Travel Oregon Awards $3.6 Million in Grants to Fund Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Projects Across the State
Summary
This impactful grant cycle reflects the agencys ongoing commitment to equity and to enhancing local economies, creating jobs and strengthening communities across the state by investing in the creation and promotion of remarkable visitor experiences.Travel Oregons 2023 Competitive Grants Program centers funding through an equity lens around accessibility and inclusivity for underserved and under-resourced communities including people with disabilities, BIPOC, Oregons nine federally recognized tribes and LBGTQIA+. Grant funds are intended to support projects that align with Travel Oregons vision of a welcoming destination where tourism drives economic prosperity, benefits the natural environment and celebrates rich, diverse culturesand must either enhance and/or expand tourism infrastructure to be more accessible and inclusive or promote accessible or inclusive tourism experiences or facilities.More $20 million has been awarded over previous years to support hundreds of projects throughout the state, championing miles of new or improved mountain biking and hiking trails, promoting heritage and cultural tourism experiences in communities across Oregon, supporting local guides and outfitters, marketing food and wine trails, making Oregon tourism offerings such as beaches, museums, theaters and outdoor recreation more accessible and inclusive for alland so much more.To say Im inspired by the potential of this years grant awards would be an understatement, said Todd Davidson, CEO of Travel Oregon. Travel Pendleton received $57,600 to create and expand marketing exposure across the Pacific Northwest for Jackalope Jamboree, an inclusive music festival highlighting communities that are underserved and under-resourced, including BIPOC, Oregons nine-federally recognized tribes and LGBTQIA+.Four Rivers Cultural Center and Museum received $20,000 to make the Hikaru Mizu Japanese Garden more accessible and inclusive by ensuring the grounds are navigable by wheelchair users and improving the experience of the garden for individuals with sensory disabilities.Clackamas County Tourism and Cultural Affairs received $69,550 to develop and promote more inclusive content for their marketing and promotion channels targeting travel markets and underserved communities including people with disabilities and BIPOC and LBGTQIA+ communities.Friends of the Columbia Gorge received $21,150 to improve accessibility in the Gorge by providing information in English and Spanish through new signage at key recreational sites and by translating the Find a Hike website.City of Waldport received $100,000 to install accessible pathways for the historical Heritage Pavilion in the newly dedicated Southworth Park in honor of early Black pioneer Louis Southworth, a former slave who purchased his own freedom and homesteaded near Waldport where he operated a ferry across the Alsea River.Coquille Indian Tribe received $42,500 to develop and install five interpretive panels at the Mill Casino and RV Park in Coos Bay focusing on the Coquille Indian Tribes cultural heritage and their relationship to the landscape along Southwest Oregons waterways.Alberta Abbey Foundation received $54,000 for promoting inclusive tourism to Portland for arts programming by Black artists, including marketing for Black History month and Black Music month programming in February and June.Hoyt Arboretum Friends received $100,000 to enhance tourism infrastructure within the park to become more accessible and inclusive by improving the access point at a trailhead to support recreational activities.Mt. Ashland Association received $50,000 for a new ADA-compliant shuttle to provide reliable transportation for people with disabilities who participate in events on Mt. Interpretive signage focused on the locations heritage and interpretive displays will be installed and the site will host Native American cultural programming and inter-tribal gatherings, among other things.Oregon Garden Foundation received $100,000 to improve access to the Garden for those with both age-and disability related mobility issues by installing automatic doors, repairing or improving pathways for accessibility and adding signage to designate accessible routes.Lane Arts Council received $20,000 to expand its First Friday ArtWalk visitor experience with a year-round activation of the accessible Farmers Market Pavilion and Plaza and to support the participation of BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ artists who help attract residents and visitors to Eugene to experience local arts and culture.Dirty Freehub received $96,660.00 to create a pathway to off-road cycling (ex, gravel cycling) for those challenged by health conditions, physical fitness or a disability.See the full list of awardees here.