DENVER -- Gov. Bill Owens signed a $23 million economic stimulus package Monday that will give tourism a boost, put ads for Colorado agriculture on billboards and provide assistance to job seekers.

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"We are investing in our future and that investment will start paying dividends very shortly," Owens said after he signed the bill.

Among the key components are increased funding for tourism promotion -- economic development funds to recruit new businesses for Colorado -- re-employment help for those who are out of work -- and expanded markets for agricultural products.

Sen. Peggy Reeves, D-Fort Collins, a member of the Joint Budget Committee that helped find the money for the programs, said lawmakers needed to help people struggling to make ends meet, even as the state struggled to cut $809 million from this year's budget.

"We can't just continue on and not take some affirmative acts to help. As you know, we have an economic crisis on our hands," she said.

The money includes:

$2 million to the Department of Agriculture to expand market for agricultural products, helping a $16 billion industry that employs 105,000 people.

An additional $10 million for tourism promotion through the Colorado Tourism Board and $4.4 million for economic development through the state's Economic Development Commission, helping an industry that employs 200,000.

$7 million for re-employment assistance through Colorado Workforce Centers run by the Department of Labor and Employment, an agency that helped 220,000 people last year caught by the economic downturn.

Tourism board member Eugene Dilbeck said his group will decide by April 19 how to spend the money. He said the advertising campaign will first try to help boost summer tourism, then follow with campaigns for fall and winter.

"We think this is probably the quickest way to stimulate Colorado's economy," said Pete Meersman, president of the Colorado Restaurant Association.

He also said the campaign needs to have a statewide appeal, not just aimed at the ski and resort areas.

Owens said the state will have to find funds in the next fiscal year if assistance is to continue.

State Agriculture Commissioner Don Ament said one of the first goals is to get 670 agriculture and food suppliers on the Internet to promote their products, and put ads on buses and billboards.

Ament said the department will try to make the money go farther by partnering with other agricultural advertisers to add a plug for Colorado.

Owens had talked of the stimulus plan since his state of the state address in January, when he also said that taxes won't be raised to help pay for it.