NM Food Pathways Grant Program
The NM Food Pathways Grant Program helps New Mexico food retailers and community food organizations strengthen their operations and expand access to healthy, affordable and locally sourced foods. The program supports practical, implementation‑ready projects that improve how staple and perishable foods are stored, handled and sold — especially in rural, Tribal, frontier and underserved communities.
Through this grant opportunity, businesses and organizations can invest in upgrades that make an immediate impact, such as improved refrigeration and cold storage, better merchandising and display equipment, food safety enhancements, and tools that support SNAP access. The goal is simple: help local food retailers thrive while making it easier for New Mexicans to find nutritious foods close to home.
Project focus areas
Eligible projects typically focus on strengthening healthy food retail and expanding access to nutritious, affordable foods in underserved communities. Priority consideration is given to projects that advance:
- Expanded access to healthy, affordable staple foods (What’s a Staple Food? )
- Improved economic viability of rural and community-based food retailers, including small grocers, cooperative markets, mobile markets, and other community-serving retail models.
- Increased SNAP-authorized retail capacity, helping more retailers accept SNAP and strengthening equitable food purchasing options for households.
- Enhanced cold chain, storage, and food safety infrastructure, supporting proper handling, transportation, and merchandising of perishable foods in and to retail environments.
Program priorities
The NM Food Pathways Grant Program gives competitive preference to projects that:
Dixon Co-Op
- Demonstrate readiness for near-term implementation
- Strengthen long-term retail operational capacity and sustainability
- Deliver clear, measurable improvements in food access for rural, Tribal, frontier, or otherwise low‑access communities
- Emphasize increasing the availability of locally produced foods
- Maximize impact through practical, implementation-ready investments rather than general infrastructure development
Application considerations
The NM Food Pathways Grant Program anticipates awarding approximately $500,000 through a limited number of competitive grants.
Applicants may apply within one of the following funding tiers:
- $25,000
- $50,000
- $100,000
Funding requests should align with the scale, readiness, and demonstrated impact of the proposed project.
The NM Food Pathways Grant Program operates as a reimbursement‑based funding program. Grant agreements, vendor onboarding steps (including W‑9 submission), and reimbursement instructions will be provided after awards are issued. Awardees must submit invoices, receipts, and supporting documentation for all approved expenses before reimbursement can be processed.
Because this program is supported through federal Healthy Food Financing Initiative–aligned funding streams, all projects must comply with applicable federal and state requirements, including environmental review when required. Federal funds governed by HFFI follow the Uniform Guidance (2 CFR Part 200), which outlines the rules for managing, procuring, documenting, and monitoring federally supported grant activities.
To reduce compliance burdens, applicants are strongly encouraged to focus on equipment purchases and operational infrastructure improvements within existing facilities. Projects that are ready to implement will receive priority consideration. Proposals involving minor construction or limited building modifications necessary for equipment installation will be reviewed to determine whether NEPA or other environmental review obligations apply.
Dates are subject to change and will be posted here.
- LOI submission period: July 1 through July 15, 2026
- Invitations to apply will be sent by July 22
- Full application closes August 5
- Target implementation of projects: October 2026 through March 2027
Pathways Grant Program Application Process
Two-Step Application Process
To ensure an efficient, equitable, and accessible application process, the Pathways Grant Program will utilize a two-step competitive application process. All interested organizations must first submit a Letter of Interest (LOI) through the Submittable online grants portal.
The LOI serves as an initial opportunity for applicants to introduce their organization, describe the proposed project, and demonstrate how the project aligns with the goals of the Pathways Grant Program. The process is designed to reduce applicant burden while allowing the program to identify projects that are most closely aligned with funding priorities and program objectives.
Step 1: Letter of Interest (LOI)
Eligible organizations must submit a Letter of Interest through the Submittable platform during the published application period.
The LOI will request high-level information regarding:
- Organization and contact information
- Organizational eligibility and readiness
- Project description and proposed activities
- Community need and intended impact
- Target population and geographic service area
- Estimated funding request
- Project implementation readiness
Submitted LOIs will be reviewed for eligibility, alignment with program priorities, project feasibility, and potential community impact.
Step 2: Invitation to Apply
Following the LOI review process, selected organizations will be invited to submit a full application.
An invitation to apply does not guarantee funding. Rather, it indicates that the proposed project has demonstrated sufficient alignment with program goals to advance to the next stage of review.
Organizations invited to apply will be required to submit additional information, which may include:
- Detailed project narrative
- Project budget and budget justification
- Organizational capacity information
- Financial and operational documentation
- Anticipated outcomes
- Supporting attachments
Full applications will undergo a comprehensive review and scoring process. Funding recommendations will be based on the quality of the application, organizational capacity, project readiness, anticipated impact, and available funding.
Questions regarding the NM Food Pathways Grant Program may be directed to the EDNM Food, Hunger, and Agriculture Program team:
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Erin Ortigoza, Food, Hunger, & Agriculture Program Manager, Erin.Ortigoza@edd.nm.gov, (505) 819-8914
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Jayme Chester, Food Value Chain Coordination Rep, Jayme.Chester@edd.nm.gov, (505) 695-8440