Tourism organization awarded grant

Discover Carbon County recently announced it has been awarded a Wyoming Office of Tourism Destination Development Grant which will be effective for the 2024-2026 Biennium.

According to the press release, the Destination Development Grant Program is a biennium grant program that was created in early 2023 by the Wyoming Office of Tourism’s 27 local Lodging Tax Boards.

“This grant will enable Discover Carbon County to come along side and partner with communities, organizations and agencies on new or continuing projects,” said Leslie Jefferson, CEO of Discover Carbon County. “Discover Carbon County is committed to responsible development that benefits both our residents and visitors.”

With the Destination Development Grant, the organization will be able to help start or complete a list of ongoing and future projects in Carbon County. The list of approved projects, in order of priority, include:

- relocating Fossil Cabin to the Medicine Bow Museum

- Avalanche Forecast Center items and winter safety training

- hiring a Community Destination Development Specialist

- fund an Interstate 80 bike path feasibility study

- awards for a county-wide clean-up challenge

- short term vacation rental study

- Continental Divide Trail water stations and trail boxes

- Partnering with State Parks and/or the Board of Carbon County Commissioners on water recreation opportunities.

As part of the Destination Development Grant, Discover Carbon County has hired Cindy Loose of Visions In Progress Marketing, LLC as the community destination development specialist. In this role, according the press release, Loose will help implement the Carbon County Tourism Master Plan and “shape a long-term plan for all of Carbon County beginning with research.

The research process will include gathering data to assess each community’s image, reputation, assets and experienced through a resident survey and stakeholder interviews. Once the data is collected, it will be shared and interest groups will be formed in each community.

“This is an opportunity to improve quality of life and the visitor experience,” said Loose.

The survey will remain open until October 31, 2024. The survey can be accessed by visiting or http://www.surveymonkey.com/r/discovercc or by scanning the QR code in the ad on A2 of this week’s Saratoga Sun.