Colorado’s economic-development chief recommended that only a proposed Gaylord hotel in Aurora — one of six applicants seeking state tourism incentives — is eligible for subsidies this year.

But the Gaylord project would receive $72 million less than it requested under recommendations made by Ken Lund to the state’s Economic Development Commission late Wednesday.

Projects in Pueblo, Douglas County, Glendale, Montrose County and Estes Park were not included in Lund’s recommendation. The commission will meet today to choose up to two projects to receive the incentives under the Regional Tourism Act.

Officials in Pueblo and Douglas County said they were disappointed. Representatives of Aurora and Gaylord declined to comment before the commission’s decision.

Gaylord officials have said they won’t proceed with their project without receiving the entire incentive request.

In his recommendation, Lund agreed with a report from a third-party analyst who said Gaylord should receive $81.4 million. Aurora had applied for $153.4 million over 30 years.

Lund’s report examined each of the projects’ “unique and extraordinary” characteristics, finding that Gaylord’s deal with DreamWorks Animation would help it create such a venue.

It noted that critics voiced opposition to the project, contending that it would harm downtown Denver convention and hotel business. But the report said Gaylord’s hotel meets the requirements under the RTA, which allows for a percentage of sales taxes generated by a project to be used to pay for it.

“While we recognize the public’s collective concern, our recommendation is based solely on the statutory requirements,” the report states.

None of the other five projects that applied for the incentives meets all the statutory requirements of the RTA, according to the report, reviewed Thursday by The Denver Post.

Gaylord Entertainment Co. wants to build a 1,500-room hotel and conference center totaling 1.9 million square feet in Aurora on 85 acres near Denver International Airport. Aurora has agreed to provide $300 million in incentives for the $824 million project.

Analysts have speculated that Gaylord might be preparing for a potential takeover, sale or equity injection as it looks to increase shareholder value, according to published reports. It’s unclear whether that will play a role in the commission decision today.

Lund’s recommendation isn’t binding on the commission but is likely to influence its decision.

Under the RTA, the commission can approve up to two projects to receive as much as $50 million a year in incentives.

According to the report, Douglas County, Glendale and Pueblo each had components to their projects that could be considered extraordinary and unique, but the bulk of those projects were similar to other venues in the area.

Douglas County is seeking incentives for an archaeological museum and sports complex. Lund’s analysis found that the Lamb Spring dig site is extraordinary and unique but isn’t likely to generate substantial sales-tax revenue, which also is required under the law. The sports complex is similar to other venues in the region, the report states.

Terence Quinn, director of planning services in Douglas County, said the sports complex would draw athletes and their families from all over the country.

“I really think you have to put politics aside and find reasons why a project qualifies, not why it doesn’t,” he said. “We’ve shown time and again that our project is unique, and we provide visitors and jobs, and we fill a gap.”

The Rugby Hall of Fame, a component in Glendale’s application, would be unique, but Glendale already has rugby fields and the project’s other components are similar to surrounding developments.

The report states that Pueblo’s proposal for PBR (Professional Bull Riders) University would be extraordinary and unique — in fact the only one in the world — but questioned how long it would take to complete the project.

Rod Slyhoff, president and chief executive of the Greater Pueblo Chamber of Commerce, said he hopes the commission will consider Pueblo’s application even though it did not receive Lund’s endorsement.

“PBR has a desire to get their training program up and running as they develop foreign markets,” he said. “We hope everybody steps back and takes a look at the business side of the proposal and recognizes that it is unique.”

Estes Park’s plan for a year-round adventure park that includes snow sports meets some of the requirements, but the report questioned whether it would draw tourists who otherwise would not come to Colorado’s other ski resorts.

Lund characterized Montrose County’s proposal for 141 tourism and commercial projects as conceptual and difficult to analyze. He said several of the projects are on federal lands or involve public natural resources, which could complicate the county’s ability to complete them.

Margaret Jackson: 303-954-1473 or mjackson@denverpost.com