Wilsonville City Departments Award Grants For Tourism, Community Programs

WILSONVILLE, OR – To promote tourism in Wilsonville and Clackamas County, the city's Tourism Promotion Committee recently awarded three grants to fund local projects that aim to draw visitors to the area and boost the local economy.

Tourism Promotion Committee officials on Friday said three grants totaling $20,000 were awarded on April 25 to the World of Speed Motorsports Museum, the Willamette United Football Club, and the Farmlandia Farm Loop.

"The projects funded this year provide real benefit to the larger community, visitors, and area tourism and hospitality operators by promoting local, existing resources, attractions and businesses," Tourism Promotion Committee Chair Jeff Brown said in a statement. "Project advocates brought strong proposals that demonstrate a keen awareness of how to leverage public funds for a greater public benefit."

Here's a detailed breakdown of the three grants:

• For an out-of-area marketing campaign to promote its American Muscle Cars Exhibit, the World of Speed Motorsports Museum received $10,000 to target visitors from Southern Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Northern California, and British Columbia;
• Expanding the social media marketing campaign for its Mt. Hood Challenge Soccer Tournament, the Willamette United Football Club received $8,000 to promote local businesses and attractions for the 10,000 players and families visiting from Washington, California, Idaho, and Montana; and
• To fund the production of durable farm-locator roadside signs, Farmlandia Farm Loop received $2,000, which will help with the Oregon Farm Loop marketing campaign.

According to the city's tourism officials, the Clackamas County Tourism-Community Partnership Program grants are meant to "entice visitors to linger longer" by showcasing all that Clackamas County has to offer –– ostensibly drawing in travelers from communities more than 50 miles away.

The tourism grants are funded by Clackamas County’s 6 percent transient lodging tax, which is paid by overnight lodging visitors.

According to city spokesman Jon Gail, the city-administered county tourism grant program is separate and distinct from the city’s Community Tourism program, which is also awarded by the city’s Tourism Promotion Committee, but under a separate process.

For more information, visit www.WilsonvilleParksandRec.com/GrantPrograms, or contact Program Manager Brian Stevenson at 503-570-1523, or by email at stevenson@ci.wilsonville.or.us.

On April 27, the city's Parks and Recreation Advisory Board awarded four grants as well, supporting community programs through the city's Opportunity Grant Program.

Grants totaling $11,380 were awarded to:

• WilsonvilleSTAGE for the purchase of new lighting and sound equipment ($7,000);
• Trillium Creek Training and Rehab Coalition for t-shirts and a toilet ($2,630);
• West Linn-Wilsonville School District for five Wilsonville robotics scholarships ($1,000); and
• Wilsonville Pickleball Club for tournament related expenses ($750).

The Opportunity Grant program is funded by the city’s general fund to assist local individuals and organizations that further educational or artistic opportunities, encourage and foster diversity, foster advances in education, art or community leadership, and/or involve youth or seniors in community activities.

The city makes available $25,000 in grants each year, with deadlines to apply in October and March.

Photo Courtesy: City of Wilsonville