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Grants to Oregon Nonprofits and Agencies to Promote Tourism

Oregon Wine Country License Plates Matching Grants Program


Agency
State

GrantWatch ID#
170018

Funding Source
Travel Oregon
Array ( )

Geographic Focus
USA: Oregon

Important Dates
Deadline: 03/13/23 5:00 PM PST Save

Grant Description
Grants to Oregon nonprofit organizations, units of government, and regional and statewide associations for projects that promote tourism. Eligible uses of funds include marketing events and festivals, operating tourism promotion agencies, strategic planning and research, and advertising and publicity for the purpose of attracting and welcoming visitors. Projects must promote wine and/or culinary tourism.

With funding provided through sales of the Oregon Wine Country license plate, Travel Oregon administers a program to make grant awards available to “tourism promotion agencies” for projects that promote wine and culinary tourism.

Eligible projects or initiatives must provide for the improvement or expansion of the tourism economy in Oregon. Projects must promote wine and/or culinary tourism. “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.

The project is intended to increase the likelihood of visitation from 50 miles outside the local area. Though it is not a requirement, ideally, the project will lead to an increase of overnight stays in local lodging facilities. Partnerships with tourism entities and businesses, economic development and/or government entities are looked upon favorably and strengthen an application.

The following project types will be given preference in funding: 

  • Print/broadcast advertising.
  • Digital advertising, including social media and search.
  • Bolstering marketing presence in target markets or maintaining a presence in existing markets.
  • Content development that supports tourism marketing, including photography and video.
  • Familiarization tour support.
  • Marketing of wine/culinary events.
  • Strategic planning/research or feasibility studies to stimulate future tourism development.
  • Planning or marketing initiatives that address seasonality and/or recovery or resiliency from wildfire/climate change issues.
  • Projects that emphasize strengthening diversity, equity or inclusion.


Recipient

Additional Eligibility Criteria
Eligible applicants include those that are “Tourism Promotion Agencies” in Oregon. ORS 320.300 defines “Tourism Promotion Agency” as:
- An incorporated nonprofit organization or governmental unit responsible for the tourism promotion of a destination on a year-round basis.
- A nonprofit entity that manages tourism-related economic development programs and projects.
- A regional or statewide association that represents entities that rely on tourism-related business for more than 50% of their total income.

Ineligible
Ineligible applicants include those listed below:
- For-profit entities.
- Entities that have a bankruptcy or other financial corruption within the past five years.
- Entiites that have failed to fulfill past grant award requirements within the past three years (includes: project completion, submission of required grant reporting, proper use of grant funds).

The following activities are not eligible for grants:
- Projects that are not directly related to promoting Oregon’s wine or culinary industry.
- Mobile app development.
- Costs of staff or consultant salaries, mileage or associated fees that are not directly associated with wine and culinary tourism promotion.
- Projects that emphasize private profitability and/or investments that could be considered a regular cost of doing business.
- Deferred, regular or ongoing maintenance and upkeep.
- Cannabis or tobacco tourism-related projects.

Pre-Proposal Conference
2023-2024 Oregon Wine Country License Plates Matching Grant Lunch Hour Q&A
February 13, 2023
12-1 p.m.
https://industry.traveloregon.com/opportunities/event/2023-2024-oregon-wine-country-license-plates-matching-grant-lunch-hour-qa/

2023-2024 Oregon Wine Country License Plates Matching Grant Lunch Hour Q&A
February 23, 2023
12-1 p.m.
https://industry.traveloregon.com/opportunities/event/2023-2024-oregon-wine-country-license-plates-matching-grant-lunch-hour-qa-2/

Pre-Application Information
Applications will be accepted from Feb. 13-Mar. 13, 2023. Grant recipients will be announced on May 11, 2023.

Below is a timeline of the process:
- Feb. 13, 2023 (8 a.m. PST) – Online application opens.
- March 13, 2023 (5 p.m. PST) – Online application closes.
- May 11, 2023 – Oregon Wine Country Plates Grant application status notification (work can officially begin).
- May 31, 2024 – Project Complete and Grant Accomplishment Report submitted to Travel Oregon.

Applicants must demonstrate a 1-to-1 match with at least 50% of matching funds being cash.

2023-24 Oregon Wine Country License Plates Matching Grant Application Documents: https://industry.traveloregon.com/opportunities/grants/wine-license-plate-grant-program/2023-2024-oregon-wine-country-license-plates-matching-grant-program/2023-24-oregon-wine-country-license-plates-matching-grant-application-documents/

2023-24 Oregon Wine Country License Plates Matching Grant FAQs: https://industry.traveloregon.com/opportunities/grants/wine-license-plate-grant-program/2023-2024-oregon-wine-country-license-plates-matching-grant-program/2023-24-oregon-wine-country-license-plates-matching-grant-faqs/

Additional Funding Information

Estimated Total Program Funding:

$560,000

Estimated Size of Grant
Oregon Wine Country License Plates Matching 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.

Term of Contract
- May 11, 2023 – Oregon Wine Country Plates Grant application status notification (work can officially begin).
- May 31, 2024 – Project Complete and Grant Accomplishment Report submitted to Travel Oregon.

Contact Information
Apply online: https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=otc

If you are uncertain if you meet the eligible applicant criteria, reach out to Travel Oregon at grants@traveloregon.com or call 971-352-6719.

Questions?
Reach out to program staff:
Michelle Woodard
Grants Manager
michellew@traveloregon.com

Louisa Mariki
Grants Coordinator
louisam@traveloregon.com

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