Fall tourism grant cycle opens in Roseburg

ROSEBURG, Ore. – The Roseburg Community Development Department began accepting applications for fall 2024 tourism grants starting Tuesday, Nov. 5.

Successful applicants may win grants of up to $7,500 or even more to help draw visitors to beautiful Roseburg and surrounding areas. The Roseburg Community Development Department and Roseburg Economic Development Commission will take applications for tourism grants until 5 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 31.

Last April, the City Council authorized the Economic Development Commission to award tourism grants up to $7,500. Previously, the commission could award grants of up to $5,000. The Council could award larger grants. Applicants must submit well-researched, well-supported applications that identify exactly how they would use this funding.

“I encourage local businesses and nonprofits with ideas for new tourism events to throw their hat in the ring,” said Roseburg Community Development Department Director Stuart Cowie. “We look forward to reviewing applications.”

The City’s Tourism Grant Program is funded through the Roseburg hotel/motel lodging tax collected within city limits.

The City offers a spring and fall grant cycle. For this cycle, applications will be accepted from registered businesses, registered 501(c)(3) organizations and other 501(c) tax-exempt organizations, and governmental entities. Online applications can be found on the Community Development Department’s “Applications, Forms and Fees” webpage.

Grants are 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 events as the Lavender Festival & Farm Tour, Great Umpqua Food Trail, Umpqua Velo Club’s Vineyard Tour, Challenge of Champions bull riding tour, Ghosts of Roseburg Past self-guided audio tour, and Umpqua Valley Arts Summer Arts Festival. One 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 at its next meeting on Thursday, Jan. 23.

For more information, contact the Community Development Department at cdd@cityofroseburg.org or 541-492-6750.