Program Eligibility
Please read the 2020-2021 Oregon Wine Country Plates Matching Grants Guidelines to learn program details and eligibility requirements. View a list of the 2020-2021 award recipients for ideas of projects that have received funding.
General Overview
Oregon Wine Country Plates Grant applicants may apply for grants of up to $50,000 per project and may apply for no more than two projects in the same cycle. Each project requires its own application. Applicants must demonstrate a 1-to-1 match with at least 50 percent of matching funds being cash.
Oregon Wine Country Plates Grant projects must complement wine and culinary tourism promotion.
Eligible Entities
Tourism Promotion Agencies, as defined as:
- Incorporated nonprofits or government units responsible for tourism promotion of a destination on a year-round basis
- Nonprofit entities that manage tourism-related economic development programs and projects
- Regional or statewide associations that represent entities that rely on tourism-related business for more than 50 percent of their total income
Eligible Projects
Grant applicants will need to describe how their grant project complements wine and culinary tourism promotion. While encouraged, it is not required that your grant project aligns with these goals:
- Maximize the economic return on public and private investments in Oregon
- Drive year-round destination-oriented travel from Oregon’s key domestic and international markets by promoting wine and/or culinary tourism
- Develop destination-based products that are in concert with Oregon’s natural environment and that support the stewardship of the state’s resources and its rich history
- Provide strategic industry professional development and training opportunities
Grant projects and initiatives must promote wine and/or culinary tourism in Oregon.
“Tourism promotion” is defined as:
Advertising, publicizing or distributing information for the purpose of attracting and welcoming visitors
Conducting strategic planning and research necessary to stimulate future tourism development
Operating tourism promotion agencies (specific to wine and culinary tourism efforts)
Marketing special events and festivals designed to attract visitors
Eligible projects or initiatives must provide for the improvement or expansion of the tourism economy in Oregon.
Additional project ideas are listed on page four of the Guidelines.