[OMS_MANAGERS] FW: OMS Round-up - update

Tue Jan 27 11:02:38 PST 2026

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Sheri Stuart (she, her, hers) |  Oregon Main Street Coordinator
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Oregon Heritage, Oregon Parks and Recreation Department
Cell: (503)551-3705
725 Summer St NE, Ste C
Salem, Oregon 97301

Visit our website<http://www.oregonheritage.org/>, Like us on Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/OregonHeritage>, Visit our Blog<http://oregonheritage.wordpress.com/>, Join the Oregon Heritage News e-news<https://omls.oregon.gov/mailman/listinfo/Heritage> Check our LinkedIn<https://www.linkedin.com/company/oregon-parks-and-recreation-department/>.

From: STUART Sheri * OPRD
Sent: Tuesday, January 27, 2026 10:46 AM
To: Oregon Main Street Network Members <oms_managers at omls.oregon.gov>
Subject: OMS Round-up

What’s inside:

  *   OMS Updates: January MOM Schedule, Annual Participation Agreements
  *   MSA Updates: Main Street America Academy
  *   From the Network: Fun Valentine’s Promo from MDA, and campaign from Cascade Locks Main Street
  *   Funding Opportunities: Oregon Heritage, National Trust Preservation Fund, AARP Community Challenge, America 250th, National Association of Realtors
  *   Learning Opportunities: Blue Avocado Webinar

OMS Updates:

  *   January MoM Call Schedule - Thursday, January 29th, 9:30 am.  | Access Link: Mornings on Main Link<https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83792327319?pwd=5dDiLoBqsGk2eTUEKWDI1demY1aqM6.1>, Password: 760959 – We have an open agenda this week so let me know if there is a topic you would like to share.

  *   Annual OMS Participation Agreements: Thank you to all who have signed and submitted the annual OMS Participation Agreement. All tiers must sign and submit your agreements. Your primary point of contact should have received the Agreement that is relevant to your OMS Tier Level through AdobeSign. For Connected Communities, we send the agreement once you have completed the 2025 on-line annual report. Our preference is to have the agreement signed through AdobeSign to aid us in keeping track of the 100 or so agreements we receive. Let us know if you are having issues with AdobeSign and we can find a workable solution.

Main Street America Updates:

  *   Main Street Academy is up and running. We had a wonderful introduction to this platform by Tasha Sams, Director of Education, last week on our MoM call. Attached is a little information about this platform. There are several free training opportunities which you can share with your board, volunteers, and partners. Kudos to MSA for making this platform so accessible. See attached flyer with more information.

  *   Main Street Now early bird registration closes in 7 days on February 3! If you plan on attending Main Street’s premier annual conference in Tulsa this year, I suggest you register by their early-bird deadline to take advantage of a significant discount. Click here<https://mainstreet.org/resources/main-street-now-2026> for more information about the conference.  And, you can check out Roundhouse Foundation’s scholarship funding opportunity – see below.

From the Network:

  *   From Cascade Locks – ok, this one you just have to see - It's hilarious and awesome! https://www.mainstreetcascadelocks.org/

  *   Here’s a fun promotion/image building idea from the McMinnville Downtown Association:

This February, we’re celebrating the people and places that make downtown McMinnville what it is with Love Letters to Downtown ❤️
Submissions are now open, and we’re inviting the community to share shoutouts, stories, and notes of appreciation for the local businesses, organizations, and individuals who show up every day for our downtown. Whether it’s a favorite shop, a go-to restaurant, or a nonprofit making a difference, this is your chance to say thanks.
Throughout the month, we’ll be collecting and sharing your love letters to spread a little gratitude and highlight what makes downtown McMinnville so special.
Want to participate? Send your love letter to info at downtownmcminnville.com<mailto:info at downtownmcminnville.com>.
Let’s make February all about appreciation and celebrate why downtown McMinnville means so much to all of us!
Funding Opportunities:

  *   Just Opened This Week - Oregon Heritage | Access Link<https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/OH/Pages/Grants.aspx> for more information and how to apply

Both the Diamonds in the Rough and Preserving Oregon grant opportunities opened this week. Diamonds in the Rough funds façade improvement projects that bring back the historic character of buildings that may have lost historic features over the years. Preserving Oregon is for preservation projects on buildings that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in addition to projects related to identifying, preserving and/or interpreting archaeological sites.

  *   National Trust Preservation Funds | Access Link<https://savingplaces.org/preservation-funds>

National Trust Preservation Funds (NTPF)<https://savingplaces.org/preservation-funds> are an umbrella group of grant funds intended to encourage preservation at the local level by supporting ongoing preservation work and by providing seed money for preservation projects. There are three deadlines per year in February, June, and October. Grants from this fund are generally between $2,500 and $5,000. Out-of-round funding can occur (when available) in the case of an emergency. Email the Grants Office for more information. Several grants in the NTPF portfolio are limited to a specific type or geographic area but allow for larger grants. These funds use the NTPF application form and deadlines<https://savingplaces.org/preservation-funds>.

  *   Roundhouse Technical Assistance Grant | Access Link<https://roundhousefoundation.org/grant-stories/technical-assistance-grant-tag/>

Are you looking to attend a conference or training? Looking to pick up a piece of technical equipment to accomplish your revitalization goals? Check out the Roundhouse Technical Assistance Grant specifically targeting rural heritage organizations in Oregon.

  *   AARP Community Challenge Grants (Closes – March 4) | Access Link<https://www.aarp.org/livable-communities/community-challenge/info-2026/2026-challenge.html?CMP=EMC-DSM-NLC-OTH-LC-2250600-2280207-9890908-NA-01072026-LivableCommunities-F1-2026challenge-BTN-ALL-Community-&encparam=ETn%2b5BhSuJsooZogjFm2UhHdmdTUXvw46ooCk9YEm%2fw%3d>

AARP's annual "quick-action" grant program funds local projects that help make communities more livable for people of all ages. They are hosting a live webinar about grant, the application process, and the types of projects it funds on Tuesday, January 27 (at 2 p.m. ET, 11 a.m. PT). Note: The event is optional for interested applicants and will be recorded for later viewing. Click here<https://virtualevents.aarp.org/2026GrantWebinar/en/registration> to register.

  *   250th Grants (Closes – March 1, 2026) | Access Link<https://www.oregon250.org/america-250-oregon-grant/>

Both Oregon 250th Grants and National Endowment for the Humanities grants to celebrate the 250th are available.

  *   National Association of Realtors Placemaking Grant (Closes – Oct 15) | Access Link<https://realtorparty.realtor/community-development/placemaking>

Next round opens January 2026. Placemaking Grants fund state and local REALTOR® association-led projects that create new, outdoor public gathering spaces and destinations in a community on unused or underused sites.

Learning Opportunities:
Blue Avocado
Webinar: What Every Nonprofit Needs to Know About Common Legal Requirements, Thursday, February 5, 2026 • 11 am PT; 2 pm ET (60 min.) | Click Here<https://niagroup.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_XJisn3KHTuqL6XfaIjUq5w#/registration> to register
Operating a nonprofit requires navigating legal challenges and requirements, which can seem like a daunting task. Elizabeth Schmidt, author of “Rules of the Road for Nonprofit Leaders: Using the Law to Achieve Your Mission,” has translated those rules into understandable, affirmative statements that make these rules accessible. Blue Avocado tapped her to lead a discussion and answer your questions about staying compliant with the law.

This webinar will review some of the key principles outlined in her book including:
•             Why it is important to lead with the mission
•             Governance and fiduciary duties
•             Legalities surrounding advocacy work
•             Value of proper documentation and public disclosure

When you register, please submit any questions you would like answered about understanding nonprofit law.

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Sheri Stuart (she, her, hers) |  Oregon Main Street Coordinator
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Oregon Heritage, Oregon Parks and Recreation Department
Cell: (503)551-3705
725 Summer St NE, Ste C
Salem, Oregon 97301

Visit our website<http://www.oregonheritage.org/>, Like us on Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/OregonHeritage>, Visit our Blog<http://oregonheritage.wordpress.com/>, Join the Oregon Heritage News e-news<https://omls.oregon.gov/mailman/listinfo/Heritage> Check our LinkedIn<https://www.linkedin.com/company/oregon-parks-and-recreation-department/>.

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