Timeline

Eligibility Requirementsþ Satisfactory completion of CRAFT Studio 101

þ Entities that fail to fulfill past CTO grant award requirementswithin the past year (includes: project completion, submissionof required reporting, proper use of grant funds, lack ofacknowledgment, changes to grant proposal withoutapproval) are ineligible.

Previously Funded CRAFT Studio 101 Implementation Grants have included:FUNDS USED TO PROMOTE A NEWLY DEVELOPED REGIONAL EVENT. Purchase of a branded pop-up tent to be used at various

locations throughout the tourism week and beyond

Miles Media support for articles on Colorado.com

Miles Media development of a comprehensive inventory ofassets available to visitors with a focus on the tourism week

Social media “startup package” to develop a social mediastrategy, appropriate hashtags, sample posts, and ongoingcontent

FUNDS USED TO DEVELOP AN ASSET INVENTORY AND FOR MARKETING. Hiring a consultant to develop an asset inventory and build

itineraries around those identified assets that focus on keytarget-group visitors

Re-wrapped a billboard welcoming visitors and informing themof the Highway of Legends audio tour

FUNDS USED FOR A DETAILED AND IN-DEPTH VISITOR PROFILE STUDY. A study to define who is traveling to the community and to

understand the demographic and motivation for visiting

Results helped the community determine what tourism assets topromote based on the profile and ability to attract

Results guided the community in determining future visitorprofiles and what reasonable tourism assets are needed toattract this potential future visitor

OverviewAfter successful completion of CRAFT Studio 101, communities are eligible to apply for funding up to $10,000 to advance their tourism-related goals. Implementation requests must be aligned with and support tourism outcomes or next steps identified during CRAFT Studio 101 and outlined in the application request.

Implementation grant applications are due within 90 days after the completion of Day Six of CRAFT Studio 101.

APPLICATIONS DUEWithin 90

days after the completion of

Day Six of CRAFT Studio 101

IMPLEMENTATION PROJECT COMPLETE

Six months after project start date

(when PO is executed)

FINAL REPORT DUENo later than

30 days after project completion

Funding RestrictionsCRAFT IMPLEMENTATION FUNDS, IF AWARDED, MAY NOT BE USED FOR:

x Staffing/salary costs

x Basic overhead needs

x Capital improvements, new construction,renovation or restoration

x Professional training or scholarship

x Reimbursement of fees paid priorto application award

x Office supplies, items for resale

CRAFT STUDIO 101 IMPLEMENTATION GRANT GUIDELINES

Selection CriteriaApplications will be reviewed and recommendations made for the grant based on funding availability. Applications will be scored on the following criteria:

MERIT (50%) Strength of project lead(s) in carrying out

implementation of project

Satisfactory completion of previous CRAFT Studio 101 — deliverables met, strong communication track record, evaluations completed

Overall strength of the application request (clear logic and adequate detailing of past work and needs)

IMPACT (40%) Impact CRAFT Studio 101 Implementation

Grant will have in furthering tourism outcomes identified during program

BUDGET (10%) Clear and doable budget request

Appropriateness of the costs associated with the proposed activity

Online Application ProcessApplications are accepted up to 90 days after completion of Day Six of CRAFT Studio 101 and must be submitted online. The application portal is available online at oedit.secure.force.com/oedit. The application can be found under the Tourism Programs tab. New users will need to register for an account on the OEDIT application portal, and all users are required to login to the portal, update Accounts Profile and complete the online application.

All narrative questions will be inputted into the online portal, and support materials will be uploaded into the online system. It is recommended that users prepare answers in word processing document and to check character count and then cut-and-paste into the online application.

Applicants will be notified within one month of application deadline as to award status.

Application QuestionsPlease reach out to CTO staff directly for current application questions.

Grant NotificationApplicants will be notified by email within one month of application deadline as to award status. Upon notification, grant awardees will need to follow instructions in the notification email and submit any requested documents to the CTO within three weeks.

PaymentImplementation funds will be paid in advance following execution of a purchase order*. Payments will be made through Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT). A delay in submitting EFT documents included in the grant notification email will result in delayed payment.

*As in previous years, our goal is to provide grant funds upfront but this is subject to approval by the State Controller’s Office yearly, and the CTO reserves the right to disburse funds on a reimbursement basis.

Project RequirementsACKNOWLEDGEMENTAll advertising and promotional materials that are funded in part by CRAFT Implementation Grant funds must include the official Colorado Tourism Office logo. Downloadable logo files are provided on the CTO’s Industry partner website at https://industry.colorado.com/grant-resources.

When appropriate, advertising and promotional materials developed through CTO CRAFT Implementation Grant funding should include reference to the applicant’s travel region. Websites are required to incorporate reference to the applicable travel region in SEO.

CHANGES TO APPLICATION PROPOSALAny significant refinements, clarifications, modifications or changes to the proposal must receive prior approval from the CTO; otherwise the organization may forfeit grant funds provided by the CTO.

Organizations should complete and submit a Proposal Change Form, found here: https://industry.colorado.com/grant-resources, if there are changes to the proposal. Proposal Change Forms will not be accepted 60 days or less from the end of the project completion date.

Final ReportProjects must be completed within 6 months of award notification. The online final report must be submitted within 30 days of completion of an implementation project. In the final report, communities will be required to submit a budget, invoices, expense receipts, and proof of payment as well as describe what was accomplished with CTO funding support. To access the final report, log back into the OEDIT, go to my Applications to see an icon to complete a report.

Any implementation grant funds not used as approved shall be returned to the Colorado Tourism Office as pursuant to the purchase order. These funds may only be used for costs related to the project and clearly identified in the grant budget. All project activities using CTO grant implementation funds must be completed and all funds expended by the purchase order end date.

Note: Expenses incurred before purchase order execution are not allowable expenses.

QuestionsContact Elizabeth O’Rear, Senior Manager of Grant Programs, at elizabeth.orear@state.co.us.