Lincoln County is opening its 2025-26 community and economic development program to award $185,000 to local nonprofits.
The grant program is funded through the Oregon Lottery. This year, the available funds jumped from $130,000 to $185,000. The funds will be divided into two categories — two $50,000 grants for projects demonstrating high impact and need in the county and smaller awards with a maximum of $15,000.
Eligible applications must be submitted by local governments and organizations recognized by the IRS as a nonprofit in Lincoln County or be from a public-private partnership with a nonprofit or municipal organization. For example, a qualified public-private partnership project could be a Lincoln County business support nonprofit applying with a local painting company to provide facade improvements to local businesses’ storefront, according to the county’s press release.
Additional consideration will be given to projects that demonstrate a measurable positive economic impact, as well as projects within unincorporated areas of the county.
Projects that require additional funding beyond what the county is offering are encouraged, so that organizations can be empowered to leverage county grant funds while applying for other sources of support.
An applicant can only be awarded a grant every other year. Nonprofit organizations that receive direct, budgeted funding from the county are not eligible for this program.
Last year’s community and economic development grants were awarded to local projects including Central Coast Food Web’s commercial kitchen, the city of Waldport’s museum project, remodeled restrooms for the Yachats Commons, Eureka Cemetery’s paving project, Lincoln City Chamber of Commerce’s digital sign project, Lincoln County Master Gardeners’ gardening conference, Oregon Coast Community College’s workforce English language program, Oregon Coast Council for the Arts’ Bloom Newport, The ARC of Lincoln County’s workforce preparedness training, and Yachats News’ expansion and re-branding as the Lincoln Chronicle.
To apply for a grant go to the county’s website here. Questions and comments can be directed to paul@businesslincolncounty.com or 541-867-8579.
