Denver - Representatives of the Colorado Creative Industries, a division of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT), visited Cañon City today to celebrate the St. Cloud Hotel’s award of a Community Revitalization Grant.
The official announcement will take place at 2:10 p.m. at the Hotel St. Cloud, 631 Main St.
The St. Cloud Hotel was historically a film set for silent-era films and was the first hotel with electricity in the state. Unbridled, the developer for the St. Cloud Hotel, stated that they hope to forge a positive future for the City by advancing creative industries and the hospitality industry. Their core mission is to “restore people and places”.
“We’re delighted to provide a Community Revitalization Grant to Unbridled for the St. Cloud Hotel in Cañon City -- leveraging state funds with private investment for projects that advance the creative industries,” said Tim Schultz, Chair of the Council on Creative Industries.
Unbridled is actualizing its mission by restoring several additional historic buildings in Cañon City. Their restoration of the historic Post Office serves as the Fremont Center for the Arts, where they created workspaces for artisans. Their Annex Ballroom Building is home to a farm-to-table restaurant where local artists display their works and musicians share their talents.
"We're pleased to see applications from across the state to help stimulate job growth in the creative sector," said Margaret Hunt, Director of Colorado Creative Industries which is overseeing the grant process.
The funding for this project comes from SB21-252, sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Steve Fenberg and Minority Leader Chris Holbert and signed into law by Governor Jared Polis. The legislation established a grant program to support the creative industries through the development of mixed-use spaces in historic and commercial community centers.
“This is exactly the kind of project the legislation intended to fund. An economic and community development project of this scale in Cañon City could not come at a more auspicious time,” said Senator Dennis Hisey.
The Community Revitalization Grant is still open, and shovel-ready, mixed-use projects that advance the creative industries are encouraged to apply.