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<![if !supportLists]><span style="mso-list:Ignore">1.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span><![endif]><b><u>Brownfields Conference</u></b> Registration for the Oregon Brownfields Conference, May 16-17, is now open. Information on the conference can be found at:
<a href="http://www.oregon4biz.com/Brownfields-Conference-2016/">http://www.oregon4biz.com/Brownfields-Conference-2016/</a> There are scholarships available to assist with offsetting the cost of registration and/or hotel. The scholarship application is available
online through the Conference webpage. Also, this year there is a separate Pre-Conference Brownfields 101 Workshop on Sunday, May 15<sup>th</sup> for those who are new to brownfields redevelopment or who would like a refresher on the basics.<o:p></o:p></p>
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<![if !supportLists]><span style="mso-list:Ignore">2.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span><![endif]>In a recent article in US Today, a recent poll shows the best time to own a small business is now. Here’s a link to the full story:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:.25in"><u><o:p><span style="text-decoration:none"> </span></o:p></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><u><span style="color:blue"><a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/small%20business/2016/02/22/small-businesses-optimistic/80464200/">http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/small business/2016/02/22/small-businesses-optimistic/80464200/</a></span></u><o:p></o:p></p>
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<![if !supportLists]><span style="mso-list:Ignore">3.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span><![endif]><b><u>Diamonds in the Rough</u></b>: Just a reminder grant applications are due May 13, 2016. DIAMONDS IN THE ROUGH grants are to restore or reconstruct the facades of buildings that have been heavily altered over the years. The purpose
is to return them to their historic appearance and potentially qualify them for historic register designation (local or national). These grants are part of the SHPO's Preserving Oregon Grant Program for the 2013-15 biennium. Grants may be awarded up to $20,000.
Additional info is on the web at <a href="http://www.oregonheritage.org">www.oregonheritage.org</a><o:p></o:p></p>
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<![if !supportLists]><b><span style="mso-list:Ignore">4.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></b><![endif]><b><u>Travel Oregon Opens Application Process for 2016-2017 Matching Grants<o:p></o:p></u></b></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#333333">Travel Oregon is pleased to announce the opening of two Matching Grants Program opportunities with a combined $560,000 of available funds.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#333333">The program makes awards to eligible applicants for projects that contribute to the development and improvement of the tourism economy in local communities throughout
the state in support of Travel Oregon’s mission of "a better life for Oregonians through strong, sustainable local economies."
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#333333"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#333333">The
<a href="https://t.e2ma.net/click/5j64n/5f3f3c/xtwt1f"><span style="color:#005F34">2016-2017 Travel Oregon Matching Grants</span></a> cycle has $500,000 available for grant awards. Eligible projects may be awarded up to $100,000 (see
<a href="https://t.e2ma.net/click/5j64n/5f3f3c/dmxt1f"><span style="color:#005F34">application guidelines</span></a> for specific project eligibility requirements). <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#333333">An additional $60,000 of available funds will be administered through the
<a href="https://t.e2ma.net/click/5j64n/5f3f3c/teyt1f"><span style="color:#005F34">Oregon Wine Country Plates Matching Grants Program</span></a> that awards up to $20,000 for wine and culinary tourism initiatives.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#333333">Both grant programs require applicants to match the awarded grant dollar-for-dollar. Up to 50% of the match may be in-kind.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#333333">Cities, counties, port districts, federally recognized Tribes, non-profit entities in Oregon involved with tourism promotion and development are eligible to apply.
Projects should target the development of tourism infrastructure or strategic collaborative marketing initiatives that align with local, regional or statewide efforts and increase the likelihood of visitation from outside the local area. Partnerships with
local, regional and statewide tourism organizations, economic development and/or government organizations and tourism-related businesses are key to a successful grant application.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#333333">Travel Oregon will hold
<a href="https://t.e2ma.net/click/5j64n/5f3f3c/96yt1f"><span style="color:#005F34">webinars</span></a> on February 24 and March 30 to outline the process of applying for a grant. Additional details are available at: <a href="https://t.e2ma.net/click/5j64n/5f3f3c/pzzt1f"><span style="color:#005F34">Industry.TravelOregon.com/Matching-Grants</span></a>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#333333">Important dates:</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#333333"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">February 24, 2016 | Travel Oregon Matching Grants Program Webinar<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#333333;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2">
<span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">March 30, 2016 | Travel Oregon Matching Grants Program Webinar<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#333333;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2">
<span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">May 2, 2016 | Deadline to contact your DMO and RDMO about your project idea<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#333333;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2">
<span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">May 23, 2016 | Online Grant Project Idea Worksheet due to Travel Oregon<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#333333;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2">
<span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">June 30, 2016 | Online Grant Program Application Due<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#333333"> </span><i><span style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#333333">. </span></i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#333333"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1"><![if !supportLists]><span style="mso-list:Ignore">5.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span><![endif]><b><u>Hope VI Grant Opportunity: </u></b>HUD’s posted a NOFA for the HOPE VI Main Street Revitalization Program at
<a href="http://grants.gov"><span style="color:blue">grants.gov</span></a> at <a href="http://www.grants.gov/search-grants.html?agencies%3DHUD%7CDepartment%20of%20Housing%20and%20Urban%20Development">
<span style="color:blue">http://www.grants.gov/search-grants.html?agencies%3DHUD%7CDepartment%20of%20Housing%20and%20Urban%20Development</span></a> The application deadline is April 12<sup>th</sup> and only one grant – of up to $500,000 – will be awarded this
year. It was a grant program created by HUD at the urging of Senator Grassley of Iowa and is targeted to rural communities with very small public housing authorities and an active Main Street (or its equivalent) program. The basic theory is that the housing
authority uses the grant to produce some affordable housing units along the Main Street commercial corridor (usually on the second or third story of a retail establishment). <o:p></o:p></p>
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