2024 Central Oregon Awardees

Antelope 3, LLC – Antelope Pavilion
$50,000
This project will provide a safe and inclusive “stopping place” for travelers looking to use restrooms, refill on water, and/or relax. It will also serve to kickstart the local economy by providing a multi-use outdoor event space.

Bend Endurance Academy – Enhancement and Accessibility Project
$13,200
Event outreach and adaptive climbing enhancements that aim to increase capacity and successfully draw climbing competitions, camps, and clinics during non-peak seasons.

DarkSky Oregon – Beautiful Oregon Night Skies Educational Outreach
$24,500
This project seeks to halt and reverse the disappearance of our starry night skies in Central Oregon through educational outreach with creative public service announcements that encourage voluntary change of outdoor lighting.

Explore Prineville – High Desert Moonfest
$28,725
This festival celebrates an end to the farming season that has historically driven the Crook County economy since its founding.

Gramma Roses – Accessibility Project
$20,000
This project provides accessibility enhancements to increase the total interior square footage available to utilize for the petting zoo and visitors with disabilities.

Kah-Nee-Ta Resort – Artwork Design Project
$22,431
This project will enhance the cultural experience of the Resort by partnering with a local artist for authentic artwork designed and painted on the exterior of its 20 new teepees.

Oregon Equestrian Trails – Cline Buttes Trail Signs
$28,510
This project will provide signage at over 50 square miles of BLM land between Bend, Redmond, and Sisters.

So. Wasco Alliance – Simnasho Tribal Market Project
$42,064
The Market will create opportunities for tribal members and travelers to meet each other, and be a welcoming space that is rich in cultural experience for all ages.

Asterisk Astronomy – Astronomy Education
$16,155
This project will enhance the visitor experience at Asterisk Observatory, an astrotourism site hosted at The Spot at Smith Rock, which provides astronomy outreach and education.

Central Oregon Trail Alliance – Cline Butte Mountain Bike Trail Enhancement
$45,900
The project will build 2.5 miles of well-designed and sustainable new trail at Cline Butte, mitigating the impact for years to come. The trail system is already popular with residents and travelers due to its proximity to resort destinations and the communities of Tumalo, Redmond, Bend, and Sisters.

Ensoterra – Improving Adaptive Water Sports and Accessibility in Central Oregon
$21,865
Marketing and outreach strategies of Ensoterra’s programs for improving accessibility and knowledge for anyone with a disability to enjoy the best fishing, kayaking, and standup-paddle boarding locations throughout Central Oregon.

The Father’s Group – Juneteenth Jubilee
$14,000
This event invests in the local economy and celebrates the diaspora of African, Caribbean, and Black American culture.

High Desert Museum – Diverse Stories Exhibition Series
$50,000
The High Desert Museum will produce a series of new, innovative exhibitions and programs focused on diverse stories and cultures that bolsters cultural tourism.

Onward Project – AdvenChair AdvenTours
$44,650
The Onward Project and Wanderlust Tours will provide AdvenChair AdvenTours, a series of guided trips in natural areas of Central Oregon, designed for people with disabilities.

ScaleHouse – Accessible Bend Design Conference Project
$28,000
This conference will expand the Design Humanity project in October 2024, and includes investment in leaders, speakers, and artists from Warm Springs to attend and be included in the artistic program.