Concept aimed at revitalizing downtown

The Coal Avenue Commons kick-off celebration brought together business owners, city workers, citizens, and other stakeholders May 1 in a discussion of ongoing efforts to revitalize downtown Gallup through funding from Our Town, the National Endowment for the Arts’ creative placemaking grants program.

The grant funding supports projects that incorporate arts, culture, and design into community projects. Advancing the local economy, community aesthetics, and social outcomes is the NEA’s goal.

El Morro Theatre the crown jewel of downtown Gallup, was the site of the event.

Jen Hughes, director of design and creative placemaking at the...

“Free Comic Book Day” at the El Morro Events Center brought Dale DeForest, creator, writer, and illustrator of Hero Twins to Gallup May 5.

DeForest, who grew up in  the Four Corners region of the Navajo Nation, gave the first 75 visitors a free copy of Hero Twins Issue 1 and spoke to comic book fans about his inspiration and why storylines from comics often mimic the good vs. evil themes of the Bible.

“Hero Twins had very little to do with the actual Navajo creation story,” he said.

Instead, he took elements from the tribal creation story to pen his own story about Navajo land circa 1860 in the midst of the cavalry roundup and the birth of twins with special...

By Jennifer Lazarz
Tourism & Marketing Manager
City of Gallup

As the tourism and Marketing Manager for the City of Gallup, an opera singer, and an import to the City from living in the North Carolina and Illinois, I am frequently asked the question “Why Gallup?” Individuals assume that Gallup has nothing to offer, nothing going on, and often the residents of the community take for granted the very things that make Gallup really special.

Gallup’s main selling point is its authenticity. Its realness. When the Gallup Real True brand launched, there was local skepticism, but to an outsider who moved here (me), it mirrored my exact sentiments about why I love it. I love Gallup for the...

By Francis Bee

Executive Director, Business Improvement District

A Business Improvement District is a cooperative development project among property owners within a business district. Property owners agree to pay a fee that pays for local improvements. Improvements are designed to increase the appeal and safety of the neighborhood in an attempt to increase business vitality.

The benefit of a BID program is that each business works together through a minimal combined investment to see a large public profit. Business owners pay much less than they would have on their own to get a district-wide improvement.

Improvements can be acquired through grants. This makes a BID a versatile...