New Mexico leads the way with historic investments to improve access to nature

SANTA FE, NM - New Mexico Governor Lujan Grisham today signed the state's budget bill into law, which allocates a historic $3 million for the Outdoor Equity Fund and $8 million for the Land and Water Conservation State Supplemental Fund. Both programs improve equitable access to nature for underserved communities.

Outdoor Equity Fund

The first-of-its-kind in the nation, New Mexico's Outdoor Equity Fund provides grants to organizations who are helping youth learn, play and grow in the outdoors. Deepened investment in this successful program will allow the Outdoor Equity Fund to meet existing demand so that more underserved youth have greater exposure to the transformative powers of nature. Combined with annual appropriations of $382,600 from the General Fund and $565,175 from the Land of Enchantment Legacy Fund, the Outdoor Equity Fund will now distribute a historic $4 million for the upcoming grant cycle.

Land and Water Conservation State Supplemental Fund

As one of the most successful conservation programs of the past half-century, the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) has helped conserve public lands, ensure better access to outdoor recreation and safeguard natural resources in nearly every U.S. county. By leveraging $8 million in state dollars to match federal LWCF dollars, the Land and Water State Supplemental Fund aims to decrease financial and administrative barriers so underserved Tribal and rural communities can better access grant funding for outdoor infrastructure projects like parks, ball fields, swimming pools and more.

Michael Casaus, The Wilderness Society's New Mexico state director, made the following statement:

"The health of our planet requires that all people, regardless of race, income or zip code, have the opportunity to connect with the natural world and understand why it's worth fighting for. We are grateful to Governor Lujan Grisham and state legislators for finding solutions to ensure that underserved communities can experience the magic of nature and the many benefits it provides. Investment in the Outdoor Equity Fund and the LWCF State Supplemental Fund sends a strong message that everyone has a place on New Mexico's public lands."

For media inquiries, contact Keri Gilliland at keri_gilliland@tws.org