Founders Club Launch Party Kicks Off Aztec Downtown Association Fundraiser

Aztec Downtown Association officials launched the Founders Club at 550 Brew Pub, 201 W. Chaco, holding two Friday afternoon sessions that kicked off a fundraising push to underwrite future downtown activations and projects. An online event listing showed the launch as Feb. 13, 2026 at 2:00 p.m., and ADA leaders Joan Monninger and Amanda Harig welcomed guests at the brew pub.

Amanda Harig, ADA volunteer director, framed the launch as a community-first effort, telling the crowd, “We start with community building first, so that’s why you're here at this launch party.” Harig said the meeting would both introduce the Founders Club fundraiser and outline ADA planning work in partnership with New Mexico MainStreet.

Organizers emphasized the Founders Club as a vehicle to support downtown revitalization and activations such as events, street programming and small-scale projects. Harig told attendees, “Normally, I wouldn’t even ask for money, but we're going to get into why your contributions are important.” ADA leaders described the push as the next step after organizational milestones tied to a MainStreet designation effort.

The push follows a sequence of formal steps between the ADA, the city and New Mexico MainStreet. The City of Aztec passed resolution 2025-1479 confirming it wanted a MainStreet designation; by May the group’s tax-exempt status was secured, and by August the city signed a letter of understanding with New Mexico MainStreet and the ADA board of directors. ADA board training with New Mexico MainStreet began in October.

Since October, ADA completed two community surveys and a business survey to steer priorities; 42 people indicated they would like to be involved in downtown revitalization. Those survey results were cited at the launch as early evidence of local volunteer interest but organizers did not provide a broader response rate or demographics at the event.

ADA is registered as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and told donors contributions are tax deductible. The association provided an email for donation verification and follow up: director@aztecdowntown.com. Harig tied the Founders Club aim to long-term downtown economics, saying, “The fact is, historic downtowns are economic engines. You restore the downtown, the life that comes back, everything from street performers to food trucks, people want to be there, and it's an environmental thing. They figured this out about 40 years ago with Main Street America.”

The launch highlighted a formal partnership with New Mexico MainStreet and referenced Main Street America as “one of the four pillars of a public–private partnership that includes the ADA, the city and New Mexico MainStreet.” Organizers did not release attendance numbers, pledge totals or the Founders Club giving levels at the launch; ADA provided the donor verification contact for those seeking confirmation or additional details.