The town of Lyons is championing its vibrant community of artists by establishing a makerspace inside what has long been a relatively sleepy visitor center.
The Lyons Visitors Center, a small building that sits in Sandstone Park, will be transformed into a hub for artists of all ages. Town officials plan to let local artists teach classes at the makerspace.
The project is funded by a state grant awarded through the Rural Economic Development Initiative. The REDI program invests in rural economies throughout Colorado.
The grants, issued by Colorado’s Department of Local Affairs, gave nearly $800,000 to 13 projects across the state. Lyons applied for the grant in March, and the awards were announced last month.
Lyons was awarded $16,500, which is 75% of the estimated $22,000 cost of the project.
The visitors center, which occupies a cozy 450 square feet, contains a couple of desks,…