The New Mexico Finance Authority, which manages the state’s LEDA pandemic grant program, is accepting applications under a second round of funding. The first-round application period was widely publicized to end on June 15, 2021. A second-round application period opened as soon as the first round closed. The deadline for application acceptance in the second round is slated for June 30 at 12:00 noon, and additional rounds may be added if funding is available.
The LEDA pandemic recovery grant program was authorized by the New Mexico Legislature in the 2021 regular session to assist businesses that suffered financial hardship during the pandemic. Grants are tied to job creation, and funds must be used as reimbursements of rent, lease or mortgage payments.
To be eligible, a business must
- be operating in New Mexico
- have at least one but fewer than 75 full-time or part-time employees employed at any of the business’s locations
- be current on all state and local tax obligations
- have been impacted by the pandemic; i.e., experienced a decline in business revenue between comparable quarters in taxable years 2019 and 2020