DENVER — Visit Estes Park, the mountain town’s local marketing district, is among 17 entities statewide to receive a tourism-marketing grant from the Colorado Tourism Office. The grants, announced Thursday, are designed to support local and regional tourism destinations by providing resources to promote Colorado as a premier travel destination while fostering responsible travel practices that benefit both residents and visitors.
Visit Estes Park will receive $42,333 to help develop a campaign focused on promoting the region as a top-tier location for accessible recreation and outdoor exploration. This initiative builds on previous efforts by VEP, which last year completed the Tourism Office’s Accessible Travel Program. Through this program, 36 sites achieved Accessibility Verified status, with 25 of these sites completing the verification independently.
The City of Loveland, also in Larimer County, was awarded $49,000. This funding will support the launch of a campaign designed to position “America’s Sweetheart City” as a year-round destination for romantic getaways and destination weddings. Both grants were provided by the Colorado Tourism Office, a division of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT).
Eve Lieberman, OEDIT Executive Director, stated that the Tourism Marketing Grant program plays a crucial role in ensuring that communities across the state benefit from Colorado’s "thriving tourism industry." She added that by investing in community-led initiatives, the program empowers local destinations to showcase their unique heritage, create responsible travel opportunities, and build economic resilience throughout Colorado.
The grant program's broader mission is to help fund marketing campaigns and initiatives that align with the Tourism Office’s goal of supporting traveler spending through the promotion and development of compelling, sustainable travel experiences statewide. Key objectives of the program include promoting responsible travel, strengthening destination stewardship, and boosting the economic impact of tourism in Colorado.
Timothy Wolfe, director of the Colorado Tourism Office, reinforced these goals, stating that tourism marketing grants help communities attract visitors, support local businesses, and strengthen their economies. He noted that this year’s grants are specifically aimed at helping destinations highlight their unique characteristics, encourage responsible travel, and create new opportunities for communities across the state.
In total, more than $600,000 in funding is being distributed to support 23 counties across Colorado. The individual grants range from $10,184 to $49,000. All projects funded through this program are scheduled to be executed throughout 2027.
