Central Oregon Offering New Grants for Tourism Projects – Don’t Miss Your Chance to Boost Local Growth!

Published on December 10, 2025

Visit Central Oregon, a dedicated marketing agency, is eager to hear from groups or organizations that are planning impactful tourism projects in Deschutes, Crook, Jefferson, and south Wasco counties. The agency is offering grants of up to $300,000 to support innovative initiatives that will benefit the region’s tourism sector. These funds come from the transient room taxes, which are managed by Visit Central Oregon itself.

The Future Fund, which backs this funding initiative, seeks projects that can be quickly implemented and have the potential to make a significant impact on the area. This fund, similar in structure to the Visit Bend Sustainability Fundand the Visit Bend Cultural Tourism Fund, places particular emphasis on projects that are ready to be started immediately. Visit Central Oregon is looking for proposals that align with the region’s tourism goals and can be completed within a short timeframe.

What Does the Future Fund Support?

Projects applying for funding must demonstrate alignment with at least one of the following key areas: sustainability, culture, or access. These priorities ensure that the funded initiatives contribute to the long-term development and prosperity of the tourism industry in Central Oregon while also benefiting the local community and environment.

Visit Central Oregon is particularly interested in projects that come with smaller budgets and can be completed quickly. This approach helps ensure that the fund is accessible to a wide range of organizations and projects, making it an opportunity for local groups to contribute to the tourism sector. All projects supported by the Future Fund must be finished by May 2027.

In its search for impactful projects, Visit Central Oregon is seeking out proposals that are shovel-ready and can be immediately set into motion. Whether the projects focus on sustainable tourism practices, enhancing cultural experiences, or improving accessibility for visitors, they must be viable and realistic within the specified timeline.

An Opportunity for Local Growth

The Future Fund is designed to foster growth in the region by providing financial support to projects that can enhance the visitor experience in Central Oregon. By utilizing transient room taxes, which are generated by tourism activity, the fund reinvests in the local community, ensuring that tourism continues to benefit the area long-term.

Since the program’s inception in 2023, Visit Central Oregon has already awarded over $1.56 million in funding to more than 34 projects. These projects have ranged from Oregon’s DarkSky education initiative to enhancements on the Cline Butte Trail, demonstrating the diverse range of possibilities for funding allocation. This initiative has played a pivotal role in supporting efforts to develop and sustain tourism in the region, encouraging innovative ideas that cater to the evolving needs of visitors and residents alike.

For those interested in learning more about the grant process or seeking guidance on how to apply, Visit Central Oregon will be hosting a webinar at 9 a.m. on Thursday and again on Jan. 7 at noon. This webinar will provide an overview of the application process and detailed information about what the Future Fund seeks to support. Registration for the webinar can be completed through the Visit Central Oregon website at visitcentraloregon.com/industry/future-fund/.

What Are the Selection Criteria for Projects?

The Future Fund is looking for projects that can effectively utilize the provided funding to create tangible benefits for the tourism industry in Central Oregon. Proposals must meet the following criteria to be considered for funding:

1. Sustainability: Projects that focus on creating environmentally responsible tourism experiences, promoting conservation efforts, or reducing the ecological footprint of tourism-related activities.
2. Culture: Initiatives that highlight and preserve the region’s rich cultural heritage, enhance cultural understanding, or provide unique cultural experiences for visitors.
3. Access: Projects that improve access to tourism sites, making them more inclusive and welcoming for all visitors, including those with disabilities or other specific needs.

By focusing on these areas, Visit Central Oregon ensures that the funded projects will help develop the region’s tourism sector in a way that is sustainable, enriching, and accessible to a wide audience.

An Overview of Visit Central Oregon’s Impact

Visit Central Oregon’s funding efforts through the Future Fund are just one part of the agency’s broader commitment to supporting local tourism growth. By allocating funds to projects that meet the agency’s objectives, Visit Central Oregon is fostering a vibrant tourism sector that benefits the entire region.

The organization’s commitment to funding tourism initiatives in Central Oregon goes beyond the Future Fund. As evidenced by the $1.56 million awarded to 34 projects since 2023, Visit Central Oregon is actively working to support community-driven tourism development. The agency’s focus on smaller projects with shorter timelines has proven effective in providing opportunities for local organizations to contribute to the tourism landscape in a meaningful way.

The 2026 grantees for the Future Fund will be announced on April 3, 2026, marking the next milestone in this ongoing initiative to support tourism-related projects in Central Oregon. Organizations that are considering applying for the Future Fund grant are encouraged to take advantage of the upcoming webinars to learn more about the program and ensure that their proposals meet the necessary criteria.

Conclusion

With a total of $1.56 million already invested in over 34 projects, Visit Central Oregon’s Future Fund is an invaluable resource for groups in Deschutes, Crook, Jefferson, and south Wasco counties. The fund is dedicated to supporting projects that are shovel-ready and contribute to the tourism sector through sustainability, culture, and access. By providing grants of up to $300,000, the Future Fund offers a unique opportunity for local organizations to secure funding for initiatives that will have a lasting positive impact on the region.

To stay up-to-date on application details and deadlines, potential applicants are encouraged to register for one of the upcoming webinars and visit the official Visit Central Oregon website for more information.