2023 TOURISM GRANT UPDATE
We are currently in the middle of the 2023-2025 biennial budget process and working on determining what funds may be available for grant opportunities. Please check back in early June for more information.
2022 TOURISM GRANT
Given the significant projected revenue shortfalls associated with the local impacts from the COVID-19 crisis, the Ashland City Council approved a resolution at its March 2, 2022, Council Meeting allocating only tourism-eligible funds for this year’s Grant Program. This does not include an allocation for Economic, Cultural, and Sustainability grants for the 2022 grant year cycle. those who did not wish to apply or do not qualify for tourism funds will not be eligible to receive funding.
We regret the further impacts that this decision may have on your organization and look forward to future opportunities to work together. If funding does become available for other activities, all applicants will be notified of any new processes to receive such funding.
The available funding total is estimated to be $80,000 for the tourism funds for the 2022-23 grant cycle, with a request to focus on events starting July 1, 2022.
An application was required to be submitted for tourism grant funding. This application was due by April 27, 2022, at 4:00 p.m.
The focus of these applications was based on tourism. Our current tourism policy states that for tourism funds, an organization needs to show that you are marketing to and attracting customers and/or visitors at the event or program from more than 50 miles away and that that would result in an overnight stay. A copy of the current grant policy is available on our website. This document outlines what tourism is defined as. We would also reference you to ORS 320.300 which gives the state definition of tourism, which the City abides by.
The Committee reviewing these applications met on May 25th at 9:00 a.m. via Zoom to review applications and make final allocations.
This meeting was held electronically via Zoom and was not broadcasted. A recording of this meeting is available below.
As this meeting was held electronically, written testimony was accepted via email to finance@ashland.or.us on both general public forum items and agenda items as long as it was submitted before 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 24, 2022. Written testimonies submitted by the deadline were made available to the City of Ashland Grants Review Subcommittee prior to the meeting and will be included in the meeting's minutes.
The Ashland City Council will be considering recommended allocation at a regularly scheduled meeting in June 2022.
There will be no presentations to the committees; consideration will be based on the submitted application.
Please feel free to reach out to us if you have any questions at finance@ashland.or.us or by phone at 541-488-5300.
