Lottery proceeds in are benefitting open-space projects in Colorado, making it more likely that a proposed bill to make the state lottery permanent will pass.
As The Denver Postreports, a new study found that grants from Colorado Lottery-funded Great Outdoors Colorado directly supported 11,800 jobs, providing $507 million in labor income and, by protecting land and water and open space for recreation, helped spur $392 million in spending on sporting goods over the past decade.
Great Outdoors Colorado has spent more than $917 million of lottery proceeds on 4,700 open-space projects, including recreation or restoration of 900 miles of trails and 1,100 parks.
Conservationists planned to unveil the study this week following the introduction of Senate Bill 66, which would make the Colorado lottery permanent.
The lottery also provides funds for the Conservation Trust Fund and Colorado Parks and Wildlife.