

The Colorado Creative Districts program certifies communities that contribute to our state’s economy through creativity, culture, and the arts. The program’s goal is to help communities increase jobs, incomes, and investments in creative places.
Colorado Creative Districts attract artists and creative entrepreneurs to a community, infusing new energy
and innovation, which in turn enhances the economic and civic capital of the community. Districts also serve as a focal point for celebrating and strengthening a community’s unique identity, become a space to showcase cultural and artistic organizations and events, and contribute to the development of healthy communities.
Benefits of the program include:
A year after certification, districts can apply for the technical and professional assistance grant (see below) for projects and activities that support strategic goals.
Type: Certification, grant, and technical assistance
For: Communities
Applications: By invitation only
OEDIT division: Colorado Creative Industries
The Certified Creative District Strategic Fund Grant FY24 is closed.
Districts must go through a rigorous application and certification process in order to become a Certified Colorado Creative District. Communities need to:
If your community is not eligible or does not wish to become a formally certified Colorado Creative District, you may be interested in the Call Yourself Creative program.
CCI is not accepting new certification applications in FY23. Stay tuned for updates and deadlines by subscribing to the CCI newsletter. In preparation for future rounds of applications, review the previous certification guidelines, (PDF).
A panel of experts in creative districts and community development will review applications and approve a list of finalists. The reviewers will evaluate and rank applications with these categories and weights:
Applicants may appeal the Colorado Creative Industries Council's decision on an application if there is evidence that the:
A written appeal, describing the grounds for appeal and the desired remedy, needs to be sent to the Chair of the Colorado Creative Industries Council no later than three weeks after you receive a denial notice. The Council will reconsider its decision at its next regularly scheduled meeting. Unhappiness with a denial is not grounds for an appeal.
November 1, 2023 at 4 p.m.
February 1, 2024 at 4 p.m.
May 3, 2024 at 4 p.m.
August 2, 2024 at 4 p.m.
Reports are submitted on the CCI grant portal. Contact Katy Zeigler for technical support by emailing Kathryn.Zeigler@state.co.us.
You need to include a Colorado Creative Industries logo, please use either the Colorado Creative Industries rgb logo or the Colorado Creative Industries reverse cmyk logo, in all announcements and promotional materials and publicly credit Colorado Creative Industries at any public events related to your grant-funded program and activities. Recipients may also use the current National Endowment for the Arts logo if desired.
You need to submit a final report about how you met your organizational and project goals and the community impact of the activities. Final reports need to include a financial report for the funded activity clearly showing how you spent the money, numbers of people and communities served, and numbers of artists and youth the project engaged. Grant recipients who do not submit final reports are ineligible for further Colorado Creative Industries funding.
As a condition of the grant, Colorado Creative Industries requires the recipient of public funds to comply with all state terms (PDF) and federal terms (PDF). All material submitted regarding application for grant funds becomes the property of the State of Colorado and is subject to the terms of Colorado Revised Statutes 24-72-201 through 24-72- 206, Public Open Records. The State of Colorado has the right to use any or all information/material presented in reply to the Announcement, subject to limitations for proprietary or confidential information. Disqualification or denial of the application does not eliminate this right. Any restrictions on the use or inspection of material contained within the proposal shall be clearly stated in the proposal itself. The contents of the application will become contractual obligations if the project is funded.
Colorado Creative Industries can withhold, reduce, or cancel awards if a grantee:
Colorado Creative Industries requires recipients of public funds to comply with all state and federal laws and regulations, including but not limited to:
Grantee agrees to send a letter to their state legislators, informing them of the importance of state funding.
After five years, districts need to apply for recertification. In 2023-2024, the following creative districts need to apply to recertify:
40 West Arts District
Downtown Colorado Springs
Durango Creative District
Greeley Creative District
Downtown Longmont
Downtown Loveland
Rino Art District
Sterling Creative District
Applications for recertification are the same as new applications and should be reviewed using the same criteria.