Eligible applicants include:

• Colorado destination organizations
  • Recipients of jurisdictional lodging taxes, such as: 
    • Destination marketing organizations 
    • Lodging tax boards, committees, or panels 
  • Other tourism leadership organizations that are responsible for developing, promoting, and managing tourism on behalf of a destination that does not have a lodging tax, such as: 
    • Chambers of commerce or chamber resort associations 
• Colorado tourism industry associations
  • Registered nonprofit trade organizations representing one or more tourism-related business sectors and representing a collection of tourism businesses within those sectors
• Government entities in Colorado (federally recognized tribes, state and local governments) engaged in tourism, development, promotion and management. 

Ineligible applicants include:

• For-profit organizations
• Individual attractions, museums, or businesses
• Nonprofit organizations whose mission does not include tourism development, promotion, and management
• Nonprofit trade organizations that do not represent tourism-related business sectors or that provide services only to individuals, though critically important, are not the intended recipients of these funds

Other considerations include:

• Only one application can be submitted for an individual destination.
  • Multiple organizations within a single destination should collaborate on a single grant application.
• Only one application per destination organization, tourism industry association or government entity will be accepted.
• Entities that failed to fulfill Colorado Tourism Office grant award requirements or State of Colorado small dollar grant agreement terms and conditions within the past 12 months may be deemed ineligible.

Entities that failed to fulfill Colorado Tourism Office grant award requirements within the past 12 months may be deemed ineligible.

Eligible projects

Eligible projects must advance the development, enhancement or management of visitor experience in Colorado. Funding will only be awarded to projects that can be completed within a twelve (12) month period between May 1, 2025, and April 30, 2026.

Eligible use of funds for Tourism Management Grants

Eligible projects must support one or more of the eligible use of funds detailed below:

1. Visitor experience development.
   a. Example: Inclusive travel offerings, bicycle tourism guides, food and farm trails, stargazing, cultural heritage trails, audio tours, music trails.
2. Visitor education programs.
   a. Example: Travel philanthropy programs, trailhead and tourism ambassador programs.
3. Tourism-related strategic planning.
   a. Example: Stakeholder and resident engagement, destination stewardship plans, climate action planning.
4. Tourism research and data.
   a. Example: Economic impact reports, visitor profile studies, accessibility audit, asset mapping, hotel and short-term rental analytics, visitor behavior data.
5. Infrastructure that directly enhances the visitor experience through increased access or engagement.
   a. Example: Wayfinding or directional signage, educational or interpretive signage, educational kiosks.
6. Accessible and inclusive tourism projects.
   a. Example: Translation, interpretive panels, implement inclusive programming, customized communication, train staff in inclusivity and accessibility.
7. Environmental sustainability efforts specific to tourism.
   a. Example: Zero waste event tracking.

Additional consideration will be applied to projects that advance one or more of the shared industry priorities below:

• Advance off-peak tourism opportunities 
• Advance tourism workforce 
• Champion the value of tourism 
• Develop and enhance visitor experience 
• Encourage responsible and respectful use 
• Foster inclusive travel opportunities 
• Promote local businesses and experiences 

Ineligible use of funds

• Funding can not be used as a match for other existing or future opportunities
• CTO paid opportunities, including advertising and co-ops (Review the Conditions of Funding section for more details)
• General administrative costs such as personnel costs, office supplies, maintenance costs
• Grant writing or grant management costs
• Food or alcoholic beverages
• Items for resale and gift cards
• Donations, sponsorships, or charitable contributions
• Promotional giveaways, souvenirs, wearables, and gifts (SWAG)
• Pre-award cost, expenses that were paid prior to the contract execution date
• Entertainment/entertainers, social events, amusement
• Hospitality activities, such as hospitality suites, and other special facilities used in conjunction with shows and other special events
• Travel expenses
• Building construction or maintenance
• Participation at an industry or consumer-related trade show or conference
• Destination Learning Labs/ Colorado Concierge training programs (review the CTO Learning Labs for opportunities) 

The applicant can financially match the project cost at a higher amount if the cost exceeds grant dollar limitations.

The Tourism Management Grant is closed.

The application process is as follows:

1. Verify your eligibility by reading through the guidelines carefully.
2. Prepare your application materials by filling out this Tourism Management Grant Application Questions, (PDF). This document includes all application questions.
3. Log in to the OEDIT online portal and submit your complete application in the online portal. Instructions for navigating the online portal (coming soon) 
4. Applications will be reviewed.
5. Status notification approximately six (6) weeks after the application closes.

Supporting documentation

You will need to provide:

• Completed CTO tourism management grant budget (XLS - download and save a copy for your use)
• A completed CTO tourism management timeline (XLS - download and save a copy for your use) that includes all milestones and deliverables
• Letter(s) of commitment showing evidence of required cash match – matching dollars may not come from the State’s General Fund, Federal funds, Colorado Tourism Office funds, or other grant funds. Letter(s) of commitment must be on official letterhead and state the amount of cash committed by the organization
• Project support letters – only required when projects interface with public lands or are on private property, as outlined below. Additional letters of support from individuals and organizations are not required, but applications demonstrating broad community support are more competitive  
  • Project letters of support are required from property owners (if different than the applicant) that own the location of any proposed infrastructure projects 
  • Project letters of support are required from the relevant Colorado land management agencies when proposed projects interface with Colorado public lands

Additionally, nonprofit entities must provide:

• A current certificate of Good Standing from the Colorado Secretary of State.

Applications are first vetted through an internal compliance review to ensure eligibility and that all required materials have been submitted. Incomplete or ineligible applications including applications with ineligible expenses may be rejected. Failure to comply with all application instructions may result in an automatic denial.

The Colorado Tourism Office (CTO) will appoint a committee to review eligible applications. Grants will be awarded based on merit, availability of grant funding, and CTO final approval.

The CTO reserves the right to select and approve project proposals which best meet the objectives and requirements of the program and demonstrate the greatest potential to meet program goals and objectives.

Reviewers will prioritize applications that include:

• A proposed project that meets all eligibility requirements, states clear objectives, and includes attainable deliverables that advance the development, enhancement, or management of visitor experience in Colorado.
• An applicant with a track record of effective work.
• A well-planned project timeline and budget.
• Demonstration that the project will advance one or more of the shared industry priorities.
• Demonstrated need and a strong case for support.

The committee will review applications on these criteria:

• Strength of the proposed project 
• Ability to advance the shared industry priorities
• Demonstrated need for the project 
• Capacity to implement 

The Colorado Tourism Office reserves the right to award a different amount than is requested in a grant application, to make changes to the Grant Guidelines or to cancel the Competitive Grants Program in its entirety.

All grant awards are contingent until there is a fully executed grant agreement between the applicant and CTO. Execution of a grant agreement with CTO signifies the applicant’s acceptance of the terms and conditions of the grant agreement and the grant guidelines. Grant funds will be awarded after the executed grant agreement effective date. Expenses incurred before a formal grant agreement is executed are not allowable expenses.

The Colorado Tourism Office's goal is to provide grant funds upfront. Funds are subject to approval by the State Controller's Office yearly, so we reserve the right to award funds on a reimbursement basis.

Grantees must: 

• Complete your work tasks and meet deliverable deadlines outlined within the grant agreement.
• Keep the budget updated throughout the lifetime of the grant.
• Submit reports as outlined in the grant agreement including a final report describing what was accomplished with the grant funds, a final budget, and documents for expenses incurred including invoices, expense receipts, and proof of payment.
• Request and receive prior approval for any significant refinements, clarifications, modifications, or changes to the grant agreement from the Division in writing. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following: clarification or changes to the scope of work, or deliverables; changes in key personnel, including management staff or vendors; changes in the timeline; and changes in the budget.

Project requirements:

• CTO grant funds cannot be used as a match for existing or future opportunities.
• Neither CTO grant funds nor an applicant’s cash match can be used for CTO paid opportunities including, but not limited to, advertising on the CTO’s owned social media channels, CTO co-op programs (domestic and international), advertising offerings in the CTO Media Kit (including ads on Colorado.com and the Visit Colorado Official State Vacation Guide, sponsored articles and consumer emails), and Brand USA co-op marketing opportunities when a portion of the cost is covered by the CTO.
• Prior to production, publication, placement, and/or distribution, creative assets must be approved by the CTO.
• All materials that are funded in part by the Colorado Tourism Office need to include the official Colorado Tourism Office logo unless otherwise directed by the CTO.
• Any unused grant funds or grant funds not used as approved shall be returned to the Colorado Tourism Office pursuant to the grant agreement.

• December 3, 2024: Application opens
• January 28, 2025: Application closes at 4 p.m. MST
• Mid-March 2025: Recipient notification
• May 1, 2025 to April 30, 2026: Grant project performance period
• November 14, 2025: Interim report due
• June 15, 2026: Final report and expense receipts due

• Brand Book: This guide is your compass to navigating the intricacies and nuances of the majestic Colorado brand, ensuring we always Come to Life in a unified, consistent manner. For access to the CTO Brand Book, please reach out to Natazshya Rodriguez at natazshya.rodriguez@state.co.us.
• CTO Marketing Portal: The Marketing Portal is a valuable hub where destination marketing/management organizations (DMOs) can access CTO marketing information including brand assets, toolkits and more.