HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo - Mail Packet - 5/26/2020 - Memorandum From Amanda King Re: Colorado Welcome Center - Grant Funding TerminatedMEMORANDUM
Communications & Public Involvement
215 N. Mason St.
PO Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522
970.416.2209
fcgov.com
DATE: May 20, 2020
TO: Mayor and City Councilmembers
THROUGH: Darin Atteberry, City Manager
Kelly DiMartino, Deputy City Manager
FROM: Amanda King, Communications & Public Involvement Director
RE: Colorado Welcome Center – Grant Funding Terminated
The City was notified late last week that the Colorado Tourism Office has terminated contracts with five
Colorado Welcome Centers, including Fort Collins, effective May 15 as a result of COVID-19 budget
impacts.
Background: The Colorado Welcome Center at Prospect and I-25 has been a partnership between the
Colorado Tourism Office, Colorado State University (CSU), City of Fort Collins and Visit Fort Collins.
The building is owned by CSU, and the City receives an annual grant from the state that is passed
through to Visit Fort Collins for their operation of visitor services at the center. Other parts of the
building are leased by CSU.
Please see the attached memo with additional information provided by Visit Fort Collins President/CEO,
Cynthia Eichler, as well as the letter of termination from the Colorado Tourism Office.
DocuSign Envelope ID: E831520E-69F6-4ED3-A3F0-C41E16435A0C
May 19, 2020
TO: Amanda King, Communications Director
FROM: Cynthia Eichler, President and CEO
RE: Colorado Welcome Center – Grant Funding Terminated
The Colorado Tourism Office has made the difficult decision to terminate the grant funding for the
Colorado Welcome Center Program. We were notified late Wednesday evening.
Funding for the grant terminated on Friday, May 15th. At this time, with the funding challenges for the
State of Colorado it is unknow when, or if a conversation to reopen the centers will occur. We know the
CTO wants to see that occur and yet recognize the depth of things unknown.
In tandem with that notification we made the decision to layoff Cheryl Glanz, our Colorado Welcome
Center Manager. Her last day was Friday. She fully understood the situation and we hope at a future
point to be able to gather with her and offer our thanks in a more traditional way.
We have begun a conversation with our CSU Partners. In speaking with Gary Ozzello, we are looking at
this as an opportunity to reimagine what this program could be. The building agreement is a long-term
lease (50 years) and the intent obviously was to ensure we collectively work with visitors and tourism in
partnership for the long term.
We have learned much in our 20 years of this partnership. We should take that knowledge, look at the
most valuable components to utilize or reinvent and look forward to new opportunities to do this even
better, perhaps with a goal to create a cutting edge offering that others want to learn from and follow.
As we explore options, the center will remain closed. We plan to provide future updates as
conversations continue.
If you have additional questions, please let me know.
Thank you.
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555 Street Address, Room 555, Denver, CO 55555-5555 P 555.555.5555 F 555.555.5555 www.colorado.gov/xxx
To: Colorado Welcome Center Vendors and Managers
From: Cathy Ritter, Director; Jill Corbin, Deputy Director; and Taren Mulch, Director
of Visitor Services
RE: Closure of Colorado Welcome Centers during COVID containment
Date: May 13, 2020
It is with much reluctance and after deep consideration that we are terminating
contracts funding Colorado Welcome Center operations, effective May 15, 2020.
Unfortunately, the massive impacts of coronavirus on out-of-state travel, along with
the potential of major cuts for Colorado Tourism Office operations, are leading us to
take this step.
Our first hope, when we shut down Welcome Center operations following the
Governor’s declaration of a state of emergency, had been that our centers would be
back to business by now. It is becoming clear, however, that at least for the rest of
the FY20 fiscal year, normal travel patterns will be seriously disrupted. While CTO has
developed and widely shared the “Wait, Ready, Set, Go” marketing plan to stimulate
recovery of the tourism sector, there is no certain date for marketing to those out-of-
state travelers who typically visit our Welcome Centers.
With deep budget cuts for CTO under discussion and ample evidence that few travelers
will be resuming out-of-state travels until late summer, we cannot continue to put
limited state resources toward funding operations for closed Welcome Centers. Under
the emergency powers of the executive office, this action will take effect May 15,
2020, for contracts currently funding Colorado Welcome Center operations at
Julesburg, Fort Collins, Dinosaur, Cortez and Lamar.
We deeply regret the impact of this decision on your own budgets and especially on
your employees. Each of the managers for these Welcome Centers is so dedicated to
the work of inspiring travelers to explore our beautiful state. This step is particularly
painful given that our Welcome Centers operate so efficiently because of the hundreds
of volunteers who so generously have given their time to serve their communities,
their state and our visitors.
Please know that we are planning for a day when we can reopen our Welcome Centers.
We will continue to evaluate ongoing conditions and budget ability on a regular basis
and make decisions accordingly. Until budgets are fully restored and the spread of
coronavirus is better contained, our Welcome Center operation may look different
from the past. One of our foremost considerations, of course, will be to operate in a
1600 Broadway, Suite 2500
Denver, CO 80202 USA
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way that safeguards the health of paid staff and volunteers, along with that of our
visitors.
Until that re-opening day comes, please be assured that we value your partnerships
and are looking ahead to a better future.
DocuSign Envelope ID: E831520E-69F6-4ED3-A3F0-C41E16435A0C