There’s a lot of fanfare around grant awards, but what happens after the ceremonial checks are presented and the reporters have published their articles? Our partners get down to business.

For 28 years, GOCO has improved Colorado’s great outdoors with the help of Colorado Lottery proceeds. We’ve put more than $1.3 billion in proceeds back into 5,500 projects to improve the lives of Coloradans across the state.

After projects are awarded funding, grant recipients have about two years to make their projects happen. 

In September, 4 projects were completed, representing more than $779,000 in GOCO investments into local communities across the state. Scroll to see if one’s near you:

Alamosa- Revitalize the Rio- Phase 1

$33,900 Grant to the City of Alamosa

In Alamosa, the Rio Grande saw a spike in popularity during the pandemic, and no formal entrance to the river caused users to create trails and river access in sporadic locations along the river, damaging vegetation and eroding streambanks. The City of Alamosa used its Resilient Communities grant to develop the first public formalized river access on the Rio Grande. The city created two boat ramps as well as in-stream channel shaping for habitat and recreational purposes. In addition, they stabilized streambanks and revegetated them with willow seedlings to promote a healthy river habitat.
 Read a Release

Buckskin Gulch- Town of Alma Land Acquisition

$152,080 grant to the Town of Alma

The Town of Alma and the Alma Foundation in partnership with Colorado Open Lands and Park County used GOCO funds to conserve Buckskin Gulch. The 73-acre property contains one mile of Buckskin Creek and associated river, forest, and open meadow habitat that is home to several species including moose, elk, mule deer, black bear, and beaver. Its conservation protects the open space and its natural habitat and provides for scenic enjoyment. The property is visible to the general public from Park County Road 8, which thousands of visitors travel across to access trails and campsites on public lands, including several of Colorado’s 14,000ers.
Learn About GOCO's Current Land Acquisition Program 

Pridemore- Heart of the Arkansas Conservation Initiative

$525,000 grant to The Trust for Public Land

With the help of GOCO funds, the Trust for Public Land and Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust conserved Pridemore Ranch. The nearly 400-acre property located north of Salida along the Arkansas River is made up of irrigated pasture and hayfields, as well as open rangeland. The ranch supports habitat for big game and several species of state concern. Its conservation protects the scenic and open space character of the pastoral landscape in Chaffee County and contributes to the long-term protection of the local and regional agricultural landscape. The property is visible to residents and visitors traveling along U.S. Highway 285 and State Highway 291, both of which are part of the Collegiate Peaks Scenic Byway.
 Read the News Release 

San Luis Valley Inspire

$68,215 grant to the City of Creede

The San Luis Valley Inspire coalition, now called SLV Generation Wild, is a Generation Wild community working to create outdoor opportunities and connections for youth and families within the Valley. With the help of GOCO funds, the City of Creede used $68,215 to install much-needed lighting at its outdoor ice skating rink, as well as install a rock climbing boulder at Hargrave’s Park.
Learn more about SLV Generation Wild