Colfax County staff told commissioners they are pursuing New Mexico recreation grant funding to complete improvements at the county event center, including a proposed metal shade cover for the grandstands.

County manager Navarette said the Department of Finance and Administration announced funding through a regional recreation/quality‑of‑life grant and that Molson and Corbin (a contracted firm) believes the planned work would qualify. "The ask right now that we're short is about $763,000, but that includes commissioner's current request for designing and constructing a metal shade cover for the grandstands, and that's approximately 485,000," the manager said. The manager said Molson and Corbin's grant writer was preparing the application on short notice for the DFA deadline.

The update came as the arena prepared to host a Supercross event that weekend. Navarette said road and maintenance crews have been working to prepare the site and address weeds, mud and other logistics; mosquito spraying also was conducted. She told commissioners the contractor had placed materials on site and that event operators had been working under their rental contract.

No formal county appropriation for the $763,000 gap was approved at the meeting; staff said they would pursue the DFA grant and return with results when available.