2019 Capital Tourism Grant Recipients

In 2019 year, the Washington County Visitors Association awarded $163,500 in capital tourism grants.

The WCVA’s Tourism Development Grant Program provides matching grants to government entities and 501(c) non-profit organizations in Washington County for the development or redevelopment of a tourism-related product. The program supports organizations with projects that will positively impact and increase overnight visitation to Washington County.

2019 Tourism Grant Recipients

The Beaverton Downtown Association received $44,500 for its CoSign Program, a collaborative business signage project that brings artists, business owners and sign fabricators together to create 10-12 unique and artistic business blade signs in historic downtown Beaverton. These signs will project perpendicular from exterior business walls, drawing attention to the businesses in downtown that might be overlooked.

The Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals was granted $19,000 for a parking lot expansion. Currently, the museum only has eight paved parking spaces and another 20 in graveled areas. Since 2012, the museum has experienced a 34% increase in total admissions, and the parking lot expansion will add 60 unpaved spaces. This project will help alleviate pressure during high-traffic events like Thunder-Egg-Stravanza, Summer Fest and Fossil Fest. In addition, the expansion will allow the museum to offer opportunities to host more events.

The Northwest Fencing Center (NWFC) was awarded $100,000 for competition expansion. This project will allow NWFC to develop 14,000 square feet of space to include 16 regulation-size competition strips and exapanded spectator viewing area. Other additions will include a pro-shop, restrooms, welcome area, video review area with live results technology, a  first-aid area, and food trucks and covered seating area.