Taos Main Street outlines summer plaza events, BRIC business hub and stewardship plan launch

Taos Main Street presented updates to the Town Council on May 13 detailing three strands of downtown work: a new weekly community activity series at McCarthy Plaza, development of a Business Resource and Innovation Center (BRIC) on Civic Plaza Drive, and the Destination Stewardship Network intended to guide tourism growth.

Charles Whitson, Main Street executive director, said the office is leading a coordinated strategy to make the historic Plaza District safer, more accessible and more inviting for residents and visitors. He told council the town and Taos County have agreed to invest $1 million in capital outlay funding for the plaza, and he framed community activation as a step to attract resident‑focused retail and cultural partnerships.

Main Street’s new community engagement coordinator, Arsenio Trujillo, described “Meet Me at McCarthy’s,” a free weekly series scheduled to begin May 19 and run Monday evenings from 5 to 7 p.m. Trujillo said the program will offer low‑ to moderate‑impact route options of 1, 2 and 3 miles, music and incentives — a t‑shirt after seven visits, a hat after 14 and a lapel pin for attending all 20 weeks — and is designed to bring residents downtown and showcase new sidewalks, crossings and public‑space improvements.

Whitson also briefed council on the BRIC, a proposed Business Resource and Innovation Center he described as a one‑stop hub for business startup and growth services. He said New Mexico Main Street has provided technical assistance, the town attorney is drafting a lease, and the town has issued an RFP for an operations plan; his office aims to open a program suite by October.

Jesse Hook, destination stewardship network manager, described the Destination Stewardship Network (DSN), a cross‑sector coalition that will focus first on three goals: stewardship communications, inclusion and equity, and collaborative management. Hook said the DSN will combine a core leadership team and smaller action teams focused on product development, a cultural events fund and communications. She also noted a landing page for the stewardship plan at taos.org.

Council members voiced support for the plaza events, the BRIC concept and efforts to ensure economic benefits flow to local residents; several asked that accessibility and inclusivity, including ADA access and outreach to youth and elders, be emphasized as programs roll out.