DENVER- Today the GOCO board awarded $9,714,500 in funding for two projects. The grants are part of GOCO’s Centennial Program, through which GOCO invests in high-value, once-in-a-generation visions and projects that will create lasting impacts on the Centennial State and future generations.  

The visioning project is as follows:

Arkansas Valley Fairgrounds/ Crystal Lake Project, $150,000 grant to the City of Rocky Ford

The Arkansas Valley Fairgrounds host the 145-year-old “oldest continuous fair in the State of Colorado,” while also supporting community events, athletics, and youth organizations. With this funding, the City of Rocky Ford will develop a master plan to improve and develop the Arkansas Valley Fairgrounds and the adjacent Crystal Lake property to include amenities that uniquely serve southeast Colorado, expand recreational offerings, and drive local economic development. Funding will help the city collaborate with the Southern Colorado Economic Development District to facilitate community engagement, identify opportunities for growth and development, assess regional economic impact, and develop equitable recreational opportunities. 

The Conservation Fund

The GOCO board also awarded a Centennial Program grant amounting to $9,564,500 grant to The Conservation Fund. Details will be shared here soon.

Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) invests a portion of Colorado Lottery proceeds to help preserve and enhance the state’s parks, trails, wildlife, rivers, and open spaces. GOCO’s independent board awards competitive grants to local governments and land trusts and makes investments through Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Created when voters approved a constitutional amendment in 1992, GOCO has since funded more than 5,500 projects in all 64 counties of Colorado without any tax dollar support. Visit GOCO.org for more information.