Source: Industry.TravelOregon.com

Direct investment and technical assistance for the development, enhancement and stewardship of key visitor experiences that are COVID-19 appropriate, will aid in economic recovery, enhance local livability and provide access to a diversity of explorers.

The deadline for applications is Feb. 3 at 12 p.m. PST.  Apply now.

Full details of this opportunity are available here https://industry.traveloregon.com/opportunities/programs-initiatives/destination-ready-program/

Oregon’s communities and destinations have been impacted by COVID-19, wildfires and significant social and civic unrest. As communities rebuild and reimagine their tourism offerings in a manageable, sustainable way, it can stimulate the local economy, protect and enhance local resources and foster community pride. In advance of what we anticipate will be a very active summer travel season, Travel Oregon’s Destination Ready program aims to partner with Oregon’s tourism destinations—geographic areas consisting of a set of resources and attractions that are visited by tourists—to bolster key tourism products and experiences that will aid in destination recovery and resiliency.

The program is led by Travel Oregon’s Destination Development (DDEV) department, which has a strong history of engaging with tourism destination organizations and partners to support the development of the key visitor experiences, businesses and organizations that make up a destination’s fabric. To continue this work amid unpredictable industry conditions, DDEV has curated a set of visitor experience project categories and associated projects that are available to destination organizations for immediate funding and support by Travel Oregon.

Project awards can range from $10,000 – $50,000 in combined cash and consulting time per project category; all projects are expected to be “shovel-ready” and completed within six months of the execution of a financial agreement. This $250,000 direct investment program is part of a larger suite of investments Travel Oregon will be deploying in 2021.

Interested organizations must be prepared to engage in this short-term project commitment through their leadership, participation and implementation. Applications must demonstrate the capacity to manage the funds and ensure successful project execution by the applicant, partner organization or entity.

View the program overview document.

Destination Ready Eligible Projects

The following projects are supported by the Travel Oregon Destination Ready program. Please note that outcomes generated through this program do not include or guarantee marketing or promotion in Travel Oregon channels.

Food Trails or Culinary/Farm Trails  

• Opportunity: Financial and/or technical support for existing food or culinary/farm trails with the goals of enhancing visitor experience and increasing business sales.
• Eligible projects: 
  • Brochure design update/reprint: Funding to update trail brochures for accuracy and improved visitor engagement. Travel Oregon staff or contractor technical assistance is available.
  • Oregon Welcome Center distribution: Funding to cover distribution costs of placing a food or farm trail brochure in Travel Oregon Welcome Centers for one year.
  • Business engagement workshop and follow-up: Travel Oregon will fund a contractor to assist in agenda development, train/present at the workshop, and provide follow-up technical support to businesses as needed.
  • Digital footprint audit and assistance for businesses (see Small Business Marketing and Technical Support section below).
  • Signage: Funding for the creation and/or production of signs.

Water Recreation

• Opportunity: Financial and/or technical support for projects with the goal of developing, improving and stewarding water recreation as a key visitor experience.
• Eligible projects:
  • River, lake or beach clean-up events and programs.
  • Boat launch completion or improvement of existing launches, including ADA improvements.
  • River or water trail mapping (online or printed).
  • Signage projects (e.g., river mile markers, educational signage, etc.).

High-Use and Destination Critical Outdoor Recreation

• Opportunity: Financial and/or technical support for projects with the goal of addressing impacts on public lands resulting from high levels of visitation and/or to support stewardship of outdoor areas that are central to a destination’s visitor offerings.
• Eligible projects:
  • Trail development, clearing, improvement and other stewardship efforts and volunteer events.
  • Recreation site infrastructure improvements and stewardship (e.g., signage, kiosks, map updates).
  • Garbage management solutions.
  • Parking/transportation strategies and solutions.
  • Responsible recreation messaging development and/or deployment of Take Care Out There messaging framework and assets.

Bike-Friendly Destinations  

• Opportunity: Financial and/or technical support for initiatives around creating a more bike-friendly destination in areas that have determined bicycle tourism to be a key visitor experience.
• Eligible projects:
  • Development (by contractor or local lead) of a curated set of bike routes for integration into tourism platforms and other apps/websites.
  • Investments in bike hubs that may include racks, fix-it stations, signage, water, bathrooms, camping etc.
  • Efforts to increase quantity of Bike Friendly Businesses in the destination.

Small Business Marketing and Technical Support 

• Opportunity: Financial and/or technical support for efforts to train businesses in marketing fundamentals and provide hands-on support to improve business marketing with the goal of improving accuracy and quality of business information available online.
• Eligible project: 
  • Digital footprint audit and assistance for businesses: Travel Oregon to fund a contractor to work directly with a targeted group of businesses in a destination to identify and implement areas for improvement on social media, website, and online listings. Destinations should focus on a category of businesses (e.g., food and drink), or a specific geography (e.g., main street) for this project.

Business District / Main Street Improvement 

• Opportunity: Financial support of infrastructure projects and programs with the goal of improving a destination’s business district or main street.
• Eligible projects:
  • Funding to support an organized volunteer cleanup event or beautification program in a business district.
  • Creation of outdoor public spaces for people to eat, drink and patronize businesses safely, following state guidelines.
  • Signage projects including development of information kiosks and wayfinding programs.