VALLEY – A new tour of community theaters in five Colorado mountain towns and a cutting edge transmedia storytelling program in Saguache County are among 33 projects that will share more than $630,000 in Colorado Tourism Office (CTO) marketing matching grants this year.

The grants program, aimed at helping destinations and nonprofits create and promote Colorado travel opportunities, also will be supporting development of itineraries for travelers to explore the newly branded Mountains & Mesas travel region in southwestern Colorado.

“One of the best ways we can foster the creation of new traveler experiences in Colorado is by giving local destinations and attractions the power to put their great ideas into action,” said CTO Director Cathy Ritter. “To that end, we’re dedicating an additional $100,000 this year to create a Small Marketing Matching Grants program to help smaller communities share their stories with travelers.”

A total of 23 grantees won grants ranging from $11,166 to the maximum $25,000 and will match their awards dollar for dollar. Another 10 grantees won funding under the new small grants program, which range up to $10,000 and require a 4:1 match. The grants will support destination initiatives in 35 of the state’s 64 counties.

One of the most unique projects selected for funding was submitted by Saguache County Tourism Council for $25,000 for creation of a transmedia storytelling experience through traditional and digital delivery platforms to market the entire county. Backed by more than 60 local businesses, the experiential program will give visitors the opportunity to explore the county’s rich historical and mythical stories online while scouting out significant sites across the county.

The San Luis Valley Tourism Association was also awarded $10,000 for the production of a San Luis Valley visitors map which provides visitors a comprehensive resource of activities, annual events, hiking, biking and natural wonders to take in; as well as the scenic byways, hot springs, museums, and scenic railroads.

The Town of South Fork was also awarded $10,000 for the promotion of the South Fork shoulder seasons, fall and deep winter, as a perfect time to visit as visitors are sparse but the weather is great, and activities are abundant.