Big News from Golden: GOCO Invests in Colorado’s Outdoors

Big news from Golden! The Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) board has awarded $25.6 million in grants to projects that strengthen Colorado’s outdoors, wildlife, and communities across the state.

Created by Colorado voters in 1992, GOCO invests up to half of Colorado Lottery proceeds in partner-led conservation and outdoor recreation projects statewide. These grants were awarded through a competitive, multi-step process. With support from GOCO regional program officers, eligible organizations submitted project concepts and full applications, demonstrating strong partnerships, community support, and clear outcomes that benefit both people and the land.

In related news, Governor Jared Polis, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), and GOCO announced more than $9.9 million in funding to support 18 regional partnerships working to advance conservation, outdoor recreation, and climate resilience goals aligned with Colorado’s Outdoors Strategy. This statewide framework emphasizes collaborative, place-based solutions that protect natural resources, expand access to the outdoors, and strengthen local economies.

$394,000 Awarded to San Luis Valley Great Outdoors

As part of this investment, San Luis Valley Great Outdoors (SLV GO!) received $394,000 to support continued coalition capacity and on-the-ground conservation work in the San Luis Valley.

SLV GO! works to ensure outdoor recreation in the San Luis Valley is developed and maintained sustainably while protecting the region’s natural resources through strategic planning, adaptive management, and advocacy. Following a multi-year planning process, SLV GO! completed the SLV Great Outdoors Strategy, informed by community surveys, focus groups, listening sessions, data analysis, and local knowledge from across the Valley.

This funding will support ongoing coordination among partners and a wildlife fencing project designed to improve habitat connectivity and protect sensitive ecosystems. The project will:

• Convert 12 miles of existing fence along the Colorado–New Mexico border to wildlife-friendly fencing, helping big game move through critical winter habitat; and
• Construct fencing within the Rio Grande Natural Area to protect riparian habitat from overgrazing.

Together, these investments highlight the power of regional partnerships to turn shared vision into action. From statewide conservation priorities to locally driven solutions in the San Luis Valley, today’s funding demonstrates how collaboration, planning, and community engagement can deliver lasting benefits for Colorado’s landscapes and the people who depend on them.