SALEM, Ore., Sept. 21, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Increased
signage, a Columbia River Gorge trails restoration program and
access points to the East Applegate Ridge Trail are a few of the
products that will soon be available for Oregonians and our
visitors to enjoy. The Oregon Tourism Commission, dba Travel Oregon
awarded $400,000 in matching grant
funding to organizations around the state to enhance, expand and
promote the visitor industry.
The competitive grants program awards eligible applicants
funding for projects that contribute to Oregon's tourism economy in communities
throughout the state that support Travel Oregon's vision of "a
better life for Oregonians through strong, sustainable local
economies." More than $1.5 million
have been awarded through Travel Oregon's grants program over the
past nine years to 125 projects across the state.
"The grants we awarded this year help us to fulfill Travel
Oregon's mission to inspire travel that drives sustainable economic
development," said Todd Davidson,
Travel Oregon CEO. "By supporting these innovative projects,
we are better able to share the stories of Oregon's people and places, deliver
world-class experiences, strengthen the industry and ensure the
preservation of Oregon's way of
life and its natural places."
The 29 grant projects awarded this year will be completed by
October 2018.
The Travel Oregon Competitive Small Grant awardees and their
projects are:
- Applegate Trails Association to construct and pave an
access road and parking area for the East Applegate Ridge Trailhead
at Hwy. 238
- Association of Oregon
Counties (AOC) to implement Phase I (stakeholder outreach,
preliminary project organization and prioritization) for the
development of the unfinished segments of the Oregon Coast
Trail
- Butte Creek Mill Foundation contribution to the rebuild
and restoration of the historic Butte Creek Mill to make it
accessible to all through appropriate modifications in structure
while preserving the historic integrity
- Cascade Pacific Resource, Conservation & Development
to develop marketing materials to help educate the public, elected
officials and visitors on the serious impacts invasive species have
on the Oregon dunes and the
importance of preservation of open sand
- Chehalem Valley Chamber of Commerce to develop a
multimedia marketing and advertising campaign to inspire travel to
Newberg and the surrounding area
during the shoulder season
- Discover Your Northwest (dba Discover Your Forest) to
support Deschutes Trails Collaborative (DTC) efforts in convening
diverse stakeholders to find socially equitable and economically
feasible solutions to create a sustainable trails system in
Central Oregon
- Douglas County Parks Department to develop and install
wayfinding signs for recreational assets in Winchester Bay and the Windy Cove Recreation
area, as well as the development of an informational kiosk
- Dunes City to repair and install signage at the Siltcoos
Lake boat ramp and along the Siltcoos river
- Eastern Oregon Visitors Association for development of
an Eastern Oregon microsite and
presence on the Brand USA website
- VisitTheUSA.com
- EdĂșcate Ya to create partnerships with tourism
businesses that have primarily English and Spanish speaking staff.
Offsetting 75 percent of costs for partner businesses will give
staff the opportunity to complete both Spanish and English language
training, as well as Latino cultural competency trainings
- Friends of the Columbia Gorge for development and
marketing of Columbia River Gorge car-free itineraries that promote
the Gorge's transit system - especially in high-visitation sites -
and to guide travelers to less visited eastern areas
- Friends of the Rogerson Clematis Collection to design
and install signage at the entry points to the Rogerson Clematis
Garden and provide interpretive signage throughout key areas of the
garden
- Go Wild: American Adventures
LLC for participation in the 2018 Go West Summit trade show, to
connect with the world's top international tour operators
- Hanthorn Cannery Foundation to install signage at the
Pier 39 Hanthorn Cannery Foundation site in Astoria that will welcome visitors to the
museum and gift shop
- Josephy Center for Arts and Culture to promote the
Northeast Oregon Arts Trail through a marketing campaign on OPB's
radio, television and online channels
- Maupin Area Chamber of
Commerce to expand the video library of outdoor recreation
assets to use for marketing the Maupin area online and on
television
- Mid-Columbia Economic Development District for
development of a brand and collateral that inspires visitors to
come to Dufur
- Oregon Coast Visitors Association to purchase American
Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI) curriculum for
Waldport High School students to be trained on, and certified in,
job-ready tourism and hospitality skills. Classes and training
certification will also be available for adults in the central
coast seeking employment and career advancement
- Oregon Environmental Council to create a public art
tourism loop to celebrate Oregon's
legacy of environmental protection, including the Beach Bill,
Bottle Bill and Bike Bill
- Oregon International Port of Coos
Bay for the purchase of weather-resistant ADA picnic
tables at the Charleston Marina RV Park
- Oregon State Parks Foundation to construct two bike pods
strategically placed along the Oregon Coast Bike Route at
Fort Stevens State Park and
Cape Lookout State Park
- Portland Playhouse for a marketing and advertising
campaign to promote the Portland Playhouse's newly renovated space
(and 10th anniversary season) through website optimization and a
presence in their key target markets of Seattle, San
Francisco, Los Angeles,
Phoenix and Minneapolis
- Restore Oregon to
develop marketing materials for a statewide historic theater
conference, while also making attendance more accessible by
providing registration and lodging costs for those in financial
need
- Salem Brewery Association to develop a marketing and
advertising campaign to promote the Salem Ale and Cider Trail and
its passport program
- Trailkeepers of Oregon
to develop a "$1 for Gorge Trails"
program that collects money, one
dollar at a time, at participating Columbia River Gorge
businesses through online reservations, resort fees and point of
sales expenditures. Funds will directly support trail work projects
in the region
- Trans-Cascadia Backcountry Mountain Bike Guiding and
Outfitters LLC. for participation in the 2018 Go West Summit
trade show, to connect with the world's top international tour
operators
- Travel Medford to host
a Medford area familiarization
tour for sporting event decision makers
- Umatilla Chamber of
Commerce for creation of a destination development plan that
will allow them to map assets, identify niche travel markets, and
prioritize product development
- Visit McMinnville for
website redesign and enhancement that will incorporate the Oregon
Tourism Information System database and additional trip-planning
tools
Travel Oregon's next
Competitive Small Grants funding cycle will open in July 2018.
For more information on Travel Oregon's grants program, contact
Michelle Woodard at
Grants@TravelOregon.com or visit:
Industry.TravelOregon.com/Grants.
About Travel Oregon
The Oregon Tourism
Commission, dba Travel Oregon, works to enhance visitors'
experiences by providing information, resources and trip planning
tools that inspire travel and consistently convey the exceptional
quality of Oregon. The commission
aims to improve Oregonians' quality of life by strengthening the
economic impacts of the state's $11.3
billion tourism industry that employs more than 109,000
Oregonians. Visit TravelOregon.com to learn more.
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SOURCE Travel Oregon