Revitalizing Santa Fe Avenue: MainStreet’s Commitment To Grants

GRANTS, NM – Santa Fe Avenue has for a longtime been seen as the heart of Grants, New Mexico. The road, renamed from its original Route 66, is zoned to allow for commercial businesses. Despite the zoning, issues abound for business owners on Santa Fe Ave., like a lack of parking and speeding which makes it dangerous for pedestrians to walk across the street to shop. Funding has been secured, and a timeline has been established to revitalize the street and make it more pedestrian-friendly.

Fortunately for businesses in the MainStreet district, in downtown Grants, an advocate is on their side in the form of Grants MainStreet Project. For the last several years the nonprofit has been working to revitalize Santa Fe Ave., taking business owners and pedestrians into consideration while aiming to work with the community in this revitalization initiative.

Grants MainStreet Project will persist despite increasingly uncertain politics, complications arising from funding issues, managerial shifts, and various logistical challenges. Executive Director William Yarborough promised that his commitment is to the businesses on Santa Fe Avenue and will not stop pushing MainStreet's plan to make the area more pedestrian friendly and supporting businesses in the area.

The initiative, which aims to create a pedestrian-friendly urban environment to bolster local businesses, is under scrutiny as key personnel and financial resources are in flux. With the termination and vacancy in the Grants city manager position, there's concern over how to proceed, especially since the city serves as the financial agent and construction manager of the project.

“That should the goal, all of things that are going to be done need to make this area more pedestrian friendly. You need to be able to walk [Santa Fe Ave.],” Yarborough said.

The project is designed to create a conducive environment for window shopping and inperson retail experiences, emphasizing the importance of pedestrian travel for local businesses. According to a statistic cited by Yarborough from the Small Business Development Center, small businesses account for 60 percent of jobs and 40 percent of GDP in the United States.

However, funding challenges are emerging as a significant barrier to the project's progression. According to Yarborough, the expected cost, estimated to be around $1.2 million will require additional finding which GMS may have to fight to maintain. New Mexico Mainstreet provides $120,000, but further funds are needed for planning and design, with options for additional funding currently on hold.

One of those opportunities on hold can double the funding through a grant from the national endowment of arts called 'Our Town'. Despite having the paperwork complete, it now looks like this funding will not be secured, as no one has access to the grants.gov account necessary for application. This application requires access credentials from the city manager, which the city no longer has. The full application is due on August 12, but without access, the possibility of acquiring the additional funding appears slim.

Along with financial hurdles, the planning and design phase must be completed by 2026. If this deadline is not met, the construction phase will not proceed. Such delays could lead to an extended timeline, creating headaches for daily commuters. Regardless, planning and design must go on.

Yarborough said GMS has begun discussing possible plans to alleviate commuter pressure, such as rerouting and creating designated parking spaces. However, these plans are still in the initial discussion phase, with nothing formally drafted. GMS is waiting for planning meetings where it can hear directly from the citizens.

Grants Main Street organization, although not yet accredited, plays a crucial role in providing funding opportunities for the city. However, Yarborough said there are concerns about funding sources, with potential funding threatening the position of the director. Yarborough expressed thanks to State Representative Harry Garcia for supporting GMS and helping to keep the lights on in the organization.

Decisions from the Grants City Council regarding financial support for outside organizations were expected in August, a date Yarbrough expects to play a significant role in determining the fate of both Grants MainStreet Project and the Santa Fe Ave. Revitalization project.

Community engagement and input remain vital to the project's success, with meetings planned to keep citizens informed. Meeting notifications will be given a month in advance, and communication is expected through various channels, including social media and direct handouts.

Yarborough expressed concerns over the potential loss of opportunity and resources for the area, emphasizing the importance of Grants Main-Street Project for the city's economic well-being. The situation reflects a broader struggle in balancing community needs with financial realities, with long-term implications for the city's growth and development.

“A lot of problems in our community stem from the lack of opportunity and lack of resources. Our project is coming along and will provide opportunity for the MainStreet District,” Yarborough said.