Competitive Grants Program

Ten percent of Travel Oregon’s budget is dedicated to a competitive grants program to support eligible applicants for projects that contribute to the development and improvement of local economies and communities throughout Oregon by means of the enhancement, expansion and promotion of the visitor industry.

Projects should support Travel Oregon’s vision of ‘an Oregon that is a welcoming destination where tourism drives economic prosperity, benefits the natural environment and celebrates rich, diverse cultures.’

This annual program may vary in areas of focus to support the tourism industry and align with priorities outlined in Travel Oregon’s 10-Year Vision. The program is designed to hold the same area of emphasis over the course of Travel Oregon’s two-year biennial plan. The Tourism Industry Partner Survey is one of multiple inputs that help inform any changes in areas of emphasis for the grant program, entering its next two-year planning cycle.

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Travel Oregon Awards $5 Million in Competitive Grant Funds

The Oregon Tourism Commission, dba Travel Oregon, awarded a total of $5,000,000 to two impactful projects through the agency’s 2026 Competitive Grants Program. This significant investment represents the agency’s commitment to fostering remarkable visitor experiences and stimulating Oregon’s economy by increasing demand for overnight visitation to and within the state.

Travel Oregon Awards $5 Million in Competitive Grant Funds

For the 2025-2027 funding cycle, the Competitive Grants program seeks to extend the visitor season, increasing visitor spending and opportunities for year-round employment.

Anticipated timeline for the next two cycles are as follows:

2026 Competitive Grants Program – Budget: $5M

Large scale investment program opened by the Oregon Tourism Commission.
Funds requests greater than $500,000 with a required match.
Guidelines available: March 10, 2026
Letter of Intent (LOI) period*: April 7 – 27, 2026
*After evaluating Letters of Intent, the Oregon Tourism Commission will determine which proposals will be invited to submit a full application to the program and at what amount
Invited Applications Due: July 1, 2026
Award of funds: September 23, 2026
Funds spent and projects complete: September 23, 2028

The 2026 Competitive Grants decision was discussed and announced during the Oregon Tourism Commission briefing and meeting on September 22-23, 2026. The meeting recordings, grant project videos, meeting resources and materials are available here.

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2027 Competitive Grants Program

Guidelines available: Fall 2026
Award of funds: June 2027
Funds spent and project complete: September 2028

Additional Resources

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Support for Program Applicants

Learn how Travel Oregon helps grant applicants to be successful when applying for funding.

Grant Writing Workshops

Learn more about 2026 grant writing events.

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Previously Awarded Grant Projects

See what grant projects have been funded in the past for inspiration and ideas.

Email Newsletters

Stay up to date with grant opportunities.

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