Governor Polis, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and Great Outdoors Colorado Award $1.3 Million in Regional Coalition Development and Planning Initiatives

DENVER - Today, Governor Polis, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) and Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) announced grant recipients for the Outdoor Regional Partnerships Initiative establishing two new partnerships in southwestern and southeastern Colorado. There are now 20 Outdoor Regional Partnerships covering about 75% of the state. First launched in 2021, the Initiative funds regional coalitions that bring broad interests together to ensure that Colorado's lands, waters, and wildlife thrive while also providing for equitable and quality outdoor recreation experiences.

"The collaborative energy behind the Regional Partnerships Initiative reflects the collaborative spirit of Coloradans. These partnerships give communities the opportunity to expand conversations around wildlife management, sustainable recreation, and how we can protect our wild, open spaces," said Governor Jared Polis.

"We celebrate the most recent grant recipients for the Outdoor Regional Partnerships Initiative, a cornerstone in our efforts to foster sustainable outdoor recreation and conservation across Colorado," said CPW Director Jeff Davis. "The success of these partnerships reflects the dedication of communities across Colorado to steward their natural resources and recreation opportunities."

This grant cycle increases the amount of money invested in Outdoor Regional Partnerships to $4.9 million with another round of grant funding opening in the fall of 2024 for coalition capacity and regional planning efforts. Grant recipients include six established coalitions spanning the Western Slope and central mountains, and two emerging coalitions in the southeastern grasslands and Archuleta County. New partnerships exemplify the rich cultural, natural, and geologic history that stretches along the lower Arkansas Valley, Purgatoire River, and southern San Juan Mountains.

Regional Partnership Grant Funding Recipients:

Eagle County Community Wildlife Roundtable ($15,000)

Eagle County Community Wildlife Roundtable was formed in 2020 by community members and organizations with the purpose of understanding and addressing issues facing wildlife populations and the goal of leveraging diverse values, creativity, and resources to move toward positive change. Awarded funding will assist with capacity, including facilitation and collaboration among outdoor sectors. This award supplements existing funding to advance a county-wide conservation and recreation assessment.

Central Colorado Recreation Partnership ($125,000)

Envision Recreation in Balance (Chaffee County), the Gunnison County Sustainable Tourism & Outdoor Recreation Committee (Gunnison County), and the Lake County Outdoor Alliance coalesce to form the Central Colorado Recreation Partnership. This tri-county regional partnership works with land managers and community volunteers to advance management, conservation, recreation, and stewardship efforts. Continued funding will build facilitation capacity in Gunnison and Lake counties and support planning efforts to advance regional conservation and outdoor recreation priorities to connect programs across the landscape.

Montelores Coalition ($214,410)

The Montelores Coalition is a locally diverse group working together to balance sustainable outdoor recreation, conservation of natural resources, and economic development opportunities in and around Montezuma and Dolores counties in southwest Colorado. Awarded funding will support facilitation needs, community listening sessions, resource consolidation, and the development of a regional vision for the future of recreation and conservation management in the area.

Northwest Colorado Outdoor Coalition ($220,210)

Encompassing Moffat and Rio Blanco counties, the Northwest Colorado Outdoor Coalition is a community partnership that aims to promote, expand, and balance unique outdoor recreation opportunities with wildlife habitat conservation and the cultural heritage of the region. Awarded funding will support community engagement and input on the region's recreation and conservation plan and allow for field visits, marketing, communication, and facilitation to maintain the partnership's momentum.

Outdoor Pikes Peak Initiative ($186,596)

Under the Pikes Peak Outdoor Recreation Alliance, the Outdoor Pikes Peak Initiative is collaboratively identifying and advancing priorities and strategies to ensure resilient natural and recreational values across Fremont, Teller, and El Paso counties. Awarded funding will help this coalition finalize the Outdoor Pikes Peak Vision Plan including multiple decision support tools and ongoing community engagement efforts.

Pagosa Area Recreation Coalition ($125,000)

Blossoming from the collaborative foundation set by the Pagosa Area Trails Council, this new coalition will convene a larger and more diverse group of stakeholders with the shared goal of developing a sustainable outdoor recreation and conservation plan for Archuleta County and parts of Mineral and Hinsdale counties. This investment will enhance the coalition's capacity to effectively engage stakeholders, develop informed strategies, and ultimately realize its goals for sustainable recreation and natural resource conservation.

Roaring Fork Outdoor Coalition ($125,000)

As a cross-jurisdictional collaboration among government land managers, community members, and local organizations, this partnership continues to collaborate and establish priorities for outdoor recreation and natural resource conservation in the Roaring Fork Watershed. Additional funding will support community outreach efforts and public input as the group works towards finalizing a strategic plan for conservation and sustainable outdoor recreation.

Southeast Colorado Recreation Outdoor Alliance Movement ($75,000)

A new coalition across Otero, Bent, Baca, and Prowers counties intends to build common ground among diverse stakeholders around the intersection of agriculture, recreation, conservation, and economic vitality in the southeastern plains, led in partnership by the Southern Plains Land Trust and City of Rocky Ford. Funding will provide capacity building for community outreach, stakeholder engagement, and community outreach.

West Slope Outdoors Alliance ($250,000)

The West Slope Outdoors Alliance is a collaboration of individuals representing nonprofits, government entities, businesses, agriculture, ranching, and outdoor user groups who recognize the value of Montrose, Delta, and Mesa counties' natural and recreation assets as drivers for economic stability, community wellness, and resiliency. Continued funding will directly support staffing needs to undergo data collection, community engagement, and project implementation meant to inform a regional recreation and conservation vision.

This grant opportunity resulted from a landmark Executive Order signed by Governor Polis creating the Outdoor Regional Partnerships Initiative with funding support from CPW and GOCO. Grant funding supports community collaboration to identify and advance locally driven solutions tailored to the unique conservation and recreation management needs of regions across the state. Outdoor Regional Partnerships are the foundation of Colorado's Outdoors Strategy, a collaborative vision for conservation, outdoor recreation and climate resilience - and will provide data and tools to inform local decision making and advance coordinated strategies and funding.

For more information, please see the Regional Partnerships Initiative page on the CPW website.

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