State gives $850K to aid Meow Wolf

The state of New Mexico is contributing $850,000 in tax money from an economic development fund to help pay for expansion of Meow Wolf, the Santa Fe-based arts collective that opened the House of Eternal Return interactive exhibit in a converted bowling alley.

Meow Wolf recently bought the former Caterpillar engine components assembly plant on Camino Entrada to expand its manufacturing capacity. The company plans a traveling exhibit and expansion into Austin, Texas, and Denver.

The grant from the state’s Local Economic Development Act closing fund, which is pending final approval, will be in addition to $250,000 from the city of Santa Fe’s economic development fund, said a news release from the state Economic Development Department.

“We’re looking forward to showing the rest of the world what Meow Wolf and New Mexico has to offer,” Vince Kadlubek, company chief executive officer, said in the release.

New Mexico already has awarded more than $450,000 to Meow Wolf, through the Job Training Incentive Program, to create 33 jobs.

“Once again, we’re shown how important our economic development incentives are for homegrown companies,” said Economic Development Secretary Matt Geisel. “Through JTIP and LEDA, we will accelerate the expansion of Meow Wolf ’s New Mexico manufacturing facility, augment their existing enterprise and — most importantly — anchor them in New Mexico.”