Pedestrians stroll past Visit Bend’s office in downtown Bend in 2017.

The Bend Sustainability Fund is seeking applications Nov. 12-Jan. 12 from the community for projects that support tourism.

Up to $500,000 is available to projects in this current round of funding.

Since 2021, when the program began, transient room accommodation taxes have been used to fund 25 projects in the region. Visit Bend is a nonprofit organization that markets Bend and uses a portion of its transient accommodations taxes to fund projects that help support and promote tourism.  

Project goals include those that:

• protect, steward and create tourism-related facility that will last for more than 10 years.
• get used by visitors.
• have a clear timeline with measurable outcomes within a 12 month time frame.
• have community support.

Past projects include the Bend BMX facility that improved the track and installed perimeter fencing and an awning and the Tower Theatre Foundation refurbished facilities and equipment.