The Fremont County Tourism Council has voted to award $9,000 in 2010 for use by eight organizations in promoting events in Fremont County that bring visitors to the area. Recipients of the grants and the amounts awarded include:
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Canon City Music and Blossom Festival - - $1,000;
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Florence Chamber of Commerce - - $1,000 (for tourism brochures, maps, marketing);
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Museum of Colorado Prisons - - $1,750 (for the Smithsonian "Between Fences" Exhibit);
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Florence Eureka Days BBQ Competition - - $1,000;
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Canon City Chamber Western Heritage Days - - $2,000;
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Colorado Country Music Association - - $750 (2-day statewide talent competition);
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Penrose Apple Day - - $750;
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Fremont Center for the Arts' Brew-Ha-Ha - - $750.
The Tourism Council received applications from ten organizations for funding assistance totaling $22,000. Tourism Council by-laws require that they distribute a minimum of five percent of the proceeds from Fremont County's two percent lodging tax to local organizations to help promote their events. The five percent minimum funding level would have been just over $7,000.
In awarding the grants the Tourism Council also stipulated that all of the groups receiving money must use the Council's new Royal Gorge Region theme logo in any promotional materials.