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Economic Development Grants
The Lincoln County Board of Commissioners announced the 2026-27
Community and Economic Development Grant Program. The application is available on
the county’s website. Applications are accepted from local governments and
organizations recognized by the IRS as nonprofit organizations.
Applications are also accepted from public-private partnerships with the fiscal agent
being a nonprofit or municipal organization. An example of a public-private partnership
project that could qualify for this grant would be a Lincoln County business support
nonprofit applying with a local painting company to provide facade improvements to
local businesses’ storefronts. Additional examples are provided in this video.
To maximize applicant and project diversity, an applicant can only be awarded a grant
every other year. Previously funded projects must have final reports submitted before
requesting funds for another project. Nonprofit organizations that receive direct,
budgeted funding from Lincoln County are not eligible for this grant program.
This year, the total available for community and economic development grants has
increased from $185,000 to $250,000. The $250,000 will be appropriated for up to three
$50,000 IMPACT grants awarded specifically to projects demonstrating high impact and
need in the county with the remaining monies awarded to smaller community and
economic development projects with a maximum of $15,000 per STANDARD grant.
The deadline for applications is noon on Tuesday, Dec. 1. To learn more about the
program, please visit the county’s grant webpage linked here:
"We always look forward to partnering with Lincoln County on this annual grant
program" said Paul Schuytema, EDALC’s Executive Director. “This program is a perfect
example of keeping local dollars local and seeding truly innovative projects throughout
the county. Nurturing our economic vitality is work we do collectively, and these dollars
can truly help make an impact for all of us."
Economic development is a priority to the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners, and
Lincoln County is determined to give the community funds for economic and community
development projects, with a focus on job creation and retention. The Board of Directors
of the Economic Development Alliance of Lincoln County will review and make
recommendations to the Board of Commissioners regarding the grant applications. The
Board of Commissioners will make the final determination on awards.
The Board of Commissioners encourages applications for projects that require additional
funding beyond what the county is offering, empowering organizations to leverage
county grant funds while applying for other sources of financial support for their
community and economic development projects. Additional consideration will be given
to projects that demonstrate a measurable positive economic impact, as well as projects
within unincorporated areas of Lincoln County. All projects should seek to be
environmentally friendly.
Lincoln County receives funds from the Oregon Lottery based on the play of video lottery
in the county. The Board of Commissioners has elected to use this resource to help with
local community and economic development projects through the grant program;
support the Economic Development Alliance of Lincoln County and the Small Business
Development Center through Oregon Coast Community College; and provide low interest
loans to small businesses through the Cascades West Council of Governments.
Last year’s community and economic development grants were awarded to some great
local projects including: the Oregon Coast Aquarium’s Amazon exhibit, Agape Respite
Center’s Workforce Project, Discover Your Northwest’s Community Partnership
Accelerator, the Oregon Coast Community College Foundation’s Youth Career Program,
Central Coast Chorale’s Coastal Voices Programming, City of Lincoln City’s Brownfield
Program, and Lincoln City Sunday Market’s Growth Project.
Two $50,000 IMPACT grants were awarded to Northwest Coastal Housing for the Olalla
Meadows housing development in Toledo and Habitat for Humanity of Lincoln County
for their Forest Lake Park affordable housing project.
If you are interested in applying for the community and economic development grant,
please visit the county’s page here: https://tinyurl.com/LC2026grantpage. If you have any
questions, comments or concerns about the grant application or the process, please email
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