Fall tourism grant applications open

ROSEBURG, OR – The Roseburg Economic Development Commission will take applications for fall tourism grants starting Monday, Nov. 1.

After a COVID-19 pandemic-related suspension last fall and winter, the City will begin accepting applications for tourism promotion and tourism-related projects in the Roseburg area that will draw visitors to the city.

The City’s Tourism Grant Program is funded through the Roseburg transient lodging tax collected within city limits. The City, which offers a spring and fall grant cycle, suspended the program in October 2020 after a significant decrease in those revenues.

For the fall 2021 grant cycle, applications will be accepted from registered businesses, registered 501(c)(3) organizations, other 501(c) tax-exempt organizations and governmental entities through Thursday, Dec. 23. Online application forms can be found on the City website beginning Nov. 1.

Grants are typically awarded for such things as advertising, publicizing or distributing information to market special events and festivals designed to attract tourists or to attract and welcome tourists at tourism-related facilities; or capital improvement projects that have a substantial purpose of supporting tourism or accommodating tourism activities.

Grants have been used to market such local events as the Lavender Festival & Farm Tour, the Great Umpqua Food Trail, the Challenge of Champions bull riding tour and the Umpqua Valley Arts Summer Arts Festival. One grant was used to produce the Master National Retriever Club training catalog for the AKC Master National Hunt Test held in Roseburg in 2018.

Another grant was used by Wildlife Safari to buy a portable stage, canvas tent and generator so the park could expand year-round events.

The commission is especially interested in events and projects that entice people to visit from Labor Day through Memorial Day, but all applications are strongly encouraged. The Economic Development Commission will review and consider all applications and then vote on submissions at the Jan. 11, 2022, meeting.