Central Oregon Future Fund Grants Program

The Central Oregon Future Fund is an annual grant initiative administered by Visit Central Oregon, the designated Regional Destination Management Organization for Central Oregon. This program is supported through the Regional Cooperative Tourism Program (RCTP) and reinvests Transient Room Tax (TRT) revenues back into the region. These funds aim to foster tourism infrastructure and programming that enhances the visitor experience while supporting long-term community sustainability. The grant is designed to support new or enhanced projects that directly impact the tourism economy across Deschutes, Jefferson, Crook, and Southern Wasco counties. Projects must align with one or more of the program’s core goals: creating or preserving tourism assets, generating long-term benefits for visitors and residents, and reflecting broad community support. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations, private businesses, federally recognized tribal entities, and municipal governments operating in the Central Oregon region. Applicants are encouraged to align their proposals with one of three strategic pillars: Sustainability, Cultural Tourism, or Access Adventure. Sustainability projects focus on mitigating tourism’s environmental impact through initiatives like trail restoration or dark sky conservation. Cultural Tourism supports arts, agritourism, heritage, and off-season economic development. Access Adventure seeks to improve inclusivity and accessibility for all visitors, including those with disabilities. To be eligible, applicants must present a detailed project plan, demonstrate long-term sustainability, submit two letters of industry support, and comply with relevant regulatory approvals for signage or historic preservation when applicable. The FY24–25 funding pool totals $280,000, with encouraged request amounts ranging from $10,000 to $50,000. There is no formal cost-share requirement, but projects demonstrating at least a 10% cash match receive scoring preference. Ineligible projects include ongoing operations, deferred maintenance, or unrelated infrastructure investments. Applications will be scored by a Grant Advisory Committee based on project clarity, budget alignment, timeline feasibility, sustainability, marketing strategy, collaboration, and contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion. The grant application opens on January 6, 2025, and closes at 5:00 PM PT on February 14, 2025. Grant notifications will be sent on April 4, 2025, followed by contract issuance on April 14. Executed contracts are due back to Visit Central Oregon by April 25, and funds will be disbursed on May 1, 2025. Projects must be completed within a 12-month period. Required reporting includes quarterly updates and a final accomplishment report. All application submissions or inquiries should be directed to [email protected]. The next cycle will reopen on January 5, 2026.

Projects are stronger when they demonstrate collaboration, occur during non-peak season, have DEI strategies, and include a marketing plan and at least 10% match funding.