May 26, 2021 10:30 a.m.

The City of Roseburg Economic Development Commission is taking applications for tourism grants through June 21st.

Communications Specialist Suzanne Hurt said after a COVID-19 pandemic-related suspension last fall and winter, the city is now accepting applications for tourism promotion and tourism-related projects in the Roseburg area, that will draw visitors to the community.

The City’s Tourism Grant Program is funded through the Roseburg transient lodging tax collected within the city limits. Roseburg, which offers a spring and fall grant cycle, suspended the program in October of 2020 after a significant decrease in those revenues.

For the spring 2021 grant cycle, applications will be accepted from registered businesses, registered non-profit organizations, and tax-exempt organizations and government entities.

Grants are typically awarded for such things as advertising, publicizing or distributing information to market special events and festivals designed to attract tourists at tourism-related facilities or capital improvement projects that have a substantial purpose of supporting tourism and accommodating tourism activities.

Hurt said the commission is especially interested in events and projects that entice people to visit from Labor Day through Memorial Day.

Applications for grants of up to $5,000 will be considered by the commission. Larger grant amounts will go to the Roseburg City Council. Applications can be downloaded at www.cityofroseburg.org on the Economic Development Commission’s page.

The Economic Development Commission will review and consider all applications and vote on submissions at the July 13th meeting.