PORTLAND, Ore., February 25, 2021 / PRNewswire / – The Oregon Tourism Commission, dba Travel Oregon, has awarded $ 913,000 Developing, enhancing, and managing key visitor experiences that are COVID-19-appropriate will contribute to economic recovery, improve local viability, and provide access to a wide variety of explorers through the Destination Ready program.
“These Destination Ready projects are critical to ensuring that visitors and Oregoners have access to safe and enjoyable experiences as they rebuild Oregon Tourism industry while tackling the pandemic, “said Todd Davidson, CEO Travel Oregon. “Communities across the state rely on tourism as an integral part of their economy. These communities need visitor-ready attractions and experiences that continue to prioritize public health, and Travel Oregon is excited to support these local initiatives that are one The state’s economic recovery will play an important role. “
Originally as announced $ 250,000 Opportunity to Travel Oregon received more than $ 4 million for inquiries over 135 applications. In response to this high demand, the agency reviewed the internal program dollars and reallocated resources to increase the prize amount $ 913,000This meant that 34 projects could be awarded nationwide. Projects are managed by the agency’s Destination Development team and range from direct investments to more collaborative projects where staff work closely with awardees to implement.
The Destination Ready program winners are:
- Greater Hells Canyon Council ($ 21,711) to help map and maintain trails for the Blue Mountains Trail, a 556 mile hiking experience in northeast Oregon.
- Salmonberry Trail Foundation ($ 22,000) for trail improvements and a new volunteer program to support the Salmonberry Trail.
- Mt. Hood & Columbia River Gorge Regional Tourism Alliance ($ 30,000) for creating a hop-on hop-off trolley system for the Columbia Gorge Waterfall Corridor.
- visit Central Oregon ($ 40,000) Start of the transport pilot project “Navigate Oregon” in cooperation with OregonTransportation company based in Northwest Navigator.
- Eastern Oregon Visitors Association ($ 20,000) prepare for land management and maintenance efforts Eastern Oregon Most of the public areas visited for the coming season, including the Wallowa Whitman National Forest, Owyhee Region, Steens Mountain Wilderness and the Alvord Desert.
- Discover your forest ($ 12,500) to install trailhead signage in the Deschutes and Ochoco National Forests, which advance governance by giving visitors access to resources and information to help support their national forests.
- Pioneer of Oregon ($ 11,100) Incorporating Take Care Out There’s responsible recreational news pillars into materials used by the Trailhead Ambassador program.
- travel Southern Oregon ($ 40,000) to make major infrastructure improvements Spring Creek Access points dealing with heavily used impacts in Collier State Park.
- Cascade Volunteers (18,175 USD) Work with tour operators to create volunteer travel packages that will support both local accommodations and efforts to restore trails in the event of forest fires McKenzie River Gear.
- Applegate Trails Association ($ 25,171) to fund the installation of a vault toilet and secure recreational signage in the trailhead parking lot on the East Applegate Ridge Trail.
- Mt. Hood & Columbia River Gorge Regional Tourism Alliance ($ 31,375) for planning and building a comprehensive signposting program for 8 miles of new hiking trails leading from Mt. Hood Meadows in 2020.
- Port of Cascade locks ($ 25,000) to fund improvements to the Cascade Locks Port parking lot that will provide access to multiple recreational modalities.
- Southern Oregon Trail Alliance ($ 16,622) for the post-Klondike fire rehabilitation of sections of the Taylor Creek Trail and the construction of five trailhead kiosks along the Taylor Creek Trail.
- Eastern Oregon Visitors Association ($ 24,500) for updates to six Eastern Oregon Farm Trail brochures with sales and the creation of a new on-site kiosk.
- Columbia Gorge Tourism Alliance ($ 15,000) for updates to the East Gorge Food Trail brochure, creation of new bilingual signage, training, and a corporate digital footprint.
- visit Corvallis ($ 13,400) for updating and distributing a brochure on the Mid-Willamette Valley Food Trail, as well as for digital footprint review and business support.
- Rogue Valley winemakers ($ 31,300) for a Digital Footprint audit and technical assistance to help 19 wineries in Rogue Valley improve their online intelligence and presence.
- US Farm Stay Association ($ 11,500) for a digital footprint audit and technical assistance for 12 farm visits Oregon to improve their online information and presence.
- Columbia County Business Team ($ 28,600) Development of four bicycle hubs with luggage racks, bank, repair station, signage and information kiosk in three municipalities in Columbia County.
- Prosper Portland ($ 50,000) to provide safe bike and walking experiences and improve places where people can stop to enjoy local businesses along the Portland Green Loop.
- City of Coburg ($ 11,700) Developed a bicycle hub with a fixation station, lockers, picnic table, signage and chargers at the southern anchor of the Willamette Valley Scenic Bikeway.
- City of Westfir (USD 17,506) for the development of bicycle hubs to complement washing and repair stations for mountain bike destinations in larger regions Oak alley and Westfir Area.
- Tugman State Park ($ 23,378) for installing an ADA-accessible kayak launch on Eel Lake.
- Willamette Valley Visitors Association ($ 50,000) for improvements along the Willamette Water Trail, including portable flotation devices, safety kiosks, river guards, river sanitation support, and discovery paddles for BIPOC community groups.
- Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife ($ 25,000) Establish improvement of infrastructure and accessibility Marr pond as the only ADA accessible fishing facility in Wallowa County.
- Tillamook Coast Visitors Association ($ 10,000) for installing two kayak launchers at water access points in Nehalem and buy an extra beach wheelchair for that Netarts/.Oceanside Area.
- City of Garibaldi ($ 16,715) visitor seats suitable for additional infrastructure for dumpsters as well as COVID-19 for the Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad.
- Portland Bureau of Transportation ($ 47,600) for the development and implementation of temporary signposts and placemaking for 20 Portland Healthy Business plazas that lead people to outdoor dining areas in high-traffic areas of the city.
- Albany Downtown Association ($ 43,487) for improvements to parking and common areas to increase outdoor seating and expand alfresco dining in historic downtown Albany.
- Town of Cottage Grove ($ 30,000) for the construction of three public outdoor parklets to support the dining and business operations of the Downtown Cottage Grove historic district.
- City of Florence ($ 44,161) for additional seating areas, dumpsters, and bike racks Florence Old town and along the promenade of the port of Siuslaw.
- City of John Day ($ 35,000) Creation of a communal “pit stop” with food truck stands, improved parking facilities and new public toilets.
- Port of Bandon ($ 20,000) for creating an outdoor seating area along Bandons historic waterfront.
- The Dalles Main Street ($ 50,000) Expansion of the Parklet / Pedestrian Bypass infrastructure for 2020 to support additional outdoor restaurants on the main street in 2021.
About Travel Oregon The Oregon Tourism Commission, dba Travel Oregon, works to improve the visitor experience by providing information, resources, and travel planning tools that inspire travel and consistently convey the exceptional quality of Oregon. The commission aims to improve the quality of life for Oregon people by strengthening the state’s tourism economy, which employs thousands of Oregonians nationwide. visit traveloregon.com to learn more.
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SOURCE Travel Oregon
