2026-2028 Competitive Grants Program
Grant funds are intended to support projects that align with Travel Oregon’s vision: Oregon is a welcoming destination where tourism drives economic prosperity, benefits the natural environment and celebrates rich, diverse cultures. Fluctuations in the seasonality of visitation offer key points in time when strategic investments can positively impact visitor spending. By emphasizing a destination stewardship approach, funds can benefit the economy while reducing environmental impact and balancing visitor experience with resident sentiment.
The 2026 Competitive Grants Program will focus funding on projects that extend the visitor season, increasing visitor spending and opportunities for year-round employment. These projects must be completed and show impact between September 23, 2026 and September 23, 2028 to be considered for funding. The Oregon Tourism Commission is mandated to fund programs and base grant awards on demonstrated return on investment, geographic equity and community support.
Eligible Applicants
Eligible applicants include those listed below that are doing business in Oregon and can demonstrate direct work in support of improving the economic impacts of Oregon’s travel and tourism industry:
- Local governments (city or county, not state or federal agencies)
- Port districts
- Federally recognized tribes
- Non-profit entities registered with the Oregon Secretary of State’s Office
Ineligible applicants include those listed below:
- For-profit entities
- Entities that have a bankruptcy or other financial corruption within the past five years
- Entities that have failed to fulfill past grant award requirements within the past three years, including project completion, completion of required grant reporting, and proper use of grant funds
Only one proposal may be submitted per entity, and only one proposal may be submitted per project (multiple entities may not request funding for the same project).
To Get Started
Review the complete 2026-2028 Travel Oregon Competitive Grants Guidelines available here.
Timeline
- Tues, April 7, 2026 (8 a.m. PT) – Letter of intent form available online
- Mon, April 27, 2026 (5 p.m. PT) – Deadline to submit letter of intent
- Wed, June 10, 2026 (8 a.m. PT) – Application form available online (for invited applicants)
- Wed, July 1, 2026 (5 p.m. PT) – Deadline to submit application
- Wed, September 23, 2026 – Funding decisions announced
- Tues, August 31, 2027 – Mid-Project Report due (includes updated project status and budget-to-date)
- Fall, 2027 – Presentation of results-to-date at Oregon Tourism Commission meeting (exact date TBD)
- Sat, September 23, 2028 – Project completion deadline (grant funds spent)
- Mon, October 23, 2028 – Accomplishment Report due (includes final budget and proof of spending)
- Winter, 2028 – Presentation of results at Oregon Tourism Commission meeting (exact date TBD)
How to Apply
Step 1: Submit a letter of intent form between 8 a.m. PT on April 7, 2026 and 5 p.m. PT on April 27, 2026 via the online
system.
Step 2: Staff will review your letter of intent and confirm your eligibility.
Step 3: The Oregon Tourism Commission will review eligible letters of intent and may suggest revisions to strengthen
your project concept. Request amounts will be determined at this time by the Oregon Tourism Commission.
Step 4: If invited to submit a full application, use the email notification to access and complete the online application by 5
p.m. PT on July 1, 2026. No applications or materials will be accepted after this deadline.
Before beginning the online process, we encourage applicants to gather all information and documents listed in the guidelines.
Letter of Intent
All potential applicants need to submit a letter of intent form by the 5 p.m. PT deadline on April 27, 2026 to be considered
for funding. The LOI questions are on pages 12 and 13 of the guidelines.