The Cultural Coalition of Washington County (CCWC) recently awarded grants totaling $60,884 to 38 local organizations for cultural projects to be conducted between January and December 2018. Grants were distributed through a competitive process to address goals of the Washington County Cultural Plan in amounts ranging from $750 to $2000. Due to increased support from the Oregon Cultural Trust, the CCWC was able to distribute over $5,000 more than in 2017.

“The Coalition is pleased to award grants to seven first-time applicants. We continue to try to reach more organizations across the county as these small grants are extremely helpful to local groups,” notes Alex Flores, Coalition Chair. Grants will support projects including music, dance, theater, children’s programs, community events, library programs, heritage, marketing, and art experiences in communities from Garden Home to Forest Grove.

Funding for this grant program comes from the Oregon Cultural Trust, which distributes money to Oregon counties and tribes annually to support local community cultural programs. This year’s awards bring the total of grants distributed in Washington County over the past twelve years to over $554,000. The Oregon Cultural Trust receives its support through a unique tax credit program. An Oregon resident can make a donation to the Trust and then match that with a donation to a local arts, heritage or humanities organization, for example one of the organizations listed below. Then, when it is time to pay Oregon taxes, the donation to the local organization qualifies as a charitable contribution, and the donation to the Trust can be deducted as a full tax credit (you get the whole match back). For details on the program or to make a donation, visit the Oregon Cultural Trust website:http://www.culturaltrust.org/.

The CCWC was appointed in February 2005 by the Washington County Board of Commissioners to administer and distribute funds from the Oregon Cultural Trust to support locally based arts, heritage and humanities projects. For more information about the CCWC, visit its website: www.culturalcoalitionofwashingtoncounty.org.

First time grant recipients are noted with an asterisk *.