Preparing for the Future: GOCO’s Strategic Planning Process

When GOCO developed its first strategic plan in 1994, the Lottery -- GOCO’s source of funding -- was set to expire on June 30, 1999. Therefore, the plan and GOCO’s subsequent grant awards could only assume funding projects through that date.

In April 1998, the Colorado General Assembly passed and Governor Roy Romer signed legislation extending the Colorado Lottery until 2009. This extension meant the GOCO Board could begin planning for investment beyond 1999 when GOCO’s share of Lottery revenue will increase from an average of $20 million annually to approximately $44 million in Fiscal Year 1999/2000.

Because demand for GOCO dollars will remain high, the need to be strategic with investments is paramount. To prepare to invest these additional dollars, GOCO initiated a strategic planning process to analyze what had occurred since the passage of the Amendment, held a series of meetings in 14 regions, and conducted a statewide survey of 600 citizens.

Developments since the GOCO Amendment passed

In rewriting its plan, the GOCO Board considered what has changed in Colorado since 1992 and what it has discovered through its grant making process:

Population increase and its impacts. Since 1990, the state’s population has increased more than 20 percent. This creates more pressure on land and wildlife and more demand for parks and outdoor recreation.

 

The escalating price of real estate. The value of farm real estate has increased 57percent in Colorado since 1990.

 

Lessons learned after four and one-half years of grant making. GOCO’s work with communities, nonprofit land conservation organizations and state agencies has helped the Board learn more about the state’s needs. The Board conducted a “customer satisfaction” survey in 1997 to learn what is working well with the grant process and what can be improved.

 

The demand for GOCO dollars. The Board receives requests for more than three times as many dollars as it has available and that demand is constrained by award limits. It is anticipated demand will remain high in the coming years.

 

Unmet needs. Larger projects such as large outdoor recreation facilities and large open space projects are not receiving GOCO grants because of funding limitations.

Learning what Coloradans priorities are

In September and October, the GOCO Board and staff conducted a series of meetings in 14 cities in the state: Alamosa, Broomfield, Canon City, Colorado Springs, Denver, Durango, Eagle, Fort Morgan, Grand Junction, La Junta, Littleton, Loveland, Pueblo, and Steamboat Springs. More than 900 people attended these meetings. GOCO also met with the State Parks Board and Wildlife Commission, and stakeholders from the agricultural, urban, water and land conservation communities. In addition, Ciruli Associates conducted a telephone survey of 600 citizens.
At these meetings, the Board asked if GOCO’s current grant programs are addressing needs and if they should be continued. They also sought reaction to targeted initiatives outlined in this plan that could be undertaken with increased revenues.

Through the meetings and the survey results, GOCO learned that:

Coloradans continue to consider growth and its impacts the number one issue that should be addressed in the state. Both metro and non-metro areas share a concern that the state is growing too fast.

 

People overwhelmingly support using state Lottery dollars to help address the impacts of growth on the state’s outdoor resources.

 

Preserving open space tops the list of local and statewide priorities. It is closely followed by preserving wildlife habitat and maintaining park facilities.

 

The Board learned grantees and citizens want to see current GOCO programs continue. At the same time, they support dedicating new revenues to targeted initiatives outlined in this summary.

 

As for current GOCO programs, most meeting participants said open space deserves increased funding; local government outdoor recreation grants are a close second. However, the priority on these two programs varies from region to region in the state.

 

Youth education programs have strong support throughout the state.

 

In the statewide poll, the top five priorities for spending increased Lottery dollars for outdoor projects are acquisition and protection of 1) river corridors, 2) open space, and 3) agricultural land, 4) the expansion of opportunities for youth to participate and work in the outdoors, and 5) acquiring land for future state and local parks.

It is from this public input that the GOCO Board has developed the initiatives and spending priorities outlined in this strategic plan. The initiatives and spending priorities reflect that the protection and stewardship of land and water for open space, wildlife, parks and outdoor recreation will continue to be the highest priority for the GOCO Board.

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