects that have historic, archaeological, scientific, architectural or other cultural significance. Unlike many NMHPD programs, the property does not need to be listed on a historic register to be eligible for funding. Eligible work includes interpretation, restoration, preservation, stabilization, and protection. This program is open to State of New Mexico agencies and departments, along with cities, villages, towns, counties, acequia commissions, land grants, universities, and other political subdivisions in the state. Private projects are not eligible for this program. 

Properties in need of rebuilding or relocation will not be considered, and projects involving the construction of new buildings or the acquisition of buildings will not be accepted. The application notice is available online. Grants will be awarded through a competitive process assessed by the Cultural Properties Review Committee.  

Individual grants will range from $5,000 to $250,000, with a two-year duration. No match is required, but projects that demonstrate a match will be given additional points in the evaluation process. For the first funding cycle, applications will remain open until Feb. 2, 2024. More information on the program, including details on how to complete the application, is available online.   

About the New Mexico Historic Preservation Division: NMHPD manages, oversees, and coordinates historic preservation activities across the state. The division educates the public about historic preservation and protects thousands of historic and archaeological sites in New Mexico. If you have ever visited an archaeological site, stopped on the side of the road to read a historic marker, or appreciated a well-maintained historic building in your community, you have likely engaged with the work of the NMHPD.