GRAND JUNCTION | Two western Colorado counties have been chosen to get technical assistance from the state to promote tourism after the downturn in the energy industry devastated their local economies, and a third county has received help with its outdoor recreation industry.
Lt. Gov. Donna Lynne said the state is using its resources and developing partnerships with organizations to allow Delta and Rio Blanco counties to study the efforts of other communities chosen by the Colorado Tourism Office as models for success.
Montrose County was given assistance to focus on its outdoor recreation industry.
Rio Blanco County is hoping to attract more companies as it prepares to provide gigabit fiber internet to homes and businesses, according to Katelin Cook, the county’s economic development coordinator. Delta County wants to figure out ways to use abandoned or vacant property.
The state program is called Blueprint 2.0, the next step in improving rural economies.
“Blueprint 2.0 is a great example of how Colorado is going above and beyond existing resources to support the needs of our rural regions,” Lynne said.
The Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade last year developed Blueprint 2.0 to find out ways to best serve rural communities and provide state help, the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel reported (https://tinyurl.com/z6r8dqh ).
The initiatives are being launched in regions that seek state help.