YACHATS – The city of Yachats has awarded eight nonprofit organizations community development grants for 2025-2026.
Recipients received a total of $48,200 from the $50,000 the city had allocated for the annual grant program, which is paid for with visitor amenity funds.
The grants are intended to support projects that contribute to local community development within Yachats. Special consideration was given to projects demonstrating measurable economic development outcomes, according to guidelines released by the city.
Grants were divided into two pools — projects enhancing visitor promotion, and for general community projects and organizational support.
The recipients and awards were announced at Wednesday’s monthly city council meeting. They included: $10,000 to the Cape Perpetua Collaborative; $15,000 to the Yachats Food Pantry; $10,000 to View the Future; $1,200 to Yachats Pride; $2,000 to the Oregon Coast Aquarium for passes available at the city library; $7,000 for Don’s Place; $1,000 to Citizen’s for Clean Air and assistance to pollinators; and $2,000 for the Wild Things event.
The city received a total of nine grant requests totaling $64,100.
The food pantry, Yachats Pride, Oregon Coast Aquarium and Citizen’s for Clean Air all received the full amount they had requested. The city did not announce the names of applicants who did not receive grants.
The grants were reviewed by a group of professionals from throughout Lincoln
County, all well-versed in writing or reviewing grant applications, according to the city. All grants were scored using the same rubric and guidelines. City staff checked eligibility and added additional notes on any eligibility questions.
Mayor Craig Berdie commended the new grant structure.
“For years it was ad hoc, somebody comes in and we don’t know who’s coming and when they are coming,” Berdie said. “This was an open opportunity for a variety of people to come in. It was judged independently from the city by people with experience funding these kinds of projects. And it worked out really nicely.”
The 2026-2027 community grant application process begins in September.
— Garret Jaros/Lincoln Chronicle
