Taos County Economic Development is working to create economic opportunities that reflect and sustain the unique character of Taos County—its landscape, people, and communities. To do this effectively, we need to understand what local residents truly value: the places, traditions, and cultural lifeways that define this region. This knowledge must inform the decisions being made in government spaces around economic development, land use, and planning for our shared future.
The urgency of this work stems from increasing gentrification and economic pressures that threaten to displace communities and erase what makes this place home. The Cultural Treasures Project (CTP) was launched in response— a community-driven effort to identify, document, and uplift the people, places, and practices that matter most. This project is about naming what we love so we can protect it. It’s about ensuring that future growth strengthens our identity rather than replaces it.
Please learn more about the intended impacts and uses here.