T O U R I S M D E V E L O P M E N T

GRANT PROGRAMFY2020

Program OverviewThe mission of the Colorado Tourism Office is to: “Drive traveler spending through promotion and development of compelling, sustainable travel experiences throughout our four-corner state.”

Colorado Tourism Office’s Tourism Development Grant Program has been designed to support and facilitate projects that contribute to the development of the tourism industry statewide. Projects will target the technical development of tourism in rural Colorado and support NEW efforts and initiatives.

PREFERENCE WILL BE GIVEN TO PROPOSALS THAT: Support further development of a

Colorado travel region’s brand storyor positioning statement (as describedin the “Colorado Tourism Office:Regional Branding Initiative” reportadopted by the Colorado TourismBoard on Sept. 26, 2018).

Help deliver an integrated destinationexperience

Inspire destination stories founded upona common theme

Support creative consistency acrosscommunications and experiences

The maximum grant is $15,000. For every $1 the qualifying grantee allocates to the program, the Colorado Tourism Office will provide $4 in matching funds.

Eligibility RequirementsGRANT ENTITY ELIGIBILITY Applicants must be either:

A nonprofit organization locatedand doing business in the State ofColorado operating tourism-relatedactivities of benefit to the entirestate or region, or

A Colorado city or countygovernment engaged in tourismpromotion or development.

Each applicant is limited to one TourismDevelopment Grant project per fiscalyear.

Applicant “tourism” operating budgetfrom the previous fiscal year cannotexceed $500,000.

GRANT ENTITY INELIGIBILITYIneligible applicants include those listed below:

Entities that fail to fulfill Colorado TourismOffice grant award requirements withinthe past fiscal year (includes: projectcompletion, submission of requiredgrant reporting, proper use of grantfunds, lack of acknowledgment,changes to proposal without approval)

For-profit entities

Individual attractions and/or businesses

Organizations receiving a CTO eventsponsorship in the same fiscal year.

PROJECT ELIGIBILITYEligible projects include those that provide for development, improvement or expansion of tourism in Colorado. Funding will only be awarded to projects that can be completed within the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020.

The following projects and activities may include, but are not limited to, any of the following to execute NEW efforts, initiatives or offerings

ELIGIBLE USE OF FUNDS FOR TOURISM DEVELOPMENT: Product Development of a Colorado

travel region based on RegionalBranding recommendations

Marketing Plan Development

Creative Strategy or Design

Social Media Strategy

Branding Development

Brand Awareness Study

Feasibility or Research Studies

Strategic planning for tourisminitiatives

Community-based training

Implementing technology to capturevisitor feedback

INELIGIBLE USE OF FUNDS: Employee salaries, personnel costs,

grant management costs

Building construction or maintenance

Ongoing market research initiatives

Office Supplies

Cost of consultants already engaged(including mileage and associatedfees already budgeted)

Participation at an industry orconsumer related trade show

Food or alcoholic beverages

Website development and/orMobile optimization (see MarketingMatching Grant program)

TOURISM DEVELOPMENT GRANT PROGRAM FY2020

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ApplicationONLINE APPLICATION SUBMISSIONOnly online applications are accepted. The application portal is available online at https://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 a word processing document and check character count and then cut-and paste into the online application.

NOTE: It takes at least 48 hours for a new user account to be created in the OEDIT application portal. Do not wait until the deadline week to create an account.

You will be required to download two Excel documents (timeline and budget & financials) and then submit the forms online as a part of your support materials. Visit https://industry.colorado.com/grant-resources for forms and https://oedit. secure.force.com/oedit/ for the online application portal. Support materials submitted other than through the online application will not be accepted.

APPLICATION QUESTIONSThe questions below are only a reference and do not include all of the information that will be required from you in the application. There is a 5,000 character limit for each narrative question response.

Describe the project for which funding is requested (details should include goals and objectives of your project).

Describe how the project will enhance or expand your tourism development, in order to increase tourism.

How does this project align with brand story and positioning statement for the applicant’s Colorado travel region?

Explain how this project has the potential to stimulate tourism economic development and create a positive economic impact in your community?

How will you measure successfor the project?

List the counties you expect to be impacted by the proposed project

Provide a statement of financial and developmental need

Detail the applicant organization’s capacity to implement the grant, including identifying the project lead/s and their qualifications.

REQUIRED APPLICATION SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS Certificate of Good Standing from the

Colorado Secretary of State. Find at: https://www.sos.state.co.us/biz/BusinessEntityCriteria.do

Budget and Financial Worksheet(downloaded Excel form) must accompany the application.A thorough breakdown of the budget is required and must state exactly where the CTO dollars will be applied in the project).

Letter(s) of Commitment showing evidence of required 1:4 (25%) cash match

Project Support Letters - All grant applications must include letters of support

Statement of your organizations“tourism” operating budget for your most recently completed fiscal year, signed by your board president or treasurer.

PROJECT BUDGETThe grant project budget must be submitted using the Excel template provided. Grant recipients are required to keep the project budget updated throughout the lifetime of the grant. A final budget, including documents for expenses incurred, will be a required upload in the Final Report.

MATCHING FUNDSApplicants must demonstrate 1:4 cash match through letters of commitment. Matching dollars may not come from the State’s General Fund. Colorado Tourism Office funds may not be used as matching funds for any other grant application submitted by the recipient.

Applicants must submit corresponding financial and project documents which include a Budget & Financial Worksheet (In order to be considered for the grant, all worksheets must be submitted.)

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Selection CriteriaApplications will be reviewed by a committee named by the CTO. Grants will be awarded based on overall scoring and availability of grant funding. Preference will be given to projects that support further development of a Colorado travel region’s brand story or positioning statement, as described in the “Colorado Tourism Office: Regional Branding Initiative” report adopted by the Colorado Tourism Board on Sept. 26, 2018.To learn more about the Regional Branding initiative, visit: https://industry.colorado.com/regional-branding

This is a competitive program and not all eligible applications will be funded. Applications will be scored on the following criteria:

MERIT 65% Potential for the project to

stimulate and generate tourismeconomic development or to createa positive economic impact on thecommunity/region

Viability and long term sustainabilityof the project

IMPLEMENTATION CAPACITY 15% Implementation capacity such as

effective planning, management &budgeting of the organization andthe project

FINANCIAL NEED 20% Financial and development need of the

applying organization

Applications should be clearly written and present a strong case for support. Preferences identified will enhance a grant application’s competitiveness include:

Projects that further promote or developthe brand story of the applicant’s travelregion and/or contribute to a keystatewide marketing initiative.

Applying entity with a track record ofeffective work, evident through strongsupport letters

Well-planned project timeline andbudget.

Project RequirementsACKNOWLEDGEMENT All advertising and promotional

materials (which includes all printed materials, films or videos, television commercials, broadcast programs, websites and trade show materials) that are funded in part by the matching grant program must include the official Colorado Tourism Office logo.

For digital advertising, please note the CTO logo is not required on banner ads, but should appear in the landing environment. Downloadable logo files are provided on the CTO’s Industry Partner microsite at https://industry.colorado.com/grant-resources

Advertising and materials developed to promote a Colorado travel region are subject to review and input from the CTO for consistency with CTO’s regional branding work prior to publication or placement.

When appropriate, advertising and promotional materials developed through CTO 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 PROPOSAL Any significant refinements,

clarifications, modifications or changesto the proposal must receive priorapproval from the CTO; otherwise, theorganization may forfeit grant fundsprovided by the CTO. Proposal ChangeForms will not be accepted 60 daysor less from the end of the programreporting period.

Organizations should complete andsubmit the Proposal Change Form ifthere are changes to the proposal.

INTERIM REPORTAn interim report and updated project budget must be submitted by March 30, 2020, at 4pm through the online grant portal at https://oedit.secure.force.com/oedit/.

FINAL REPORTA final, written report and final financial report is required and must be submitted online to the Colorado Tourism Office within 30 days after the end of the grant cycle or no later than July 30, 2020 at 4pm through the online grant portal at https://oedit.secure.force.com/oedit.

PROJECT DATESProject activities may not begin until the contract has been executed and signed by the Office of Economic Development and International Trade – Colorado Tourism Office. All project activities using CTO funds must be completed and all funds expended and invoices submitted by the contract end date.

Contract Start Date: TBD

Contract End Date: 6/30/2020

Final Report Due: 7/30/2020

TimelineAUGUST 1, 2019 AT 1:00PMOnline Grant Application Open

SEPTEMBER 27, 2019 AT 4:00PMOnline Grant Application Closes

OCTOBER 25, 2019Grant Application Status Notification

MARCH 30, 2020 AT 4:00PMInterim Report Due

JUNE 30, 2020Project Complete

JULY 30, 2020 AT 4PMGrant Project Final Report Due

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Grant Funds DisbursementAny grant funds not used as approved shall be returned to the Colorado Tourism Office pursuant to the grant contract. Projects must be completed within the approved grant timeline. Following approval and execution of contract, an initial disbursement of 75% of awarded funds (up to $11,250) will be sent to the recipient. Final disbursement of the remaining 25% of grant funds will be sent once the project is complete and the CTO Project and Technical Assistance Grant final report and final budget have been submitted, reviewed and approved by CTO. Note: It is our goal is to provide 75% of grant funds upfront but this is subject to approval by the State Controller’s Office and CTO reserves the right to disburse funds on a reimbursement basis.

Project activities may not begin until the contract has been executed and signed by the Office of Economic Development and International Trade – Colorado Tourism Office. All project activities using CTO funds must be completed and all funds expended by the contract end date.

For additional questions, visit https://industry.colorado.com/grant-resources or contact: Elizabeth O’Rear at 303.892.3893 or elizabeth.orear@state.co.us

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