Bend Sustainability Fund awards $500,000 to 11 community projects
KTVZ – News Team
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Visit Bend awarded $500,000 to 11 community projects through the Bend Sustainability Fund on Tuesday, March 17, 2026. The grants, funded by visitor lodging taxes, support local initiatives focused on environmental stewardship, recreation access, and infrastructure improvements.
Established in 2021, the fund has now reinvested more than $3.8 million into 42 projects throughout Bend. The program is financed by a 10.4% lodging tax paid by visitors staying at hotels and vacation rentals. This year’s recipients were selected by an advisory council from a pool of applicants requesting more than $1 million in total funding.
Nearly half of the 2026 funding was dedicated to projects expanding outdoor access for people of all mobilities. Oregon Adaptive Sports received $63,747 to create an Adaptive Cycling Center at Pine Nursery Park, which will be the third of its kind on the West Coast. The center will offer state-of-the-art adaptive cycles for public use. Additionally, The Onward Project was awarded $61,850 to double its fleet of all-terrain “AdvenChair” wheelchairs, designed to help families hike together.
Other accessibility improvements include a $51,000 grant for Mt. Bachelor to upgrade Sunrise Lodge with new accessible ramps and door buttons. The Central Oregon Trail Alliance received $11,400 to install six ride-over cattle guards at the Cline Butte and Cascade View trail systems, removing barriers for adaptive cyclists.
The largest single grant of $100,000 went to The Environmental Center to launch a reusable tableware “Wash Hub.” This centralized commercial dishwashing and collection system is designed to replace more than 250,000 single-use items at food cart pods and local events. The project is part of a broader effort to use the visitor economy to support environmental stewardship.
Trail maintenance and invasive species prevention received significant support through two specific projects. The Deschutes Trails Coalition was awarded $56,396 to repair aging stairs and improve drainage on the Pilot Butte Base Trail. Meanwhile, Glick Forestry received $16,989 to install 14 boot-brush stations at high-traffic trailheads, including Tumalo Falls and Green Lakes, to help prevent the spread of invasive plants by hikers.
Four grants focused on cultural facilities and historical preservation within the Bend community. The Tower Theatre received $80,000 for a new lighting console, while the Volcanic Theatre was awarded $38,470 for acoustic and lighting upgrades. The Petersen Rock Garden, a 91-year-old folk art landmark, received $5,148 for new information signage and the Central Oregon Disc Golf Club was granted $15,000 for improvements at the Skyline Disc Golf Course.
The Bend Sustainability Fund requires that all funded projects have a life of at least 10 years and demonstrate meaningful visitor use while providing community benefits. An independent advisory council of local residents reviewed the 2026 applications before making recommendations to the Visit Bend board of directors. Of the 11 projects selected, eight are first-time recipients of the grant.
Residents can participate in a two-week online community ballot to rank the 11 funded projects. The top two vote-getters will each receive an additional $1,000 in support. The ballot is open now through April 1, 2026, on the Visit Bend website and social media channels.