NMTC Support Propels Little Toad Creek’s Growth in Rural New Mexico

Impact Marketplace is proud to announce the successful closing of Little Toad Creek Brewery & Distillery’s New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) financing. This investment—made possible through Finance New Mexico as the Community Development Entity (CDE) and US Bank Impact Finance as the NMTC investor—will complete a new state-of-the-art production facility in Deming, New Mexico.

Founded in 2012 in rural Southwest New Mexico, Little Toad Creek has grown from a small craft brewery into a nationally recognized canned cocktail brand—Mixed-Up Cocktail Co. Found in over 1,000 stores across six states, including Whole Foods, Costco, Sprouts, Trader Joe’s, and Total Wine, Mixed-Up Cocktails have also reached Japan, with expansion planned into four new states and three additional international markets in 2025.

The NMTC financing will support the completion of a dedicated production facility for distilled spirits and clean-label canned cocktails. The facility will include:

• New stills, blending and canning lines, and pasteurization equipment.

• Cold storage and facility upgrades to expand distribution capacity.

• Sustainable landscaping to mitigate environmental challenges.

• An on-site agave farm to supply the distillery, reduce transportation emissions, and support local agriculture.

The new Little Toad Creek production facility is located at 3640 McCan Road, Deming, New Mexico, a rural, non-metropolitan area facing significant economic challenges. According to the 2016–2020 American Community Survey, the project site qualifies for NMTC financing under Severe Distress criteria, including:

• Poverty rate: 34.8%

• Area median income: 64% of the national average

• Unemployment rate: 1.7 times the national average

The NMTC program was designed to drive private investment into exactly these types of underserved communities. This financing will help catalyze new economic activity in Deming, creating jobs, building workforce capacity, and strengthening the local manufacturing base.

• The project will deliver lasting benefits to Deming, a non-metro, high-poverty community:

  • 15–20 new full-time jobs with an average wage of above the living wave, plus benefits.

  • Retention of 10 existing full-time jobs.

  • 60% of new positions will be accessible without a four-year degree.

  • 50% of jobs expected to be filled by minority or Native American individuals.

  • Local construction jobs during the build-out phase.

  • Workforce training through the New Mexico Job Training Incentive Program.

  • Economic revitalization through increased local business activity.

Little Toad Creek Brewery & Distillery, headquartered in Deming, NM, is a craft beverage manufacturer producing beer, spirits, and its flagship brand, Mixed-Up Cocktail Co. The company is committed to creating clean-label, premium products with sustainable practices, including eco-friendly packaging and reduced supply chain emissions. Its new production facility will allow Little Toad Creek to scale operations to meet growing domestic and international demand while continuing to invest in the community it calls home.

Impact Marketplace connects projects with the right CDEs and NMTC investors—streamlining the process from application to closing. If you have a project in an eligible community and need help securing NMTC financing, contact our team today to see how we can help bring it to life.