This year has proven the value of the vast varieties of industries that we have in Southeastern New Mexico.
Returning to “normal life” following the pandemic was difficult for all aspects of our local industries, our community, and our personal lives. Having the Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Guadalupe Mountains National Park, White Sands National Park, Living Desert Zoo, and all the other outdoor recreational areas such as the Lincoln National Forest, Brantley Lake, and the Pecos River right on our doorstep is a privilege to any community, especially those in the desert! We were lucky to have such amenities in our corner of the world throughout those tough times, and we were still able to enjoy our natural resources without having to travel far.
People do travel from far and wide to visit the Carlsbad Caverns, but I have learned from many while on their travels here that most do not realize that our community has so much more to offer than just the Caverns. While the Caverns is a must see, we could not agree more, we encourage folks to take time to experience everything else our community has to offer. In the lead up to the 100th year anniversary of the Caverns being instituted as a National Park, we encourage people, local or visiting, to take a trip downtown to experience what Southeast New Mexico truly has to offer.
The New Mexico Department of Tourism Secretary, Jen Paul Shroer stated, “In New Mexico, visitor spending resulted in $737 million state and local taxed [dollars] and supported 96,000 jobs. The continued growth in the tourism industry made leisure and hospitality the second-fastest sector in job growth in New Mexico following oil and gas.”
At MainStreet, we consider our downtown district to be the heartbeat of our community. We enjoy being able to work with all the different sectors and industries from oilfield, gas, solar, small businesses, and tourism. In return we offer events and promotions all throughout the year. We thrive to make downtown into a lively, vibrant place where people can shop, eat, and find entertainment on weekdays, weekends, and evenings.
