Tourism Management Grant

The Tourism Management Grant is administered by the Colorado Tourism Office, a division of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade. The program provides funding for tourism-related projects that develop, enhance, or manage visitor experiences in Colorado. Eligible applicants are Colorado destination marketing organizations and Colorado statewide tourism industry associations. The Colorado Tourism Office defines a destination marketing organization as a nonprofit organization or governmental unit that typically receives jurisdictional lodging tax revenue and leads year-round tourism promotion and development for a destination. Examples include chambers of commerce or chamber resort associations, convention and visitors bureaus, federally recognized tribes or local government entities in Colorado, and lodging tax boards, committees, or panels. Eligible statewide tourism industry associations must be registered nonprofit trade organizations representing tourism businesses statewide within a tourism-related sector and must represent a market-ready product or experience. Tourism Management Grant projects must advance the development, enhancement, or management of visitor experiences in Colorado. Eligible activities include visitor education programs; tourism-related strategic planning; tourism research and data; tourism signage that directly improves visitor access or engagement; accessible and inclusive tourism projects; and environmental sustainability efforts specific to tourism. Additional consideration is given to projects that advance off-peak tourism opportunities, strategies from the Destination Stewardship Strategic Plan, the value of tourism, development and enhancement of visitor experiences, responsible and respectful use, or inclusive travel opportunities. Funding may not be used for general administrative and operating costs, grant writing or grant management, food or alcoholic beverages, resale items, gift cards, donations, sponsorships, promotional giveaways, pre-award costs, regranting, capital construction, entertainment, hospitality activities, travel expenses, trade shows or conferences, specified Colorado Tourism Office training programs, or tourism marketing campaigns and marketing-related strategy or research. Applicants may request up to $20,000. The required match is structured at 4:1: for every $1 that a qualifying grantee contributes to the project, the Colorado Tourism Office provides $4 in grant funds, up to the $20,000 grant limit. For example, a $25,000 project may include a $20,000 grant request and a $5,000 cash match. Applicants may contribute a larger financial match when total project costs exceed the grant limit. Required cash match commitments must be documented through letters of commitment on official letterhead stating the amount committed. Matching funds may not come from the State General Fund, federal funds, Colorado Tourism Office funds, or other pending grant funds. Neither grant nor match funds may be used for Colorado Tourism Office paid opportunities, and grant funds cannot serve as a match for other existing or future opportunities. Applicants must verify eligibility, prepare application materials using the Tourism Management Grant Application Questions document, and submit the complete application through the OEDIT online portal. Required supporting documentation includes the completed CTO tourism management grant budget, completed CTO tourism management timeline, and letters of commitment documenting the required cash match. Project support letters are required from property owners when a tourism signage project is located on property owned by someone other than the applicant and from relevant Colorado land management agencies when projects interface with Colorado public lands. Nonprofit entities must also provide a current Certificate of Good Standing from the Colorado Secretary of State. A brief LOI was encouraged but not required for the prior cycle and was available from December 2, 2025 through January 8, 2026. CTO indicated that a representative would contact LOI submitters within two weeks to discuss the proposed project. Applications first undergo an internal compliance review for applicant eligibility and completeness. Incomplete or ineligible applications, applications containing ineligible expenses, and applications that fail to comply with instructions may be rejected or automatically denied. Eligible applications are reviewed by a Colorado Tourism Office-appointed committee based on strength of the project, ability to advance program priorities, demonstrated need, and capacity to implement. Awards are based on merit, available grant funding, and final CTO approval. CTO may award an amount different from the amount requested. Awards remain contingent until a grant agreement is fully executed. Grant funds are intended to be provided upfront following the effective date, although annual State Controller approval may result in reimbursement-based funding. Grantees must complete agreed work and deliverables, maintain an updated budget, submit required reports and expense documentation, obtain written approval for significant project changes, use the CTO logo on funded materials unless otherwise directed, obtain approval of creative assets before production or distribution, and return unused or unapproved funds. The prior application cycle opened December 2, 2025 and closed January 22, 2026 at 4 p.m. MST. Recipient notification was scheduled for March 5, 2026. The grant effective date and performance period start date were to be determined, an interim report is due December 1, 2026, the tentative project performance period ends April 30, 2027, and the final report and expense receipts are due June 15, 2027. The application cycle is currently closed, and the program directs prospective applicants to check back in Fall 2026 for the next application cycle. Starting in 2026, organizations awarded a Tourism Management Grant for three consecutive years must sit out one year before applying again. Only one application may generally be submitted for an individual destination, multiple organizations within a destination should collaborate on one application, and only one application per applicant is generally allowed without prior approval. The named Program Manager is Elizabeth O'Rear, Director of Grants and Funding, at 303-892-3893; the supplied source does not provide her direct email address in text.

Demonstrate project strength, alignment with CTO priorities, demonstrated need, and capacity to implement. Ensure the application is complete and contains no ineligible expenses because incomplete, ineligible, or noncompliant applications may be rejected or automatically denied. Clearly document the required cash match and consider demonstrating broad community support, which the funder states makes applications more competitive.