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USDA Announces Grant to Support Lodging Study Aimed at Boosting Tourism Revenues in Southern Josephine County

Name
Erin McDuff
City
Portland
Release Date

The nonprofit Illinois Valley Community Development Organization (IVCDO) has been selected to receive a $16,000 grant from U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development, announced State Director Vicki Walker today. USDA funds will support a regional lodging study to identify the planning and investment needed to maximize tourism revenues in Cave Junction and the surrounding Illinois Valley in the southern portion of Oregon’s Josephine County.

“The natural beauty and world-class recreational opportunities in the Illinois Valley draw visitors from around the globe, and there is tremendous potential for local businesses to capture additional tourism revenues,” said Walker. “This USDA-funded study will lay the foundation for new investment in visitor accommodations, expanded small business ventures, and increased employment opportunities.”

Enhancing visitor and business amenities is a key economic development strategy identified through a recently completed community plan known locally as the IV20/20 Vision. This collaborative planning process was led by IVCDO over the past several months to bring together voices and priorities representing the region’s diverse points of view.

Through a previous grant award, USDA also funded the IV20/20 planning process in partnership with The Ford Family Foundation and local organizations. These USDA investments align with Rural Development’s Community Economic Development emphasis that builds capacity and targets financial investments in rural areas with limited resources and high poverty. According to recent Census data, portions of the Illinois Valley track among the highest rural poverty rates in Oregon and almost double the national rate at nearly 30 percent.

Funding for this project is being provided through USDA’s Rural Business Development Grant (RBDG) Program and is contingent upon the recipient meeting the terms of the grant agreement.

In the coming months, IVCDO will hire a professional consultant to assess market data and trends, identify lodging needs and opportunities, and assist community and business ventures as they assess options for moving forward.

Since 2009, USDA Rural Development (@USDARD) has invested nearly $13 billion to start or expand nearly 112,000 rural businesses; helped bring high-speed Internet access to nearly 6 million rural residents and businesses; helped 1.1 million rural residents buy homes; and funded nearly 9,200 community facilities such as schools, public safety, and healthcare facilities. USDA also has invested $31.3 billion in 963 electric projects that have financed more than 185,000 miles of transmission and distribution lines serving 4.6 million rural residents. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov/results.