About the Strategic Investment Fund
The Mt. Hood and Columbia River Gorge Regional Tourism Alliance, also known as the Mt. Hood/Gorge RDMO, is launching its first year of the Strategic Investment Fund (SIF) in the region. The goal of the SIF is to make one-time investments into regionally impactful projects that address one or more of the 9 goals for the Mt. Hood/Gorge RDMO.
Additionally, the SIF was created to support important impact areas in the region that the RDMO may not already be investing in. Preference will be given to projects that have support from multiple partners, have other funding and in-kind support secured, and address one or more of the following areas: new/improved tourism product, wayfinding, arts/culture/heritage, fishing, biking, trail congestion solutions, transportation congestion solutions, agritourism, and Travel Oregon menu of investment opportunities that the region has not yet invested in. The funds available are in the 2019/2020 cycle are $31,343. The SIF will reopen in the Fall of 2020 with $40,000 available for investment.
Fund requirements include:
- You must complete your project within 12 months of funding disbursement.
- You must provide a project report within 1 month of project completion.
- If there are any marketing materials you produce with the fund, they must include the logos for the Mt. Hood and Columbia River Gorge RDMO, as well as Travel Oregon.
- There is no minimum amount for a project request. The maximum request for the 2019/2020 SIF is $31,343.
Steps required to complete your SIF Application:
- Read the Mt. Hood and Columbia River Gorge 2019-2021 RDMO Plan
- Read the Mt. Hood and Columbia River Gorge SIF Guidelines
- Connect with you local DMO to ask questions and confirm receipt of your application.
| The Dalles and Dufur: Jim Mejias, The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce, tourism@thedalleschamber.com, 541-296-2231 |
| Hood River, Mosier, Parkdale, and Odell: Alana Hughson, (interim) Visit Hood River, ahughson@intrepidcomms.com, 541-480-3339 |
| Cascade Locks, Corbett, Troutdale, Fairview, Wood Village: Summer or Geoff, West Columbia Gorge Chamber, info@westcolumbiagorgechamber.com, 503-669-7473 |
| Boring, Estacada, The Villages, Government Camp: Aaron Liersemann, Oregon’s Mt. Hood Territory, aaron@mthoodterritory.com, 503-742-5920 |
| Region-wide projects? Reach out to the DMO closest to your place of business. |
Timeline:
November 18th: Applications open
January 6th, 5pm: Applications close
February 3rd: Awardee notifications sent
If your project is selected, the Mt. Hood/Gorge RDMO will follow up with any additional questions related to your project viability and completion timeline.
Applications are now open. They must be completed online here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/mthoodgorgeSIF
