Fall tourism grant applications open

ROSEBURG, Ore. – The Roseburg Community Development Department and Roseburg Economic Development Commission will take applications for fall tourism grants starting Tuesday, Nov. 1.

The City’s Tourism Grant Program is funded through the Roseburg transient lodging tax collected within city limits. The City offers a spring and fall grant cycle.

“The City is excited about the opportunity to possibly provide tourism grants to those seeking to draw tourists to our area and showcase our beautiful city and surrounding community,” said Roseburg Community Development Department Director Stuart Cowie.

For the fall 2022 grant cycle, applications will be accepted from registered businesses, registered 501(c)(3) organizations and other 501(c) tax-exempt organizations, and governmental entities through 5 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 21. Online applications can be found on the Roseburg Community Development Department’s webpage.

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.

Past grants have been used to market such local events as the Lavender Festival & Farm Tour, the Great Umpqua Food Trail, the Umpqua Velo Club’s Vineyard Tour, the Challenge of Champions bull riding tour, the Ghosts of Roseburg Past self-guided audio 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 vote on submissions in early 2023. For more information, contact the Community Development Department at cdd@cityofroseburg.org or call 541-492-6750.