Since 2014, Tillamook county has been awarded $2 million toward tourism-related facilities projects, primarily through three community grant solicitations. In January 2015, Tillamook County’s Tourism Advisory Committee (TAC) developed four tourism priorities to drive both facilities and promotions. The priorities were reviewed and approved by the Tillamook County Board of Commissioners and the Economic Development Council of Tillamook County.
Those 2015 priorities were:
- Develop the tourism industry in ways that are socially, culturally and ecologically responsible, particularly in support of nature-based activities and complementary interests, which differentiate our region for visitors.
- Prioritize growth in tourism that improves economic conditions in the shoulder and off-seasons (i.e. non-peak tourist months, generally late May through mid-September), and supports the economic stability of the workforce.
- Improve communities’ abilities to better accommodate tourists and the visitor experience with new, enhanced or better utilization of tourism-related facilities for increased year-round use.
- Inspire growth in new and traditional industries to support the long-term priorities of county tourism.
In 2016, the Tillamook County Board of Commissioners requested the Tillamook County Futures Council to listen to citizens on their behalf and to report back with findings. The nine-month process concluded in July 2017 with the Futures Council’s release of the Community Listening Summary Report to the Tillamook County Board of Commissioners Regarding Transient Lodging Tax Capital Investments. The Listening Report represented a synthesis of a series of community conversations and individual perspectives on how TLT funds should be strategically allocated toward capital investments. Extensive lists of projects brainstormed during the community listening sessions were also included in the Listening Report.