HUD grants to aid hard-hit tourist areas

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has approved the use of up to $500,000 in federal disaster recovery funds to support efforts to increase tourism in areas hit hardest by September’s historic floods.

The funds will be used to advertise, promote and support such areas, according to a release issued Tuesday.

“Colorado has made significant progress, but there is still work left to be done as we continue rebuilding our communities,” said Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., in a statement. “Many areas damaged by the flood depend heavily on tourism. These resources will help those communities let the world know that, despite the disaster, they are open for business.”

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Bennet, along with Sen. Mark Udall, D-Colo., wrote a letter to HUD in March requesting that the department approve a waiver request from the state regarding the use of the recovery funds.

“This investment will help communities like Estes Park attract visitors, support local jobs and strengthen local economies that have suffered losses because of last year’s flood and the subsequent government shutdown,” Udall said in a statement.

Applications for these funds are available <a href=”http://dola.colorado.gov/cdbg-dr/” target=”_blank”>here</a> and are due June 24. Applicants must demonstrate significant impacts that are attributable to the floods and a heavy reliance of the local economy on the tourism industry, according to Gov. John Hickenlooper’s office.