To receive the direct support grant, you must be the primary organizer or event host. Eligible events need to:

• Be held on or before June 30, 2024.
• Generate at least 25 paid overnight room nights in a motel, hotel, vacation rental, or other lodging establishments – if vacation rentals are used towards the 25 paid overnight room nights minimum, the rental counts as “one paid room night” per night regardless of the number of bedrooms in the vacation rental.
• Be a NEW event or a recurring/existing event in danger of cancellation, postponement, or relocation outside of Colorado without program support - existing business or recurring events do not qualify unless there is a detailed explanation stating the financial infeasibility of the event to occur leading to a potential cancelation, postponement or relocation.
• Affect multiple counties in Colorado.
• Demonstrate the potential to generate significant economic impact.

Eligible events include:

• Conferences
• Consumer shows
• Conventions
• Exhibitions
• Trade shows
• Festivals
• Sporting events

Priority will be given to events that have not received additional Colorado Tourism Office (CTO) or Office of Economic Development (OEDIT) funding for the event in question.

Allowable direct support expenses include production costs and promotion costs. Grant funds cannot be used for indirect costs, general operating expenses, or alcohol.

  Applications for this grant are no longer being accepted.

This is a competitive program, and not all applicants receive funding. Depending on availability of funding, we may have additional rounds of funding. The Colorado Tourism Office will appoint a committee to review applications. We will award grants based on application scores and availability of direct support grant funding. 

Reviewers will score eligible applications on the following criteria:

• Applicant entity qualifications
  • Demonstrated knowledge, resources, and proven track record to market and produce the event.
• Event information
  • Elevates Colorado's profile as a world class destination
  • Demonstrates exceptional long-term impact potential 
  • Strengthens the Colorado brand
• Budget 
  • Realistic and achievable proposed budget
  • Includes funding and/or in-kind support from other sources
• Economic impact 
  • Potential to generate a significant number of overnight hotel rooms
  • Demonstrate potential to be a significant economic driver for the local economy and support economic recovery
  • The direct economic impact will have a substantial impact on the local economy
• Multi-county affect 
  • Demonstrated ability to affect two or more counties through significant economic impact

Our goal is to provide 100% of direct support grant funds upfront through electronic funds, subject to approval by the State Controller’s Office, so we reserve the right to award funds on a reimbursement basis.

Expenses incurred before grant agreement execution are not allowable direct cost expenses and do not count towards the 50% of eligible direct support expenses.

If it is determined after the event that more than 50% of eligible direct support costs incurred from the date of grant agreement execution (about four weeks after award notification)  were awarded, the grantee must return any grant funds over 50% of the eligible direct support costs incurred after the date of the grant agreement.

The Colorado Tourism Office reserves the right to modify or amend the guidelines between application funding rounds as needed. This funding was enacted by HB21 - 1263 and is exempt from the procurement code.

Individuals or companies on the Federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB) suspended or disbarred list are ineligible to receive grant funds.