Travel Oregon recently awarded $3.6 million in grants to recipients around Oregon. These funds will help agencies create incredible visitor experiences for all visitors. With a focus on accessibility and inclusivity, the selected projects range from physical improvements to ensure Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards are met or exceeded to marketing and communications programs that provide opportunities to educate, inform and inspire greater awareness around inclusivity.
Travel Lane County received $20,000 to develop marketing content with a mobility influencer(s), highlighting the accessible experiences and expanding on the accessibility work started with the hiking trails identified through a recent trail accessibility assessment project.
Lane Arts Council received $20,000 to expand its First Friday ArtWalk visitor experience with a year round activation of the accessible Farmer’s Market Pavilion and Plaza and to support the participation of BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ artists who help attract residents and visitors to Eugene to experience local arts and culture.
"It's very exciting to see two local projects receive funding. These are very different projects, which illustrates in a small way the diversity of experiences that visitors and residents have available to them in the Eugene, Cascades & Coast region. We pride ourselves on being accessible and inclusive and these grants will allow us to tell this story through a lived experience for those who choose to participate in the First Friday ArtWalk and through content that highlights how people of all abilities can access our incredible natural areas," noted Kari Westlund, President/CEO at Travel Lane County.
Learn more about accessible experiences in the Eugene, Cascades & Coast region.
About Travel Oregon
The Oregon Tourism Commission, dba Travel Oregon, is a semi-independent state agency whose mission is to inspire travel that uplifts Oregon communities. Collaborating with stakeholders to align as stewards of Oregon, we work to optimize economic opportunity, advance equity and respect the ecosystems, cultures and places that make Oregon… Oregon. Travel Oregon aims to improve Oregonians’ quality of life by strengthening the economic impacts of the state’s $13.9 billion tourism industry, which employs more than 100,000 Oregonians.
