Month: September 2026

Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Oregon Cultural Trust announced Friday it is awarding a record $4.5 million to more than 450 organizations across the state for the 2027 fiscal year. The funding supports arts, culture, heritage and humanities programs in every county and tribe in Oregon.

The distribution of funds is defined under Oregon statute ORS 359, which directs resources to state cultural partners, regional coalitions and nonprofit organizations. The record funding was made possible by donations from more than 10,000 Oregonians during the 2026 fiscal year through the state’s Cultural Tax Credit, a program created by the Oregon Legislature 25 years ago.

The $4.5 million distribution includes $1,125,423 split equally among the trust’s five core cultural partners: the Oregon Arts Commission, Oregon Heritage Commission, Oregon Humanities, Oregon Historical Society and the State Historic Preservation Office. Another $1,125,423 is allocated to 45 regional County and Tribal Cultural Coalitions through a per capita formula, allowing volunteer-led coalitions to regrant funds within their local communities.

The remaining $2,250,846 is being distributed to 104 cultural nonprofits through the competitive Cultural Development Program. Individual grant awards range from $5,000 to $40,000, with 49% of eligible applications receiving between 75% and 100% of their requested amounts following peer panel reviews.

Amy Lewin, Oregon’s director of arts and culture, noted that community requests have grown alongside donor contributions.

“Oregon’s big idea of funding arts, heritage and humanities, established a generation ago, continues to sustain the core components of community vitality and resilience – and yet as we have received an increase in donations, so have the requests for support increased,” Lewin said. “This unique funding model is becoming a critical resource for supporting learning, historic preservation and valued engagement for communities large and small and in every corner of the state.”

Several major cultural development grants focus on digital archiving and media inclusion. The Albina Music Trust in Portland received $40,000 to support the Albina Community Archive, which preserves photos, audio recordings and oral histories documenting Black Oregonians. Capital Community Media in Salem was awarded $40,000 to create hyper-local Spanish-language TV programming, while the Clatsop County Historical Society in Warrenton received $14,000 to acquire large-format scanning and video preservation equipment.

Other grant recipients are expanding facilities and public programming across Oregon. The Dry Canyon Arts Association in Redmond received $31,000 to renovate 1,500 square feet into additional classroom and workshop space for its community art center. In Portland, the Portland Art Museum was awarded $40,000 to plan and conserve its Native American permanent collections galleries and The Vanport Mosaic received $40,000 to launch a public digital archive documenting the history of Vanport prior to the 1948 flood.

Grants were also awarded for statewide access initiatives and performance projects. The Portland Gay Men’s Chorus received $12,000 for its Rural Harmony Tour in Prineville, Madras, Sisters and Klamath Falls. SMART Reading in Portland received $10,000 to distribute diverse children’s literature in rural communities and enTaiko in Portland was awarded $38,000 for an inclusive performance project incorporating deaf, blind and disabled artists.

For projects with multi-year timelines, the Josephine Community Library Foundation in Grants Pass received $40,000 to complete design construction documents for a new downtown library, where groundbreaking is scheduled for 2028. Additionally, the Eastside Jewish Commons in Portland received $28,000 to support the third annual Portland Jewish Music Festival, scheduled for May 5-16, 2027.

Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — First Interstate Bank will close all of its branches at noon on Wednesday, Sept. 16, to host its ninth annual Volunteer Day. Nearly 400 community service projects are planned across the company’s 10-state footprint.

The companywide initiative provides thousands of employees paid time off during the afternoon to volunteer for local nonprofits, schools and community programs. Participating projects span communities in Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Mo., Mont., Neb., Ore., S.D., Wash. and Wyoming.

Volunteer Day began in 2018 as part of the bank’s 50th anniversary celebration. Headquartered in Billings, Mont., First Interstate operates nearly 300 offices. The company’s corporate philanthropy program includes matching employees’ personal financial contributions and donating $10 per hour for volunteer work conducted at qualifying organizations.

Jim Reuter serves as president and chief executive officer of First Interstate BancSystem, Inc. He emphasized the initiative’s focus on direct community involvement.

“Volunteer Day is one of the many ways we invest in the communities that support us every day,” Reuter said. “By stepping outside the workplace and into our neighborhoods, our employees build meaningful connections and help make a difference where it matters most.”

In Bend and Redmond, Ore., 100 local bank employees will participate in 13 service projects for area nonprofits. Volunteers will partner with the Upper Deschutes Watershed Council on garbage removal and non-native plant removal. Other activities include completing exterior landscaping at the Heart of Oregon Corps campus, sewing blankets for HeartWarmers, building a display for Healing Reins and making blankets for patients at St. Charles Health System.

Bank branches across the 10 states will close at noon local time on Wednesday, Sept. 16, with employee volunteer projects taking place throughout the afternoon.

Are you looking for something to do this weekend in Central Oregon? Adrielle Hasara highlights three local events, from the return of the Eastern Cascades Model Railroad Open House to The Veterans Club 9/11 Memorial Ceremony.

For many more and to submit your own events, visit https://events.ktvz.com.

Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — Gov. Tina Kotek and state housing leaders presented progress reports on Oregon’s housing and homelessness strategies this week before the Legislature’s House Interim Committee on Housing and Homelessness. State emergency actions between January 2023 and September 2025 created or maintained 6,286 shelter beds and rehoused 5,539 people from unsheltered homelessness.

According to the Governor’s Office press release, the state’s emergency response also provided short-term eviction prevention assistance to 25,942 households. The overall strategy focuses on four key areas: expanding shelter capacity, providing rehousing services, offering long-term rent assistance and delivering eviction prevention support.

Gov. Kotek highlighted the administration’s focus on expanding housing options across the state. “Whether you’re renting, buying a home for the first time, or needing temporary shelter to get back on your feet, we’re fighting to create more options for you,” Kotek said. “Housing has been a priority since day one of my administration and we’re seeing tangible progress.”

Liz Weber, director of housing stabilization at Oregon Housing and Community Services, emphasized the impact of ongoing state investments on local communities. “Every shelter bed maintained, every household that avoids homelessness and every person who moves into a stable home represents someone with a safer place to sleep and a stronger foundation for what comes next,” Weber said. “We’ve made meaningful progress and continued investment is critical to sustaining that progress and reaching more Oregonians.”

In Southern Oregon, local leaders in Jackson County reduced unsheltered homelessness by 24% and chronic homelessness by 58%. The county also decreased the average wait time to get into housing by nearly three months and moved more than 1,000 families and individuals into permanent housing. Melanie Doshier, chief program officer for ACCESS in Jackson County, attributed the results to ongoing funding. “Sustained investment and support from leaders like Gov. Kotek keeping housing front and center is what keeps these numbers moving in the right direction,” Doshier said.

In Central Oregon, homelessness across three counties and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs decreased by 19.1% following state investments in a regional care system. State Rep. Pam Marsh, D-Southern Jackson County, who serves as chair of the House Interim Committee on Housing and Homelessness, pointed to the collaborative effort behind the figures. “This is an all-hands-on-deck effort focusing on outcomes and investing in proven solutions,” Marsh said. “Housing is part of every family’s monthly budget and remains a top priority across the state. I’m grateful for the Governor’s partnership to sustain our shelter system and build more housing for more Oregonians.”

In Coos County, streamlined local processes combined with state support led to a 40.9% drop in unsheltered homelessness, an 85.5% reduction in unsheltered veterans and a 22.8% decrease in overall homelessness. Local service provider Alternative Youth Services doubled the number of individuals and households served. Nichole Rutherford, city manager of the City of Coos Bay, noted the effect of state resources on local outcomes. “For years, communities like ours were asked whether these approaches work. Our experience over this biennium gives us an answer: when resources reached the ground at sufficient scale, the outcomes changed,” Rutherford said. “We aren’t finished, but we aren’t starting over, either. The Governor’s advocacy and leadership on this issue and the state’s investment have given us something real to build from.”

Beyond shelter and rehousing initiatives, state data show Oregon housing starts increased 11.3% year-over-year in the first half of 2026, compared to a 1.3% decline nationally. State efforts have placed more than 50,000 future homes in the production pipeline. Maria Elena Guerra of the Farmworker Housing Development Corporation stressed the importance of early-stage funding for development. “Building affordable housing is critical to an Oregon where everyone has stable housing,” Guerra said. “Making sure that we invest on the front end in creative financing tools for developers—especially in land acquisition and predevelopment—will help us reach this shared goal faster. Thank you to Gov. Kotek for being a champion on this issue and doing the work of speaking to both public and private sector partners to move the needle.”