The nonprofit Routt County Economic Development Partnership has been awarded a $65,740 Colorado State Outdoor Recreation Grant to help increase capacity for a Yampa Valley Outdoor Recreation Coalition.

According to a governor’s office media release, the funding in Routt will support existing staff salaries to officially launch and manage a business retention and expansion program focused on outdoor recreation industry recovery and growth in Routt County.

The Colorado Outdoor Recreation Industry Office awarded 15 grants this week in support of economic development and increased access to the outdoors across the Western Slope to southern Colorado. The office provides a state-level point of contact, advocacy and resources for the diverse constituents, businesses and communities that rely on the continued health of the outdoor recreation economy.

Examples of other grants awarded this week range from creating a Pueblo Office of Outdoor Recreation, to supporting a Ski Industry Trade Certification program at Colorado Mountain College in Glenwood Springs, to providing funds to help diversify the water source for the Ouray Ice Park.

This was the fourth and final review for $3.7 million in funding awarded to 50 projects in 27 counties.

“The recipients are increasing access to the outdoors, bolstering destination stewardship and conservation, creating jobs and a diversified workforce to fill them, boosting their local economies and proving every day that a thriving outdoor recreation industry is good for the whole state,” said Conor Hall, director of the recreation industry office.