DENVER (September 11, 2012) — Colorado Creative Industries, a division of the Colorado Office of Economic Development, is pleased to announce that the Boettcher Foundation will be the founding sponsor of the state’s new Creative Districts program. The Boettcher Creative District Leadership Awards will provide $300,000 in matching funds to up to 12 Certified and Prospective Creative Districts over a five year period.

The first-year grants will be awarded in September and will benefit seven Districts and total $45,000:

• $10,000 grants will be awarded to each of the current Certified Creative Districts – Denver’s Arts District on Santa Fe and Downtown Salida
• $5,000 grants will be awarded to each of the state’s current Prospective Creative Districts – Longmont Arts & Entertainment District, Pueblo Creative Corridor, RiNo Arts District, Ridgway Creative District, and Telluride Creative District.

Grants will also be available to up to five additional Districts to be selected in March 2014. The maximum funding available to each of the Districts over five years is $25,000.

The goal of the Boettcher awards is to help the Districts establish long term sustainability, defined as an administrative structure, funding stream, community engagement process, strategic plan and staff structure. Funds will be administered by Colorado Creative Industries and disbursed annually and must be fully matched by each District.

“The Trustees of the Boettcher Foundation took much pleasure in approving these grants,” said Tim Schultz, President and Executive Director of the Foundation. “Colorado’s artists, arts organizations and creative entrepreneurs are increasingly recognized as community assets. The state’s newly designated Creative Districts are capitalizing on these assets to grow their local economy and improve the quality of life for their residents. We want to help them be successful and sustainable over the long-term.”

“The Creative Districts exemplify the innovative ‘creative placemaking’ approach in which communities invest in their creative sector as a strategy to animate public spaces, rejuvenate main streets, improve local business viability and celebrate their unique heritage,” said Elaine Mariner, director of Colorado Creative Industries. “We are incredibly honored that the Boettcher Foundation chose to be the founding sponsor of this exciting new program.”

About Colorado Creative Industries

Colorado is a global leader in the creative industries, which include six creative sectors: design, film and media, heritage, literary and publishing, performing arts, and visual arts and crafts. With its existing ecosystem of creative entrepreneurs, arts and cultural nonprofits, media and entertainment giants, and universities and academic leaders who encourage creativity and innovation, Colorado’s creative industries are well-positioned to grow and continue to help Colorado’s economy thrive. Colorado Creative Industries, a division of the state Office of Economic Development and International Trade, promotes, supports and expands the creative industries to drive Colorado’s economy, grow jobs and enhance our quality of life. For more information on Colorado’s Creative Districts, go to www.coloradocreativeindustries.org.

About the Boettcher Foundation

For almost 75 years the Boettcher Foundation has served the people of Colorado by helping to build community infrastructure through capital grantmaking and investing in young minds through its Scholarship Program. In virtually every community throughout the state, the Foundation has partnered with outstanding nonprofits to make a difference in people's lives. The Foundation believes that this is what the Boettcher family intended when they gave their wealth to establish the Foundation for the benefit of the citizens of Colorado. For more information, visit www.boettcherfoundation.org

###

Media Contacts

Elaine Mariner
303.892.3802
elaine.mariner@state.co.us

Holly Shrewsbury
720.320.0097 
holly.shrewsbury@state.co.us