Editing Ridgway, Colorado (section)

===Certified Colorado Creative District===
In 2011, in collaboration with Ouray County and the City of Ouray through numerous public meetings and pursuant to a request from the State of Colorado for a "Bottom Up" Economic Development Plan, a county-wide economic development plan was created. Goal 3 of this plan called for participation in statewide efforts to grow and nurture creative industries as an economic development driver for the State. The Goal 3 ("G3") committee was formed and approached the Ridgway Town Council for support and leadership in submitting an application to become a certified Creative District with the State. The City of Ouray, Ouray County and Town of Ridgway volunteers all agreed that the Town of Ridgway would be the applicant for District certification in 2012. 15 awards were issued through Colorado Creative Industries, and Ridgway was one of 5 districts awarded Prospective District status.

The Ridgway Creative District was awarded Prospective Creative District status in 2012 under the State of Colorado legislation, House Bill 11–1031, signed into law by Governor Hickenlooper in 2011. After a year as a Prospective District, on June 26, 2013, [[Colorado Creative Industries]] and the Boettcher Foundation announced that the Ridgway Creative District had achieved State-Certified Creative District Designation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ridgwaycreativedistrict.com/how-we-got-here|title=How We Got Here}}</ref>