The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
A mix of events, nonprofits and businesses funded
By Kendra Walker
The Mt. Crested Butte town council granted a total of $158,500 to local applicants to help fund their upcoming winter marketing initiatives and events. The funds come through the town’s admissions tax, which collects 4% for any event that starts, finishes or enters the town limits. The primary intent of the grant is to attract visitors to stay in Mt. Crested Butte, especially during slower times of the year, and increase sales tax revenue for the town. The council awards funding twice a year, for summer and winter events.
The council reviewed the applications with communications and marketing officer Marisa Maudsley during the October 18 meeting and unanimously agreed to provide funding to all applicants, including: The Adaptive Sports Center, Blister, CB Lodging & Property Management, the Crested Butte/Mt. Crested Butte Chamber of Commerce, Crested Butte Snowsports Foundation and Tin Cup Ice Cream & Desserts.
The council awarded the Adaptive Sports Center $14,000 to focus on attracting individuals and families to participate in lessons during the early winter season. Last winter, Adaptive introduced the Adventure Equity initiative which lowers private lesson prices to $125 to allow people with disabilities the same access and costs to ski as the general public pays for a lift ticket.
Blister’s annual Blister Summit will be held February 12-17 at the Elevation Hotel. The event will include ski and snowboard demos, gear testing and panels with brands, product designers and athletes to get a current state of the snowsports industry. The council awarded Blister $59,000 for marketing and promotion.
The council awarded $11,000 to Crested Butte Lodging for a marketing campaign, “Winter Play Days” to help combat the slower times on the calendar (early December, January weekdays, end of March through Closing Day) and boost lodging rates. CB Lodging is working with Travel CB on the campaign.
The Chamber is bringing back its Butte Bucks campaign, which encourages community members to shop local for the holidays. Locals can purchase coins at the visitor centers for $8 but coins are worth $10 at local participating businesses. The council awarded the Chamber $2,500 for the program.
The council also granted the Chamber $40,000 for marketing its Crafted event, taking place on February 11-12 at the Treasury Center. The annual event has been reimagined this year as a craft fair featuring high-quality, local crafted items along with Colorado-made spirits, wines and brews.
The Crested Butte Snowsports Foundation will host a concert fundraising event with DJ Logic on March 4 to draw in the local community and out-of-towners to spend a weekend in Mt. Crested Butte. The council awarded CBSF $26,000 in grant funding.
Tin Cup established its new location on the mountain over the summer. The council awarded Tin Cup $6,000 to work with Travel CB on a marketing and content creation package to establish Tin Cup as an anchor business in the base area.
The council has spent a total $289,360 in admissions tax grant funding in 2022. This year the town’s estimated admissions tax revenues are $1,294,000 and it has budgeted 25% toward events and marketing, 35% toward Mountain Express and 35% on other town transportation needs.
