The Tourism Department has committed $831,874 through the New Mexico Clean & Beautiful Program—which exists to end litter and beautify communities—to a record 76 community partners for beautification and litter cleanup efforts for the 2027 fiscal year.
Source: New Mexico Department of Tourism
Images: Courtesy
SANTA FE, NM – At a time when 94% of Americans believe that litter is a problem, the New Mexico Tourism Department (NMTD) is investing more than $800,000 for litter clean up and beautification projects across the state.
The Tourism Department has committed $831,874 through the New Mexico Clean & Beautiful Program—which exists to end litter and beautify communities—to a record 76 community partners for beautification and litter cleanup efforts for the 2027 fiscal year.
Nearly $600,000 of the committed $831,874 is earmarked for projects that reduce waste, beautify communities and eliminate litter. The remaining $234,575 of is directed towards youth empowerment initiatives and increasing local program capacity.
“New Mexico communities understand that keeping New Mexico clean and beautiful boosts state pride for residents and creates a more pleasant experience for travelers,” said Acting Tourism Secretary Lancing Adams. “We’re happy to contribute to a cleaner New Mexico that everyone can be proud of.”
Twelve of the 76 grant recipients are first-time program participants, which is also a record for NMTD.
Recipients in Doña Ana County include:
- City of Anthony ($4,000.00)
- City of Las Cruces ($12,329.50)
- City of Sunland Park ($8,000.00)
- County of Doña Ana ($5,440.00)
- Town of Mesilla ($17,475.59)
First-time program participant Otero County will dedicate its grant funding towards a targeted billboard campaign along US Highway 82 and US Highway 54 to remind residents about properly securing objects, trash and debris in truck beds, which is a key contributor to roadside litter.
Jemez Pueblo, Santa Ana Pueblo, Zia Pueblo and Pueblo of Isleta will join the program this year as first-time partners alongside Pueblo of Acoma, Pueblo of Pojoaque and Santo Domingo Pueblo.
Last year, Santo Domingo Pueblo used part of its grant funding to launch the inaugural Keep Kewa Beautiful initiative, which activated local youth engagement to tackle litter in the area. Through the first year, Keep Kewa Beautiful mobilized 276 volunteers through 21 community events to remove 228 bags of litter. Santo Domingo Pueblo plans to build on the success of the Keep Kewa Beautiful initiative by committing $20,000 of its total grant funding to youth group stipends and operationalizing youth leadership pathways. This is the largest financial commitment by any individual grant recipient to the goal of youth empowerment for FY27, and Santo Domingo Pueblo is quickly establishing an ideal model for how communities can leverage Clean & Beautiful grant funding to invest in local youth.
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