GRANT INTENTION
Overview: The Creative Industries Division is seeking to support existing creative businesses, and organizations who support creative industry companies and workers. As we work to increase and advance creative industry based economic development in New Mexico, we are seeking applications from for profit businesses to utilize the funding for business development, or expansion.
Award Ceiling: Up to $25,000 grant awards, for existing creative businesses and organizations.
*Disclaimers
*Grant amounts (up to $25,000) and total awards (10) are subject to change based on funding availability.*
*50% of all final awarded submissions will be to highest scoring projects or programs in rural or underserved communities as required by statute.* See HB 8
WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS?
Eligibility Requirements (Pass/Fail):
Applicants must:
- Be a for-profit organization.
- Demonstrate at least 3 years operation within a creative industry field.
- Operate and serve communities within the state of New Mexico.
- Be a business within one or more of the Creative Industry clusters:
- Performing Arts, Visual Arts, & Literary Arts
- Entertainment, Media, Information & Broadcasting
- Applied Arts & Design (Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Museums & Galleries)
- Promotion, Marketing, Graphics & Industrial Design
- Technology & Digital Media
- Crafts & Artisan Professions - Metal, Wood, Glass, Ceramics, Paper, Printing, Textile, & Culinary Arts
FUNDING AVAILABILITY AND USES
Grant awards will be made for up to $25,000 will be awarded as tiered advance payments. Funding uses are for:
- Inventory
- Equipment
- Marketing /Promotion/ Digital Presence
- Small infrastructure improvements (must be completed within 12 months)
- Technology & Software Improvements
- Existing Program Expansion (No new programing) (Must have a workforce or economic support focus)
- Building capacity for measuring impact, engagement, evaluation, and economic contributions
- Applicable taxes
Non-allowable use: Hiring of full-time personnel
Creative Industry Clusters
What Creative Industry do I apply under: Applicants should select the category their creative business falls into according to its main core activities, products, and services.
- Performing Arts, Visual Arts, & Literary Arts
- Entertainment, Media, Information & Broadcasting
- Applied Arts and Design, Including Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Museum & Gallery Professions
- Promotion, Marketing, Graphics & Industrial Design
- Technology and Computer System Design, Software Design, Coding & Digital Media
- Crafts or Artisan Professions Including: Metal, Wood, Glass, Ceramics, Paper, Printing, Textile, & Culinary Arts
See Creative Industry Cluster details and corresponding NAICS Codes on page 206 of the 2024 New Mexico Creative Industries Study
Reporting Requirements
(Subject to Change):
Awarded applicants must:
- Participate in a 6-month progress check-in with CID.
- Submit a Final Report 12 months after payment is received, including but not limited to:
- Quantitative metrics (e.g., number of creative businesses served, revenue impact, GRT reported, jobs created, partnerships formed).
- Qualitative outcomes (e.g., success stories, ecosystem impact, testimonials).
- Complete a Post Grant Awardee-Survey to share continued economic impact data.
This data will help the Creative Industries Division demonstrate creative economy growth and advocate for continued and expanded funding.
NOTES FOR APPLYING ORGANIZATIONS
Organizations are responsible for the GRT (gross receipt taxes) and other applicable taxes for the income received from this grant. For profit organizations should take this into account when applying and incorporate foreseen taxes into the budget and cost proposal part of the application.
Funding will be awarded in two advance payments tied to line items included in submitted budget. After receiving the first payment, grantees will be expected to complete a portion of the proposal, and provide a progress report accompanied by a meeting with the division before the second payment is authorized. Multiple line items can be combined into milestones as approved by the department.
All vendors who receive funds from the state excluding nonprofits and local governments will receive a 1099 if they are a grantee.
GRANT DUE: 6:00pm Friday, December 26, 2025
A scoring rubric is provided on the application.