Visit Hood River Opens Applications for $40,000 Community Investment Matching Grant Program

Mar 10

Written By Columbia Community Connection

From Visit Hood River:
By Katie Kadlub

Hood River, Ore., March 10, 2026 — Visit Hood River’s 2026 Community Investment Matching Grant Program is now accepting applications. Now in its fifth year, the annual program supports businesses and fosters community economic vitality throughout the greater Hood River area. This year’s program will award up to $40,000 in matching funds. The grant application process opens on March 16, and applications will be accepted until 5 p.m. on April 30.

As stewards of community resources, Visit Hood River is dedicated to fostering economic vitality and responsible destination development in collaboration with local leaders. The program, entrusted with public and private funds, is committed to executing initiatives sustaining a thriving economy for Hood River’s businesses, residents, and visitors. Each project requires its own application, and applicants must demonstrate the ability to meet the matching funding requirements.

“Offering the Community Investment Matching Grant Program for a fifth year truly underscores how much these projects enhance, promote, and sustain Hood River as a vibrant destination,” said Katie Kadlub, CEO of Visit Hood River. “The program fuels community growth and reinvestment by supporting projects that bring new events, programs, and initiatives to life, and we’re proud to provide this opportunity every year to help our community shine.”

Since its inception in 2022, the program has awarded 19 matching grants totaling almost $105,000 to 14 businesses and organizations throughout Hood River County. Examples include support for a non-profit focused on watersports activities and water safety, outdoor art gallery installations, mountain biking and recreation trail restoration, and assistance in developing collateral and online advertising for lodging properties to boost mid-week visitation.

The Visit Hood River Community Investment Matching Grant Program application and guidelines are available in English and Spanish on the Visit Hood River website.

English version available HERE.

Spanish version available HERE.

About Visit Hood River:

Located at the crossroads of the spectacular Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area and the magnificent Cascade Range and just an hour from Portland, Hood River offers outdoor recreation, dramatic vistas, historic landmarks, bountiful fruit, and fantastic food, wine, beer, and cider. With accommodations ranging from luxury hotels to historic B&Bs, Hood River is a four-season destination for families, outdoor enthusiasts, weddings, corporate events, and more. A perennial favorite among travel tastemakers, the destination was most recently named a 2025 Sunset Travel Awards “Top Tastings” winner, following honors as a Best Adventure & Explorations Town (2023) and Nature Lovers Destination (2022) by Sunset. It was also recognized as a Top 10 Wine Destination by Wine Enthusiast (2017) and Best Adventure Town in the West by Sunset (2015). Visit Hood River supports economic development, community development, and destination marketing for Hood River, Cascade Locks, Mosier, Odell, Parkdale, Pine Grove, and Mount Hood. For more information, call 800-366-3530 or visit visithoodriver.com.