We know our coastal partners are brimming with great ideas to make this an even better place to visit and live. Finding funding to bring those ideas to life is often one of the biggest hurdles, and the grant landscape can be complex and competitive. Navigating it takes strategy, clarity, and confidence. That’s why this month, we partnered with Travel Oregon to host a hands-on grant writing workshop at the Overleaf Event Center in Yachats.
Spearheaded by our Central Coast Destination Coordinator Jesse Dolin, this pilot event was designed to help attendees think like a grantor. Travel Oregon’s Grants Manager Deb Vaughn and Stewardship Investments Manager Dawn Smallman led an engaging, practical session that pulled back the curtain on how grant applications are evaluated and scored. Participants reviewed mock proposals, discussed scoring as a group, and gained insight into what makes a compelling application.
We had a packed house, with representatives from Yachats, Waldport, Newport, and Lincoln City chambers, the Historical Society, Port of Alsea, Habitat for Humanity, Lincoln City Parks and Rec, and more. Katie McNeil from Pacific Sourdough even brought her famous coffee cakes—and joined the conversation herself.
Huge thanks to Deb, Dawn, and Jesse for making this workshop a success. And thank you to everyone who showed up ready to dig in, ask questions, and build their skills. Based on the feedback, we’re excited to bring more workshops like this to the Oregon Coast soon.