Community Solutions

A new craft-beverage initiative in Cortez aims to help create career pathways for young people.

Through its Acequia Aquí series, the Paseo Project shares the legacy—and fragility—of the historic waterways that once brought life to Taos’ fields, gardens, and orchards.

Lander’s pilot Speedgoat Market connects consumers to producers—and has opened the door to countywide expansion through a potential $400,000 USDA grant. 

When the Town of Taos stopped recycling plastic, a group of locals created an innovative solution: turning waste into walls. With a little help from the LOR Foundation, they’re poised to make a dent in the overflowing plastic.

To fill a summer activities gap created by COVID-19 and budget cuts, nearly two dozen members of the Lander community are leading summer workshops and camps for area residents, thanks to a little boost from LOR.

Thanks to a bigger refrigerator, the Community Meal at United Methodist Church now feeds more than 100 people per week.

Inspired by what he saw unfolding outside his window, one Lander resident was moved to create a citywide demonstration of gratitude for healthcare workers—and you can contribute too!

Informed by the experiences of five Taos businesses, this handbook can help rural merchants launch online stores.

Spurred by COVID-19 concerns, LOR helps the Lander community bring a bevy of shop local initiatives to life, including a winter pop-up market that’s easy to replicate with a new, downloadable LOR toolkit.

With food insecurity growing amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, an accessible and free pantry is helping to alleviate hunger.

This northern New Mexico village’s new firewood processor will help build an economy around forest health and support essential community programs.

Using a Habitat for Humanity model, a small Wyoming group coordinates volunteer crews to help repair veterans’ homes.

As communities across the rural Mountain West race the clock to ensure a complete census count, the LOR Foundation commits $100,000 in Instagrant funding to help them.

A revolving loan fund helps legacy families fix and rent their historic homes, adds affordable housing, creates jobs, and draws-in newcomers to the community.

Offering career training, small business support, and wrap-around services, HIVE garners national attention as it applies for federal funding and helps a rural economy go digital.

An art exhibition in Taos brought life and vibrancy back to main street during the worst of the pandemic—and the tradition will continue in a new space today.

Taos MainStreet pairs local businesses with web developers to launch or improve their e-commerce capabilities in response to COVID-19.

An emerging platform helps volunteers to address food security, shelter, and meet other community needs in the wake of the pandemic.

Farmers and outdoor enthusiasts partner to build trails for recreation and economic growth in the San Luis Valley.

Unexpected alliances help Taoseños protect drinking water, vital food sources, and adapt to life with wildfires.