The Central Oregon Future Fund is a newly established annual grant program managed by Visit Central Oregon. The purpose of this program is to reinvest TRT (Transient Room Tax) dollars generated from overnight visitors back into the region to create positive revitalization for visitors and residents alike.
Donor Name: Visit Central Oregon (VCO)
State: Oregon
County: Selected Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 02/28/2023
Size of the Grant: $20,000 to $150,000
Grant Duration: 12 months
Details:
Visit Central Oregon serves as the appointed Regional Destination Management Organization for the Central Oregon region. The Central Oregon Future Fund is a new grant program managed by Visit Central Oregon. Grant funds are sourced from Visit Central Oregon’s operating budget which is generated from Deschutes County Transient Room Tax (TRT) as well as Travel Oregon’s Regional Cooperative Tourism Program (RCTP).
Mission
Visit Central Oregon inspires visitation to Central Oregon by celebrating their unique culture and diverse landscapes. They drive economic growth for the region with a commitment to sustainability for the long-term vitality of their communities.
Vision
Visit Central Oregon fosters an enduring economy for Central Oregon through a thriving tourism. economy.
Program Goals
All grant applications should align with one or more of the following program goals:
- Invest in projects that create, protect, or preserve a tourism asset
- Create positive and long-term impact for both residents and visitors
- Support projects that have broad community support
Program Areas
The Future Fund supports projects under the three following focus areas.
- Stewardship- Projects that mitigate or improve the impacts of tourism.
- Cultural Tourism- Projects that enhance the region’s economy through cultural tourism, with a focus on non-peak seasons and bolstering regional rural communities
- Access Adventure- Projects that enhance or improve accessibility and inclusion for visitors and community
- Example projects (but not limited to):
- Educational and training programs
- DEI Workshops
- Tourism-related infrastructure for accessibility
- Programs that support inclusivity in the outdoors
- Example projects (but not limited to):
Funding Information
- Visit Central Oregon (VCO) encourages applicants to submit projects between approximately $20,000 to $150,000. Projects above and below these amounts will be considered.
- The grant period is for 12 months.
Eligibility Criteria
Eligible applicants include entity types listed below that are doing business in Central Oregon, including Deschutes, Jefferson, Crook and So. Wasco counties, and can demonstrate direct work in support of improving the economic impacts of Oregon’s travel and tourism industry.
- Non-profit entities
- Private businesses
- Federally recognized tribal entities
- Cities and Municipalities
Project Eligibility and Requirements
To be eligible, projects must meet the criteria listed below.
- Be new or enhanced project
- Provide for the improvement or expansion of the tourism economy in Central Oregon
- Aligns with the stated program areas
- Demonstrates support from other stakeholders (2 letters of support)
- Has a detailed budget with written justification
- Can be completed in the allotted time frame
- Demonstrates long-term sustainability of the project
- Grant projects that involve signage of any kind require approval letters from each organization or entity involved in permitting or approving signage installation. Evidence of approval must be on official letterhead and be included with any other support letters when submitting the application. Applications will not be considered unless evidence of approvals have been submitted.
- Historical local, state and federal compliance approval processes need to be followed. Additional documentation may be required depending on the scope of the project. Project or structure must demonstrate being a cultural, historical tourism asset in the community. If applicable, include evidence that the historic structure is part of a certified local government community, designated Main Street area, or local or National Register historic district or place.
Priority points will be awarded for the following criteria:
- Projects taking place in non-peak season (October 1 to the Friday before Memorial Day Weekend, and not including the week of Christmas to the New Year holidays)
- Projects that demonstrate impact in more than one jurisdiction
- Has a 10% or greater cash or in-kind match (Travel Oregon grant funds may not be used as matching funds for any grant application submitted by the recipient of those Travel Oregon grant funds.). If there is match for the project, include letters of support or an internal letter identifying the source of the match and the amount.
For more information, visit VCO.
