The New Mexico Tourism Department (NMTD) has announced a new round of funding for the Route 66 Centennial Grant Program. A total of $1,306,097 will be awarded to communities along Route 66 in fiscal year 2026. The funds are intended for marketing and promotion, special events, and infrastructure projects.
Funding was made possible through a special appropriation during the 2025 Legislative Session. Of the total amount, $752,538 is designated for marketing and promotion activities, $423,559 for infrastructure improvements, and $130,000 for special events.
“Promoting the Route 66 centennial and preparing the state for this milestone was a strategic focus for the Tourism Department this past fiscal year and will continue to be so this year as well,” said Acting Secretary Lancing Adams. “Awareness and interest in the Route 66 centennial continue to grow among domestic and international travelers and we fully intend to capitalize on this momentum.”
This grant program follows a three-pronged approach first established in fiscal year 2025. Last year’s inaugural grants included $400,000 for marketing and promotion, $1,043,000 for infrastructure upgrades, and $70,000 allocated to special events.
For FY26 grants, NMTD focused more on marketing and special event support to align with efforts to build awareness among travelers. In contrast, FY25 placed greater emphasis on infrastructure investments so that localities could better handle increased tourism during the upcoming centennial.
Eligible applicants include nonprofit tourism organizations as well as municipal, county or tribal governments and special districts. Applicants needed to demonstrate a clear connection between their destination and Route 66 history or culture. Projects funded by these grants must be planned or completed by June 15, 2026.
Some communities have already implemented projects using previous funding rounds. For example, Gallup used its FY25 grant money to improve wayfinding signs and install public art including a new mural in Historic Downtown Gallup. In Albuquerque’s Old Town district, grant funds were used by the Historic Old Town Association toward installing a neon entrance archway which is nearly finished.
Special event grants for FY26 include support for several Albuquerque events such as Route 66 Summerfest ($10,000), Gathering of Nations ($20,000), Get Your PICKS on Route 66 ($5,000), and New Mexico State Fair ($30,000). Other funded events are taking place in Santa Fe (such as Día de los Muertos on the Plaza), Grants (Spokes on Route 66 Car Show), Pecos (Pecos Sunflower Festival), Edgewood (Route 66 Centennial Celebration), among others.
Infrastructure grants went toward updates at EXPO New Mexico’s RV Village ($75,000), festoon lighting installation within Albuquerque’s Highland Neighborhood ($48,070), sculpture installations in Grants ($38,635), creation of a musical road feature in Santa Rosa ($60,000), beautification projects in Tucumcari ($51,767), murals at Quay County Chamber of Commerce ($37,500), restoration work at Milan’s vintage-style gas station ($57,586) and wayfinding improvements in Tijeras ($55,000).
Marketing grants were distributed across entities such as Visit Albuquerque; Barelas Community Coalition Inc.; Historic Old Town Association; TOURISM Santa Fe; city governments from Grants,Moriarity,Santa Rosa,Gallup; Village of Pecos; Tucumcari Quay County Chamber of Commerce; Laguna Pueblo;and Navajo Nation Tourism Department.
Further details about the grant program can be found on the Tourism Department website.
“Promoting the Route 66 centennial and preparing the state for this milestone was a strategic focus for the Tourism Department this past fiscal year and will continue to be so this year as well,” said Acting Secretary Lancing Adams. “Awareness and interest in the Route 66 centennial continue to grow among domestic and international travelers and we fully intend to capitalize on this momentum.”
###
