"Be not afraid of growing slowly, be afraid of standing still."
– Chinese Proverb
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November Network Meeting Success
Last Thursday, November 18th, we had a great gathering for our annual planning session. It was a great meeting that gave folks the opportunity to connect, updates were shared on the amazing work that has been completed the last year, as well as efforts still underway.
Prior to the network wide gathering, we had a series of six different discussions over two weeks to brainstorm and identify the projects for 2022 that take CGTA closer to our 15-year vision. The chart below reflects the projects ideas for 2022. For easier viewing of the chart, click here.
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During the network meeting, these projects were presented to the group and before parting ways folks were invited to vote for projects they viewed most important. If you were unable to attend the meeting and would like to vote, please click the button below.
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Interested in seeing the meeting results after voting?! Click here.
If you have questions or other ideas, please reach out to Emily Reed at emily@columbiagorgetourismalliance.org.
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Welcome New Board Members!
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Katie Kadlub
Visit Hood River
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Kat Smith
Skamania Lodge
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Tammara Tippell
Mt Adams Chamber
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Kieron Weidner
First Nature Tours
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Support Our Work as a Network With Your Membership
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Gorge Featured in National Geographic Article:
25 Amazing Journeys for 2022
Columbia River Gorge, Oregon/Washington
"Wine and dine mindfully. The nation’s largest National Scenic Area is probably not where you think it is. It straddles the Oregon-Washington border and comprises 293,000 acres of public and private lands along the Columbia River Gorge.
With Mount Hood nearby, the area attracts more than two million visitors annually. A nonprofit alliance is helping to reduce tourist impact on local nature and culture. This collaboration has become a model for other regions building a sustainable tourism economy.
Columbia Gorge Tourism Alliance initiatives include the visitor education program Ready, Set, Gorge, and the East Gorge Food Trail, a network of farms, historic hotels, wineries, and other homegrown experiences. Partnering with other local organizations and educating visitors benefits everyone, says Ali McLaughlin, owner of MountNbarreL, which offers wine-tasting bike tours and other car-free experiences."
Click here to read the full article.
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Washington Tourism Alliance Announces New Rural Tourism Support Program
SEATTLE (Nov 11, 2021) - The Washington Tourism Alliance (WTA) is launching a new Rural Tourism Support (RTS) Program, and has selected Tri-County Economic Development District (TEDD) in Northeast Washington as its Inaugural destination partner through a competitive process and review by a panel of industry experts.
The RTS program will serve as a seminal phase of development for communities across the state as well as a key strategic element In the WTA’s broader destination development programming. The program and WTA’s ongoing commitment to rural and tourism dependent communities operates in tandem with broader marketing programs and a focus on statewide natural wonders and outdoor recreation, attraction of international visitors, identification of local visitor offerings and assistance for tourism areas adversely impacted by natural disasters.
The RTS program will be facilitated by sustainable tourism expert Kristin Dahl, founder of Crosscurrent Collective, and it will use a community-based progressive approach to achieve short-term and long-term goals.
Click here for the full press release.
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Holiday Events with GOrge Pass
We have exciting holiday events coming up in the Gorge. Use your GOrge Pass to attend without any of the parking hassles!
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WORKSHOPS, GRANTS, EVENTS & OPPORTUNITIES
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Business Oregon Economic Recovery Plan: Forum & Survey
Business Oregon is working on a statewide recovery plan and would like you input. There are two ways to partake:
1. Attend the Regional Forum
Register to attend
December 2, 3:00-3:45PM | CENTRAL | Crook, Deschutes, Hood River, Jefferson, Sherman, and Wasco
Join us in a regional economic forum to discuss current challenges in your local economy and ideas for addressing them. These sessions will consist of small groups of community members representing various stakeholders in the local economy. Please help us spread the word to other business leaders or economic development practitioners that might be interested in attending.
2. Complete the Stakeholder Survey
Survey Link
Share the issues that continue to impact your businesses and regional economy and tell us how you would weigh priorities for response. The survey will be available November 22 - December 12.
For more information contact Michael Held 971-599-9489 or at michael.held@biz.oregon.gov
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SBDC Business Development Workshops
December 2, 2021
December 8, 2021
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Lecture Series: Sense of Place
Business Oregon is working on a statewide recovery plan and would like your input.
*UPDATE*: Mt. Adams Institute is closely monitoring the increases in COVID-19 case numbers and current public safety recommendations. Based on that information, the October, November, and December Sense of Place Lectures will be online via Zoom. We will re-evaluate in December to determine if we can safely shift to in-person presentations based on current statistics and public health guidelines.
December 8, 2021 - Debris Flows from Mount Adams and Mt. Hood (Register Here)
Speaker: Richard Iverson
January 12, 2022 - Native Bees of the Gorge
Speaker: Frances Ambrose Fischer
February 9, 2022 – A Model of Health: Community Health Workers in the Gorge
Speakers: Maria Antonia “Toña” Sanchez and Joel Pelayo
March 9, 2022 – Rajneeshees in Oregon
Speaker: Les Zaitz
April 13, 2022 – Forests, Wildfire, Timber Wars and Finding Common Ground: A Panel Conversation
Speakers/Panelists: Jay McLaughlin, Les Perkins, Susan Jane Brown, Emily Platt, moderated by Sarah Fox
Visit their website for more information.
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Professional Certificate in Cultural Heritage Tourism:
Information Session & Indigenous Marketing Spotlight
December 14, 2021 | 9 a.m. PT
Join us for a 30-minute information session on the Professional Certificate in Cultural Heritage Tourism offered by the George Washington University International Institute of Tourism Studies (GW) in partnership with AIANTA. This 7-week online program provides tourism entrepreneurs and community leaders with the tools to identify and develop tourism assets.
During this information session, GW Program Manager, Anna Barrera, will provide an overview of program content, structure and time commitment. Session participants will have the opportunity to hear from one of the program instructors, Talia Salem, who teaches the Tourism Marketing course. Ms. Salem will provide a case study showcasing how an Indigenous tourism department pivoted their marketing efforts during the pandemic as well as a preview of the Tourism Marketing course topics and learning objectives. There will be an opportunity for Q&A following the presentation.
Register here.
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Photo Contest: Life in the Gorge
Deadline: December 20, 2021
The Columbia Gorge has a deeply rooted connection with visual storytelling, celebrating scenic beauty, and amplifying local experiences. Now MCEDD would like to see your visual stories! Show what you love most about the Gorge by submitting up to five high-resolution photos. Winning entries will be featured in MCEDD marketing pieces – online and in print, and category winners will receive a $50 gift card to a locally-owned business of their choice.
Learn more about the contest here.
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Grant Opportunity: Economic Development Administration
The Economic Development Administration (EDA) has released $240M in competitive grant funds from the American Rescue Plan to support travel, tourism, and outdoor recreation.
Grants aim to “help communities that have been hardest hit by challenges facing the travel, tourism and outdoor recreation sectors to invest in infrastructure, workforce or other projects to support the recovery of the industry and economic resilience of the community in the future”. USFS is not eligible, but tribal, state, county, city, economic development district, university, and nonprofit partners are eligible for the competitive grants. Proposals are due by March 15, 2022, but are reviewed on a rolling basis. Spread the word if you know of partners/projects that might be a good fit!
Click here for more information.
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