The Destination Forward Grant (DFG) is a competitive grant that supports the long-term destination development and rejuvenation of community-based, sustainable tourism infrastructure projects across New Mexico.
Donor Name: New Mexico Tourism Department
State: New Mexico
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 09/13/2023
Size of the Grant:
- Tier IA: Planning and Design – up to $100,000
- Tier IB: Programming – up to $50,000
- Tier IIA: Construct and Equip – up to $500,000
- Tier IIB: Renovate and Modernize – up to $500,000
Details:
The DFG helps to empower New Mexican communities to become viable, welcoming, and high-quality destinations, as well as to enhance existing destinations, for tourism.
The DFG focuses on funding tourism infrastructure, assets and experiences that help build resilient, vibrant communities and that align with the New Mexico True Brand promise of “adventure steeped in culture.” Grantees are expected to deliver on the brand promise and include New Mexico True in all design standards, logo, materials and site improvements.
The DFG aims to deliver on sustainability by focusing on an evidence-based approach to development. The DFG intends to give New Mexico and its various tourism projects and destinations more national and global relevance in sustainable tourism development and management.
Goals and Objectives
- Increase Visitation
- Increase sustainable visitation rates.
- Increase repeat stays.
- Increase extended stays.
- Increase visitor spending at the destination.
- Bring a visitor experience or service to market readiness.
- Improve or Enhance the Visitor and Resident Experience
- Increase positive reviews from tourists.
- Increase positive reviews from residents and enhance community’s quality of life via tourism (re)development.
- Increase accessibility for residents and tourists.
- Provide visitor-oriented services that are open for use to the public and not limited to private membership.
- Ensure resident support for tourism development through collaboration.
- Ensure cultural respect and sensitivity in tourism development.
- Ensure high quality, diversity and authenticity of interpretation to tourists.
- Support legacy opportunities, including the enhancement of existing tourism infrastructure or new construction e.g., visitor facilities and attractions.
- Spur Economic Growth and Capacity Opportunities for Residents
- Increase capacity building efforts in tourism development at the destination.
- Create tourism-related jobs.
- Diversify the local tourism economy.
- Expand the creative economy.
- Increase National and Global Recognition of New Mexico as A Sustainable Tourism Destination
- Aid in destination recovery, emergency preparedness, and resiliency.
- Diversify the wider, local economy.
- Support a thriving tourism economy.
- Increase visitor experience and/or services within a community or region.
- Foster sustainable tourism development that ensures a balance between economic, social, cultural, and environmental values.
- Measure, monitor and/or assess tourism impacts and risks at the destination level across economic, social, cultural, and environmental assets.
- Increase the competitiveness of New Mexican visitor experiences and services as well as exposure of New Mexican communities, as desired by the communities.
- Spur private sector investment in new and enhanced visitor experiences and services state-wide.
- Create sustainable tourism jobs and economic activity in communities state-wide.
- Increase Positive Impacts on the Local Environment While Decreasing Negative Impacts
- Utilize green, ethically, responsibly and sustainably sourced goods, materials and labor for tourism (re)development.
- Rehabilitate, restore, rewild and/or revegetate any disturbed areas caused by the tourism infrastructure project with local, native species.
- Ensure minimal disturbance to local, native wildlife and flora/habitat in tourism (re)development.
- Engage with local and Indigenous experts as well as other relevant experts and community stakeholders in the safeguarding of local biodiversity throughout the project’s development and management.
Funding Information
The Destination Forward Grant offers a two-tiered system for applying:
- Tier IA: Planning and Design – up to $100,000
- Preliminary studies and plans that can be funded in this tier include, but are not limited to:
- GIS maps of proposed site location.
- Archaeological studies and reports.
- Economic impact studies and reports.
- Architectural, engineering/design and structural reports.
- Public easement and right of way as well as other legal compliance documents.
- Water quality and assurance studies, if applicable.
- Other relevant environmental and zoning studies, plans and reports to the tourism infrastructure project.
- Preliminary studies and plans that can be funded in this tier include, but are not limited to:
- Tier IB: Programming – up to $50,000
- This track requires no match and provides funding for projects that will expand and enhance their tourism infrastructure programming. Programming includes, but is not limited to:
- Tier IIA: Construct and Equip – up to $500,000
- This track will focus on building and constructing:
- Tourism infrastructure
- Visitor amenities
- Tourist attractions
- Estimates of standard costs for construction and equipment that must be submitted along with the application include but are not limited to:
- Contractor fees.
- Subcontractor fees.
- Exterior shell.
- Interior buildout and finish.
- Plumbing.
- Electrical.
- Mechanical.
- Telecommunication systems.
- Site work costs.
- Contingency costs – usually 15%.
- Other relevant costs and estimates.
- This track will focus on building and constructing:
- Tier IIB: Renovate and Modernize – up to $500,000
- This track will focus on upgrading, renovating and/or innovating existing tourism infrastructure and will cover costs and expenses including but not limited to:
- Improving destination competitiveness.
- Renovating of historical/cultural attractions.
- Modernizing tourism experiences.
- Establishing or enhancing internet connectivity.
- Adopting and adapting technology to maximize efficiency and operational capacity.
- Enhancing sustainability practices.
- This track will focus on upgrading, renovating and/or innovating existing tourism infrastructure and will cover costs and expenses including but not limited to:
Eligible Projects
- Be “shovel ready” – have completed the planning and design phase of the project and can begin construction in near future.
- If not “shovel-ready,” projects must be “shovel-worthy” meaning they have begun the planning and design phase of the project and have demonstrated the support from the local government to begin construction the moment the planning and design phase of the project is complete.
- Align with fund goals and objectives.
- Align with region’s economic/comprehensive or other regional development plan.
- Aim at funding destination development where greatest needs exist.
Eligibility Criteria
- Local governments.
- Tribal governments.
- Municipalities.
- Special districts.
For more information, visit New Mexico Tourism Department.
