Here’s a look at some local news brought to you by Silver City Radio.

At the time of compiling this report, COVID-19 cases have increased in New Mexico to 1971 individuals. There is a total of 58 deaths in New Mexico from COVID-19. For our area, we have 14 positive cases of COVID-19 in Grant County 1 in Catron County and 3 in Luna County. In addition, statewide there are 116 individuals hospitalized for COVID-19 and 501 cases designated as having recovered by the New Mexico Department of Health.

Silver City Mainstreet has been chosen by Mainstreet America to participate in the Main Street Façade Improvement Grant Program. Four states were selected to take part on the program that include New Mexico, Kentucky, North Carolina, and Wyoming. In each of the four states, three Mainstreet community partners will receive grants for façade improvements in the downtown districts. Each community is expected to be awarded between two and nine grants of up to $25,000 each. The grants were made possible by a $746,900 grant from the Historic Revitalization Subgrant Program as administered by the National Park Service, Department of Interior. The other two communities in New Mexico receiving the grant are Deming and Gallup.

In addition, Silver City MainStreet has launched a facebook campaign to support the downtown restaurants offering take out. Silver City MainStreet is awarding $10 Main Street Gift Certificates to people who take pictures of their take-out food and message that to the Silver City MainStreet Project/Arts & Cultural District facebook page.

The Gila National Forest is reminding the public that forest products that include maps, firewood permits are available over the phone. According to a release from the Forest Service, forest products, fuelwood permits, and the accompanying tags and the Firewood Guide will then be mailed out to purchasers every Friday afternoon.  The weekly mailing schedule will help reduce the risk of exposure to both our employees and the public. For detailed information and phone numbers, visit the Gila National Forest website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/gila.

The New Mexico Department of Health is recognizing “National Laboratory Professionals” this week to celebrate the contributions and dedicated lab professionals across the state. These individuals provide a wide scope of services that especially highlighted now because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Lab Professionals Week is held annually during the last full week of April.

As we all continue to navigate through these uncertain times, please do your part and support our local businesses by shopping local and make sure to visit https://silvercityradio.com/ for a listing of open business in Grant, Hidalgo and Luna counties.