Spirit of Hidalgo gets state conservation corps funding
Spirit of Hidalgo landed state conservation corps money that can put Hidalgo County youth to work for up to 26 weeks on conservation training and service.
Young people in Hidalgo County could soon be paid to gain conservation and workplace experience through Spirit of Hidalgo, one of 38 programs selected for a statewide Youth Conservation Corps funding round that will reach more than 600 New Mexicans ages 14 to 25. The state commission awarded $5.89 million, plus $1.1 million in matching funds, to projects meant to turn public dollars into hands-on work across 20 counties.
Spirit of Hidalgo was named in the June 16 round, although the exact local project was not spelled out. The nonprofit says its mission is to support, promote and inspire women and children in Hidalgo County, and it serves Lordsburg, Animas, Virden and the rest of the county. Its service-corps listing connects it to AmeriCorps, Youth Conservation Corps, Youth Volunteer Corps and Medical Reserve Corps programs, pointing to a mix of community service and early job skills that can stay close to home.
The state rules behind the grant make the opportunity concrete. Youth Conservation Corps money comes from governmental gross receipts taxes and is open to local governments, tribes and nonprofits. Current guidelines allow up to $225,000 per project, limit each project to 26 weeks and require at least five corps members, all New Mexico residents ages 14 to 25 at the time of hire. The program is designed to give young workers experience that can lead to careers as park rangers, foresters, wildland firefighters, conservationists, archaeologists and law enforcement officers.
For Hidalgo County, that kind of investment carries extra weight in a place defined by distance and small population. The county was created from the southwest portion of Grant County in 1919, borders Arizona and Mexico, and is often described as New Mexico’s boot heel. It includes the Continental Divide Trail trailhead at Crazy Cook and the Playas training and research center, two reminders that land, access and public-lands work are part of daily life here.
The Youth Conservation Corps itself was established in 1992, and the commission is governed by a nine-member board that meets quarterly or as needed. With Spirit of Hidalgo on the latest award list, state youth-employment money is again reaching Lordsburg and the surrounding county, offering wages, supervision and practical experience in a rural region where those chances can be scarce.
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