Community urged to vote in Levitt grant contest for chance at 21 free concerts
GRANTS, N.M. — From murals and planters to benches and sound systems, downtown Grants is in the middle of a major facelift — and now the community has the chance to add live music to the mix.
The Grants MainStreet Project is competing in the national Levitt AMP Music Grant contest, which could bring seven free concerts a year to Fire & Ice Park for the next three years. That’s a $48,000 annual boost to local culture, food trucks, and family gatherings.
As of Sept. 7, Grants ranked 49th overall, but Executive Director Denise Hanson says the community can climb higher if residents turn out to vote before the Sept. 15 deadline. “Our goal is to reach 35 or better,” Hanson said. “It’s competitive — game on — but if we win, we’ll have world-class music and events for our community.”
How to Vote
• Text: Send the word GRANTS to 877-409-5525 (you’ll get a confirmation reply)
• Online: Visit vote.levitt.org/locations/gran ts-mainstreet-project Each person can vote once, and every single vote pushes Grants closer to landing a spot in the top 35.
Murals, Benches, and Bright Paint
Even as voting heats up, MainStreet’s volunteers and student crews continue transforming the Riverwalk and downtown corridor. Recent projects include handpainted pillars with flowers and inspirational messages, newly primed railings, and bold color splashes on bridges. Around City Hall, planter boxes built from caboose bricks now hold donated flowers and greenery, while the group is exploring how to restore the historic caboose itself.
“It’s a lot of work, but everyone’s having fun — and you can see the change,” Hanson said, praising the 17 students who joined last week’s effort.
A $9,000 order of new park benches, picnic tables, and trash receptacles funded through Trails+ and ARP grants is also on the way. Meanwhile, a $70,000 stateapproved outdoor sound system will soon provide music and announcements in Fire & Ice Park, City Hall Park, and Riverwalk Park.
Continuity and Community
Hanson, who recently hired assistant Cadence Clark, said the biggest return comes from volunteers and young leaders stepping forward. “For me, the value of success is when things can continue — even if I’m not here,” she said.
MainStreet has secured 11 grants out of 15 applications since spring, funding projects from murals to marketing. The group is also working on wayfinding signage, solar charging stations for hikers, and new facade painting along Santa Fe Avenue.
Alongside the Levitt voting push, MainStreet is preparing for the Route 66 Centennial kickoff “paintby- number” event on Sept. 13, a small-business boot camp on Sept. 23, and a downtown Trunk-or-Treat festival in October.
Hanson urged residents to keep the momentum going: “Show up, pitch in, and enjoy the progress. Downtown is moving.”