Oregon Frontier Chamber of Commerce

Gilliam County

Request: $20,000

The Oregon Frontier Chamber of Commerce serves four counties, 11 cities, and a vast rural region where communities are separated by long distances and have limited local capacity. Many of our projects, events, and community initiatives rely almost entirely on volunteers and partnerships.

Funding for this position would allow us to dedicate staff time to serving as a Community Coordinator who can connect people with resources, recruit and organize volunteers, pursue grant funding, coordinate collaborative projects, and help communities turn ideas into action. Rather than each community trying to navigate these challenges alone, this position provides regional support that strengthens all of our communities.

Our staff frequently fills the gap between local governments, nonprofits, businesses, volunteers, and funding organizations. Whether it's helping organize community events, supporting revitalization efforts, identifying grant opportunities, coordinating regional initiatives, or responding to emerging community needs, this position ensures that projects move forward instead of being delayed due to a lack of local capacity.

In rural communities, one dedicated coordinator can make an outsized impact by building partnerships, reducing duplication of effort, and helping communities access resources they otherwise might never receive. This funding would directly increase our ability to strengthen the communities we serve while creating long-term capacity across the Oregon Frontier region.