SANTA FE, N.M. – New Mexico’s Government Results and Opportunities (GRO) program is about to send out $68 million statewide to combat hunger, homelessness and support public safety
The money includes $30 million for five food banks and $38 million for 230 organizations.
The state created the GRO program in 2024. Year two funding started July 1, and the Department of Finance and Administration sends the money to local governments across all 33 counties.
Jill Dixon, executive director of The Food Depot, said the five food banks will get $30 million over three years through GRO.
“Food banks have always known what we could do if there was a little bit more support there,” Dixon said.
Dixon said the food banks plan to use 75% of the money to buy more food, including some local products.
Another $38 million from GRO is going to 230 organizations statewide. The Department of Finance and Administration said local governments will pass that money to smaller groups in all 33 counties.
“There’s public safety funding in the GRO package that includes support for fire, police, and EMS services statewide, as well as housing and eviction prevention programming. So it’s a really wide umbrella of essential community services,” Hallie Brown, deputy director of the Local Government Division at the Department of Finance and Administration, said.
State lawmakers can direct funding to projects in their districts. Senior services and food programs will also get funding.
The Department of Finance and Administration will launch a dashboard later this year to track GRO spending and community impact. The state said people will be able to see which local organizations in each county got funding and how they spend it.
