Manitou Springs Places in Budget Travel Magazine’s Top 10
9/25/2008
For Immediate Release
For More Information,
Contact: Kitty Clemens
Kitty@clemens.com
719-685-9741
September 25, 2008
Manitou Springs Places in Budget Travel Magazine’s Top 10
Several years ago, when Manitou Springs was characterized by an annual travel book as a “quaint, but shabby” little mountain town, it was a like a line drawn in the sand for the business owners and other invested citizens. Since then, they have pulled together, creating a master plan for the city, establishing motivated committees and investing incalculable time, talent and energy into transforming Manitou Springs. And it’s paid off. Manitou Springs was recently named one of the “10 Coolest Small Towns” in the September 2008 issue of Budget Travel magazine.
“This is certainly a confirmation of what so many of us believe to be true,” said Mayor Eric Drummond. “Manitou Springs is definitely ‘cool,’ and all the elements that make it so---our eclecticism, diversity, artistic population, natural scenic beauty, history and revitalization efforts---are starting to attract attention. We are no longer one of Colorado’s best-kept secrets.” The revitalization plan, now in Phase 4, has resulted in vast improvements, both to the city’s infrastructure and storefronts. “Everyone’s hard work is coming to fruition,” said Kitty Clemens, Director of Manitou’s Economic Development Council. “We are seeing it in so many areas---in our businesses, in the pride our citizens have and in the heightened popularity of Manitou as a destination city.” The Budget Travel article can be accessed online at: http://www.budgettravel.com/bt-dyn/content/article/2008/08/02/AR2008080201205.html.
Manitou Springs Ahead is a citizen-driven volunteer effort to implement the Manitou Avenue Master Plan. Citizens from numerous community groups formed Manitou Springs Ahead to submit charitable grant requests, solicit individual legacy gifts and work with government agencies on final design and construction in historic downtown. Progress updates can be found at www.manitouspringsahead.com.
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