Recreation Ready LOI & Application FAQs

Q: Will I be able to access my Letter of Intent form answers after I submit it to Travel Oregon by the deadline?
A: Yes, in Travel Oregon’s Grant Management platform. If you need support accessing it, please contact Grants@TravelOregon.com.

Q: For the steering committee, the Guidelines indicate there needs to be “At least one outdoor recreation tourism-related business and/or organization representative.” What is this exactly?
A: This could be an owner/manager of a local tour guide or outfitter business that caters to outdoor visitor experiences, such as raft guiding, walking tour, bike shuttle company, etc. And an organization that works in outdoor recreation could be a local trail stewardship non-profit, snow-sport related organization, drift boating/fishing advocacy group, etc.

Q: My project already has a concept plan and/or feasibility plan and/or a master plan. Are we a good fit for the program?
A: Potentially. This program is designed to support projects that are early in the development phase that have not necessarily gone through robust planning yet. However, if your plan is outdated, you have lost momentum on your project, and/or are having challenges to move the project forward, Recreation Ready may be a good fit.

Q: I am prepared and ready to apply for a grant to fund a feasibility analysis or accessibility assessment process for our project. Are we a good fit for the program?
A: Likely not. This program is designed to provide a mix of training and assistance to support projects in advancing towards implementation. Projects should demonstrate a clear need for technical assistance. This need may be reflected in a project that is a newer concept and is in early stages of planning or has existed as a long-standing idea but has struggled to gain momentum due to challenges such as limited capacity, funding constraints, technical barriers, or competing priorities. If the project has goals, timelines, next steps, and budgets established, you are likely better for a grant that does not come with an intensive nine-month planning technical assistance phase.

Q: We want to brand a trail system that exists already. Is this a good project?
A: Eligible projects must include the development of new outdoor recreation infrastructure or the improvement of existing outdoor recreation infrastructure. Ineligible projects include events, certifications, advertising/marketing campaigns, and projects benefiting for-profit businesses.

Q: We have already been awarded a grant recently to measure the feasibility of a 7-mile bike trail. Is this a good project?
A: If you have already received a grant or investment to do a feasibility analysis of your project, and are actively working on that, this program is not a good fit for you.

Q: We are looking at developing a new river trail outside of our downtown area. Is this a good project?
A: Yes, however, to be considered, projects must have clearly identified sites (or potential sites) and include engagement or coordination with the appropriate land managers overseeing those sites. No land manger commitments need to be made at this time for approval of use and development of the sites; however, all potential sites’ land manager representatives must be on the project steering committee to support the process of considering the project on the site(s).

Q: We are looking at developing an accessible trail to access a beautiful waterfall that is currently inaccessible. Is this a good project?
A: Yes. See answer to #6 above. A land manager representative from the trail site must be on the project steering committee.

Q: We are looking at developing a series of campgrounds and trail systems throughout our county. Is this a good project?
A: Yes. See answer to #6 above. A land manager representative from each of the identified or potentially identified sites must be on the project steering committee.

Q: How do I complete the alternate Travel Oregon W9?
A: To complete the form, first please select your tax classification, in PART I question 3. Selecting the accurate classification will make the necessary fillable fields available to edit.

Q: What is the document that I need to upload to show proof of my Federal Tax ID?
A: Proof of Federal Tax ID is a copy of the letter from the Internal Revenue Service showing your Federal Tax ID number. If you are a tax-exempt non-profit organization, and you cannot find your Affirmation Letter, you may contact the IRS Tax Exempt and Government Entities Customer Account Services at 877-829-5500 to request an Affirmation Letter.
If you are a government entity to show proof of Federal Tax ID, you would include your Governmental Information Letter. As a special service to government entities, the IRS will issue a “governmental information letter” free of charge.

If you have LOI or application questions that are not answered here, please contact Grants@TravelOregon.com.