PRESS RELEASE: Taos SEED Launch
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 3.19.2026 Contact:
● Jessie Hook
● Network Manager, Taos Destination Stewardship Network
● destinationstewardship@taosmainstreet.org , 575-425-0603

Who Leads and Benefits from the Tourism Economy in Taos.

New Program Looks to Shift the Answer The inaugural Taos SEED (Sustainable Experience & Entrepreneur Development) Program officially launched this March with its first cohort dinner at the historic Martinez Hacienda, bringing together eight local businesses and organizations working to develop new, place-based tourism experiences in Taos County. The SEED program is a pilot initiative and part of broader destination stewardship efforts in Taos. It focuses on supporting local entrepreneurs and community leaders in building sustainable, revenue-generating experiences rooted in the cultures, landscapes, and communities of Taos. This isn’t a traditional approach to tourism - SEED is designed for businesses that understand both sides of the visitor economy: the opportunity it brings, and the pressures it can create on a small, rural, and culturally rich place like Taos. The program is part of the Taos Destination Stewardship Network, hosted by Taos MainStreet and supported by the Town of Taos, Taos County, and the LOR Foundation.

Designed and inspired by Goal 2: Inclusion & Equity of the Taos Destination Stewardship Plan, the central focus is on expanding who participates in and benefits from the local tourism economy. Over the coming months, cohort participants will receive seed funding, business development support, and opportunities for peer learning as they refine their offerings. The goal is to support tourism experiences that not only attract visitors, but also contribute to local livelihoods and reflect the depth and diversity of Taos. “Making tourism more equitable and sustainable starts with us,” said Rose Reza of UNM-Taos HIVE, part of the group that helped shape the program alongside the Small Business Development Center and local action team. “It starts with investing time and resources into the people who make Taos, Taos.” The eight selected participants represent a range of work across Taos County, including cultural education, outdoor experiences, foodways, and community-based programming. Each project is rooted in place and designed to offer visitors a deeper understanding of Taos, while supporting the people, knowledge, and traditions that define it. Monthly cohort dinners like the one held at Martinez Hacienda, are designed to create space for participants to share ideas, challenges, and opportunities at the intersection of business, stewardship and tourism. While sharing a meal provided by local chefs in unique locations around the county, the intention is to facilitate building connections across sectors and communities. This month's dinner was provided by the Taos High Culinary Arts Program, led by Adam Medina. The program reflects a broader shift toward destination stewardship in Taos - an approach that seeks to balance the benefits of tourism with its costs, and to ensure that tourism supports, not erodes, long-term community wellbeing.

Additionally, this powerful collaboration made possible through the Taos Destination Stewardship Network, brings together key community partners including Taos County, the Town of Taos, Taos MainStreet, UNM-Taos HIVE, and the UNM-Taos Small Business Development Center (SBDC). By aligning resources, expertise, and shared goals, these partners have created a coordinated approach to supporting local entrepreneurs and advancing a more inclusive, resilient economy in Taos. More information about the Taos SEED Program and the inaugural cohort can be found at: taosmainstreet.org/seed