Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Economic Development Tourism Grants topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council approves $25,000 in spring 2025 sustainable tourism grants from lodging tax
Summary
Grants Pass council approved recommendations from the grant review subcommittee to award $25,000 in lodging-tax-funded tourism promotion grants to seven applicants in the spring 2025 cycle.
The Grants Pass City Council voted to adopt a resolution awarding $25,000 in spring 2025 sustainable tourism grant funds to seven applicants, distributing lodging-tax revenue to local promotional projects.
Dana Pierce of the city's economic development division told the council the program was established by a council resolution in April 2023 and is funded from surplus tourism-promotion lodging tax. "This resolution will award lodging tax funds to 7 grant applicants," Pierce said, outlining the program rules and eligibility requirements tied to ORS 320.35.
The grant review subcommittee recommended full $5,000 awards to Operation Rambo, So Ready Southern Oregon Innovation Hub, and Southern Oregon Horse Racing Association. Partial awards of $2,500 each were recommended for Rogue Valley Classic Cruisers, Blazin' Monkeys LLC, Grants Pass Museum of Art, and the Grants Pass Active Club. Pierce said the spring cycle requested $33,000 but the available pool for the cycle was $25,000; awards are distributed as reimbursements on submittal of eligible receipts.
After a brief council exchange about scoring and fiscal year timing, the council moved and adopted the resolution by roll-call vote with all present voting yes. The packet lists eligibility requirements that include a city business registration, location within the urban growth boundary (with a 5-mile exception noted), lodging-tax-eligible expenses under ORS 320.35, and an expectation the project attract people from 50-plus miles away or lead to overnight stays.
