Colorado Small Town Initiative

The Opportunity:

The State Historical Fund has awarded a great deal of money to complete historical and architectural surveys. However, few of these projects have been undertaken in Colorado’s small (less than 5,000 population) and very small (less than 1,000 population) towns. Fewer than ten percent of the 80 small, 125 very small towns, and numerous unincorporated communities in Colorado have completed any survey projects.

The Challenge

The small and very small towns in Colorado Possess rich histories and significant properties, however, it seems unlikely these resources will be adequately recorded without some sore of concerted, systematic effort. Few small and very small towns have utilized the SHF program to fund historical and architectural surveys due to:

·        Lack of awareness of the benefits of historical and architectural survey

·        Perceived inability to raise cash match

·        Limited personnel to apply for and/or administer a grant

·        TABOR funding restrictions.

The Benefits

·        The successful implementation of small and very small town historical and architectural surveys could yield a variety of short-term and long-term benefits to these communities:

·        Providing invaluable information about the history and architecture of Colorado

·        Systematically and professionally identifying and recording significant community resources

·        Recording what, in many cases, are at-risk resources

·        Supplying information to prepare National Register, State Register and local landmark application for eligible properties and in turn, providing eligibility to apply for State Historical Fund grants and other historic preservation incentives.

·        Using survey information for education, heritage tourism and interpretation of key buildings and sites through walking tours, brochures, historic markers, and websites

·        Increasing public awareness which may lead to the long-term protection of threatened resources, enhanced community pride and the revitalization of local economies.

Inquires and Contact:

Jon Schler
Director CCCD
222 South 6th Street, #409
Grand Junction, CO 81501
Phone 970-248-7310
Fax 970-248-7317
jonschler@bresnan.net