Visit Colorado Springs Awarded Grant from the Colorado Tourism Office
$40K Tourism Marketing Matching Grant will be used to improve diversity and inclusion
Colorado Springs, CO – November 4, 2021 – VCOS is pleased to announce the receipt of a marketing matching grant from the Colorado Tourism Office that will take effect in 2022.
The organization was awarded the maximum amount of $40,000 and will match $60,000, bringing the project total to $100,000. VCOS will leverage the funds from the grant to focus on strategic diversity.
“We will create a new destination video that will be the centerpiece of our 2022 welcome campaign,” said VCOS Chief Innovation Officer Amy Long. “The video will help us take a necessary step toward improving diversity and inclusion efforts in Colorado Springs and the Pikes Peak Region, but it’s just the beginning.”
VCOS, in collaboration with other destination marketing organizations in the Pikes Peak Region, is in the process of developing a comprehensive strategy to engage underserved markets through the Restart Destinations Grant Program. These efforts will provide strategic direction to prioritize inclusivity and ensure visitors from all communities and backgrounds feel welcome.
Destinations that will be promoted include Colorado Springs, Old Colorado City, Manitou Springs, Fountain, Tri-Lakes/Monument, Woodland Park, Cripple Creek, Victor, Cañon City and Florence.
The Tourism Marketing Matching Grant Program awards funding to eligible applicants for projects that promote the state as a tourism destination, supporting CTO’s mission to “drive traveler spending through promotion and development of compelling, sustainable travel experiences throughout our four-corner state.” Additionally, these grants may be used for marketing projects that better destination management such as educating visitors on how to recreate responsibly.
Project work will begin in January 2022 and will spur future economic development and recovery for the tourism industry throughout the year and beyond. The CTO’s Marketing Matching Grant Program awards grants up to $40,000 and applicants must demonstrate a 2:1 match, including an in-kind match of up to 20 percent.
To learn more about what’s happening in the Pikes Peak Region, visit https://www.visitcos.com.
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