NM Food Pathways Grant Program
Forecasted
NM Food Pathways Grant Program supports New Mexico food retailers and supporting enterprises with equipment and targeted improvements to expand access to healthy, affordable, locally sourced food.
Funder: New Mexico Economic Development Department
Due Dates (Anticipated): July 2027 (LOI) | August 2027 (Full application)
Funding Amounts: $25,000, $50,000, or $100,000 per award; approximately $500,000 for 5–12 projects in the FY27 pilot round
Summary: Supports equipment and operational improvements that expand healthy, affordable, locally sourced food access through New Mexico food retailers.
Key Information: Reimbursement-based funding: applicants must pay approved project expenses before receiving reimbursement.
Description
The NM Food Pathways Grant Program is administered by the New Mexico Economic Development Department’s Food, Hunger, and Agriculture Program. It supports practical, implementation-ready investments that improve how staple and perishable foods are stored, handled, transported, displayed, and sold. Its focus is healthy food retail access, especially in rural, Tribal, frontier, and underserved New Mexico communities.
The program prioritizes expanded access to affordable staple foods, stronger community-based retailers, increased SNAP-authorized retail capacity, and improved cold chain and food safety. Competitive projects demonstrate near-term readiness, measurable food access improvements, long-term operational sustainability, and increased availability of locally produced foods. Equipment and targeted improvements within existing facilities take precedence over general infrastructure development. This federally supported opportunity is distinct from the department’s annual state Healthy Food Financing Fund grant.
