Competitive Grants Program
This program awards eligible applicants for projects that contribute to the development and improvement of local communities throughout the state.
These grant projects support Travel Oregon’s mission of ‘a better life for all Oregonians through strong, sustainable local communities that welcome a diversity of explorers.’ To be eligible for funding, projects must be for tourism purposes and demonstrate a direct tie to the mission of Travel Oregon.
COVID-19 Emergency Response Grant Program
The application process has closed. Grant awardees will be announced on June 3 via email.
In an effort to support entities that have direct ties to driving overnight visitation, Travel Oregon has established a COVID-19 Emergency Response Grant Program. Continued operations of small businesses and regional and local destination marketing/management organizations will be vital to economic recovery efforts.
COVID-19 Emergency Response Grant Program
| GRANT PROGRAM | GRANT FUNDING THRESHOLDS | TIMELINE |
|---|---|---|
Grants Program Opens Aug. 2020 Closes Sept. 2020 Award Announcement - Dec. 2020 | Up to $20,000 ask (required 10% cash match) | within 12 months |
Grants Program Postponed indefinitely. Funding for this program will shift to COVID-19 Emergency Response Grants to be announced in early May 2020 | $20,000 - $100,000 ask (required 25% cash match) | within 24 months |
Grants Program This program is opened only under the direction of the Oregon Tourism Commission | Greater than $100,000 ask (required 50% cash match) | within 10 years |
Competitive Small Grants Program
Travel Oregon’s 2019-2020 Competitive Small Grants program was open from May 20, 2019-June 19, 2019. Read the award announcement to learn about the 30 projects that received funding.
Competitive Medium Grants Program
Travel Oregon’s 2018-2020 Competitive Medium Grants program was open from April 23, 2018-June 6, 2018. Read the award announcement to learn about the 12 projects that received funding.
Competitive Large Grants Program
At its public meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2017 the Oregon Tourism Commission voted to open their Competitive Large Grants program for applications. The Commission further chose to designate $2.5 million dollars from the current fiscal year and an additional $2.5 million dollars over the course of the 2017-2019 biennium to initially fund this program. Eligible projects may be funded over more than one biennium.
Competitive Large Grant applications are for grants greater than $100,000 and must demonstrate at least a 50 percent cash match. Large grant awards are intended to create statewide impacts or impact multiple regions. Eligible projects must provide for the improvement or expansion of the tourism economy in Oregon by showcasing the state on a national or global stage or is a world-class asset.
During a public meeting of the Large Grants Review Committee on Monday, Nov. 27, it was determined that out of 15 applications received, a single applicant would move forward as a finalist to present to the Oregon Tourism Commission on Monday, Dec. 4.
At its Tuesday, Dec. 5 Oregon Tourism Commission meeting, the Commission awarded Oregon21, based in Eugene, $10 million for the 2021 IAAF World Championships that will showcase Oregon on a broad international scale. The grant awardee will be funded $2.5 million per year for four years. Read more about the 2017-2019 Competitive Large Grants awardee. Travel Oregon’s Competitive Large Grants are only opened at the direction of the Oregon Tourism Commission.
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