Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham Celebrates Land of Enchantment Legacy Fund with New Mexico Leaders
New Report Shows Legacy Fund Supporting 185 projects in All 33 New Mexico Counties
Silver City, N.M. – Today a coalition of New Mexico organizations released a report for the first fiscal year of the Land of Enchantment Legacy Fund – New Mexico’s first state funding source for land and water conservation, outdoor recreation, agriculture and working lands, historic preservation and wildlife species protection.
The first year success was celebrated at an event in Silver City on Thursday, July 17 with Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, House Appropriations & Finance Chair Rep. Small (D-Las Cruces), and local leaders in Grant County.
Links to the report and event can be found here
List of FY25 Projects by County link
The Legacy Fund is an investment tool created by Lujan Grisham’s administration and funded by the N.M. legislature in 2023 and 2024. It distributes millions of dollars in grants and funding to N.M. communities through ten existing programs across six state agencies.
In the first fiscal year (FY25) that began on July 1, 2024 and ended June 30, 2025, the Legacy Fund distributed approximately $12.5 million to support 185 projects benefiting all 33 N.M. counties and 10 Tribal communities. A list of projects by county is available here. As of May 2025, the balance of the Legacy Permanent Fund was $382.9 million.
“My administration created the Land of Enchantment Legacy Fund because New Mexico communities were ready to fight climate change – they just needed the resources,” said Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. “In our first year, we’ve delivered $12.5 million to all 33 counties, with over 80% going to rural areas that need it most.”
“We created the Land of Enchantment Legacy Fund to safeguard, steward, and restore New Mexico’s land, water, and wildlife. These investments will help New Mexicans remain connected to our land for generations to come, from getting more youth outdoors to supporting our agricultural producers,” said Rep. Nathan Small (D-Las Cruces), who sponsored legislation creating the fund. “In the face of a changing climate and growing uncertainty at the federal level, this fund ensures that we can conserve our natural resources, build resiliency in our communities, and protect New Mexico’s natural beauty.”
“The Legacy Fund is going above and beyond its promise to support New Mexico communities,” said Dr. Brittany Fallon, western lands policy manager at Western Resource Advocates. “As wildfire and flooding continue to challenge our state, we must do everything we can to support people on the ground who are rolling up their sleeves and doing the work to preserve our natural resources. The Legacy Fund is not just a victory for our present, but for generations to come. We thank the governor and legislative champions for ushering in a new era of driven environmental leadership in our state.”
“The Legacy Fund is making a difference for New Mexico’s rural economy and farmers, ranchers and private landowners who care deeply about the land and want to see it actively conserved for the next generation,” said Debbie Hughes, New Mexico Association of Conservation Districts executive director. “The Legacy Fund continues to enjoy widespread support among the agricultural community because it provides a much needed funding boost to our economies, invests in the health of our lands and waters, and allows us to better leverage federal funds in the Farm Bill. We appreciate the governor and legislative leaders for their ongoing commitment to and look forward to working with them to ensure the Legacy Fund continues to deliver resources on the ground.”
Key takeaways from the Legacy Fund’s first fiscal year (FY25)
- 100% of the $12.5 million has been allocated in FY25
- 185 individual projects were funded by Legacy Fund dollars in FY25
- 80% of projects are in rural areas vs. 20% in urban areas
- 100% of Legacy Fund programs are leveraging federal matching dollars
- 10 Tribal communities are benefiting from Legacy Fund programs in FY25, including 4 high schools who serve Tribal students specifically
The event in Silver City was held at the Historic Waterworks Building, which was the Town’s first municipal water supply dating back to 1887. The property was one of the first projects to receive a Legacy Fund program grant through the N.M. Department of Cultural Affair’s Cultural Properties Restoration Fund, which had not received funding in decades. The property also received funding associated with the Outdoor Recreation Division’s Trails+ Grant Program and the nearby San Vicente Creek Watershed was improved by the New Mexico Environment Department’s River Stewardship Program.
Representatives from the community who received and worked on grants through the Legacy Fund spoke, including Jacqui Olea, Assistant Town Manager, Town of Silver City; Allyson Siwik, executive director, Gila Resources Information Project; Carol Ann Fugagli, executive director, Upper Gila Watershed Association; and Ethan Hemphill, Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) member and Silver City native. Video of the event is here; audio is here and photos are here.
Background
The Land of Enchantment Legacy Fund was established in 2023 by the passage of Senate Bill 9, which was sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth, retired Senator Steven Neville and House Appropriations Chairman Nathan Small. It was created and championed by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham who signed the bill into law on March 23, 2023. The effort was the result of more than five years of negotiations among a broad, bipartisan coalition of New Mexicans.
In the 2023 session, legislators appropriated $50 million to establish the Legacy Fund and $50 million to establish the Legacy Permanent Fund. In the 2024 session, legislators appropriated an additional $300 million to the Legacy Permanent Fund to ensure the funds can produce enough annual returns to be self-sustaining, weather economic downturns, access federal matching dollars and meet the high demand from New Mexico communities.
In the first fiscal year that began on July 1, 2024 and ended June 30, 2025, the Legacy Fund distributed approximately $12.5 million to ten existing programs across six state agencies. Interest gained from the Legacy Permanent Fund is expected to increase annual distributions to all programs in FY26 and beyond. As of May 2025, the balance of the Legacy Permanent Fund is $382.9 million.
For more information visit www.enchantmentfund.org
