Grant County Advocates Gather in Santa Fe for Annual Lobbying Event

The Grant County Prospectors civic organization hosts its 51st annual Grant County Day at the state Capitol to meet with lawmakers and push for local priorities.

Jan. 27, 2026 at 9:47pm

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The Grant County Prospectors, a civic organization of community leaders, will gather at the Roundhouse in Santa Fe on Wednesday for the 51st annual Grant County Day. The event allows the group to meet with Cabinet secretaries, legislative leaders, and the governor to advocate for the county's municipalities and nonprofit organizations on issues like local government support, education, rural investment, economic development, tourism, and healthcare.

Why it matters

Grant County Day is an important annual event that allows a relatively small but vocal county to make its presence felt in the state capital and ensure its needs and priorities are heard by state lawmakers and officials. The large contingent of citizens traveling to Santa Fe makes an impression and demonstrates the unity and advocacy power of the Grant County community.

The details

The Grant County Prospectors organization spends months planning the event, securing sponsorships, reserving meeting times with state leaders, and coordinating the participation of local government, education, economic development, tourism, and healthcare representatives. The event culminates with an evening reception where Prospectors and lawmakers can network and continue discussions.

  • The 51st annual Grant County Day will be held on Wednesday, January 29, 2026.
  • The Prospectors organization begins planning the event immediately after the previous year's legislative session ends.

The players

Romeo Cruz

President of the Grant County Prospectors and executive director of the Silver City Grant County Chamber of Commerce.

Priscilla Lucero

Executive director of the Southwest New Mexico Council of Governments, second vice president of the Grant County Prospectors, and vice chair of its advocacy committee.

Grant County Prospectors

A civic organization of community leaders in Grant County, New Mexico.

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What they’re saying

“The more of a presence that we have, it shows the unity we have here in Grant County.”

— Romeo Cruz, President of the Grant County Prospectors

“It's really a way to advocate for the needs in the most rural communities.”

— Priscilla Lucero, Executive director of the Southwest New Mexico Council of Governments

What’s next

The Prospectors will focus their messaging this year on support for local governments, education, rural investment, economic development, tourism, and healthcare, based on priorities identified at their annual legislative forum in December.

The takeaway

Grant County Day is a longstanding tradition that allows a small but influential county to make its voice heard in the state capital, demonstrating the power of community advocacy and unity to drive change and investment in rural areas.