The award purpose is to support the implementation of the northern RIO grande national heritage area management plan, pursuant to public law no. 109-338 and 117-339 (the acts)

The National Park Service (NPS) awarded a $1.0 million Cooperative Agreement to the Northern Rio Grande National Heritage Area under the Heritage Partnership Program (CFDA 15.939) effective August 29, 2025, with a completion date of December 31, 2026. This award supports implementation of the Northern Rio Grande National Heritage Area Management Plan pursuant to Public Law Nos. 109-338 and 117-339. The funding enables delivery of a comprehensive range of products and services including historic preservation initiatives, conservation work, heritage tourism development, interpretation and education programming, community planning, marketing outreach, and administrative functions within the heritage area and associated communities in New Mexico.

The agreement facilitates collaborative partnerships with community stakeholders to preserve and interpret the unique cultural, historical, scenic, and natural resources of the northern Rio Grande region. Products and services delivered through this funding encompass both capital improvements and programmatic activities such as heritage trail development, interpretive center enhancements, educational curriculum development, volunteer training, archival digitization, public art programming, and technical assistance for partner organizations. These initiatives serve to advance shared environmental stewardship while promoting greater public and private participation in preservation, conservation, and outdoor recreation activities across the designated National Heritage Area.

This cooperative agreement focuses on interpretation, preservation, economic development, conservation, administration, planning, marketing outreach, and education within the heritage area and associated with its approved management plan to serve a public purpose under the act. Funding will support a range of projects in the heritage area with community partners, including historic preservation, conservation work, heritage tourism, and general outreach and administration, as described in the subsequent agreement workplans.