Grow Raton Volunteer Groups

This task force is primarily concerned with making the community an attractive place to visit and/or start a business. Using grant money from the State of New Mexico and local donations, they have been instrumental in plantings of trees and shrubs in the downtown area. The group works with the Raton Master Gardeners to improve our “curbside” appeal. Most of the work is done in the late Spring and early Summer. For more information on how to become involved, email coordinator@GrowRaton.org.

Members of this task force are experienced business professionals who provide information and mentoring to entrepreneurs as well as established business owners. Our small town environment can be a distinct advantage when starting a new business. The opportunities are many and varied, but it can also be a challenge to maintain and grow that business. Businesses in small communities have many of the same needs and regulations as a business in a large city but they also work with different cultures and environments. For more information on how to utilize the resources of this task force or get involved, email our Community Coordinator at coordinator@growraton.org.  This task force is an outgrowth of the Recharge Our Community’s Economy series of workshops held in the spring and early summer of this year. Its members are volunteers who are dedicated to cleaning up vacant commercial building property sites.

The Housing Task Force was created to provide assistance to low-income and veteran homeowners in maintaining their properties. Applications are available through the Raton Housing Authority (RHA) and income verification is required. The RHA pre-qualifies applicants and passes their names and addresses on to the Housing Task Force. Assistance available includes yard clean-up, outside painting, weatherization, and limited repairs. Members of this task force are concerned members of the community dedicated to helping the less fortunate among us. For more information on how to become involved, email coordinator@growraton.org.

As the local landfill approached the point where it would no longer be able to accept trash, Grow Raton initiated a campaign to start a recycling program. With the approval of the City Commission and the help of a grant to purchase a baler, the program began on a solely volunteer basis. Today, we have the Raton Regional Recycling Hub Facility (RRRHF) operated by the Public Works Department. Due the budget limitations, volunteers are still needed to help unload and sort the recyclable materials. The RRRHF accepts recyclables on the first Saturday of each month from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm and on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month from 9:00 am to noon. For more information on how to become involved, email coordinator@growraton.org.