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Cycle Oregon Awards Twelve Grants Totaling $69,635

imageThis February, Cycle Oregon awarded 12 grants totaling $69,635 to projects that will promote the health and vitality of rural communities through the Cycle Oregon Fund at the Oregon Community Foundation.

In all, Cycle Oregon received 36 grant requests totaling more than $400,000, the most in the program’s history. Grantees typically come from communities that Cycle Oregon has visited. Of this year’s proposals four were awarded to projects along the 2014 route. Five proposals were awarded to projects along the 2015 route.

It is always a challenge to select among the excellent proposals and this year was no exception. The grant committee, comprised of Cycle Oregon board and staff, awarded the following grants in the three funding categories:

Historic Preservation and Environmental Conservation

  • Habitat rehabilitation and enhancement near the Red Apple access point of the Mt Emily Recreation Area, outside La Grande (2015 route)

Glee-CO14 (369)Community Grants

  • Fitness Trail at Dufur Park (2014 route)
  • Culturally-specific health promotion for the Latino community in Madras (2014 route)
  • Trail groomer for school-based cross country ski program in Halfway (2015 route)
  • Natural resources apprenticeship program for high school students in Enterprise (2015 route)
  • Vandal-proof drinking fountain at public library in Jefferson (2015 Weekend route)

Promote Bicycle Safety and Tourism

  • Creation and maintenance of mountain biking trails outside Baker City (2015 route)
  • Bicycles for the Jefferson County Safe Routes to School program (2014 route)
  • Design wayfinding in Oakridge and Westfir (2007 route)
  • Informational kiosks along the Madras Mountain Views Scenic Bikeway (2014 route)
  • Maintenance equipment for the Old West Scenic Bikeway (2013 route)
  • Feasibility study for rail-with-trail project between Elgin and Joseph along the Joseph Branch rail line (2015 route)

The Cycle Oregon Fund, developed through event proceeds since 1996, makes annual grants to preserve special places in Oregon, promote bicycle safety and tourism and support community projects. Since its inception, the Fund has awarded 189 grants totaling more than $1.6 million to projects ranging from helping provide lights for the football field in Dufur to re-roofing the Pete French Round Barn in Diamond.

Simply by riding Cycle Oregon you help us do good. Thanks for being a part of a great event and helping to provide much needed support to our rural communities.

You can help us grow the fund by making a tax-deductible contribution! It’s an easy way to help us do more good for the special places and important projects throughout the state.


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