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Boise/Southern Idaho News Releases for Fri. Mar. 13 - 8:41 am
Thu. 03/12/26
Oregon Main Street recognized with Prosperity Award at the 2026 Oregon Governor’s Conference on Tourism
Oregon Parks and Recreation Dept. - 03/12/26 8:16 AM

SALEM, Oregon – On Monday, March 9, 2026, the Oregon Tourism Commission (dba Travel Oregon) announced the recipients of the 2025 Oregon Travel and Tourism Industry Achievement Awards at the 2026 Oregon Governor’s Conference on Tourism at the Oregon Convention Center. 
 

The Oregon Main Street Statewide Coordinating Program received the Oregon Prosperity Award. The Oregon Prosperity Award recognizes DMOs or businesses championing the value of tourism, whose vision and commitment help make Oregon's communities, tourism regions and state stronger visitor destinations, creating optimal economic impact.
 

Oregon Main Street Statewide Coordinating Program has offered a unifying model for community revitalization in 100+ towns statewide since 2008. Since then, Main Street’s tenets of promotion, organizational support, design, and economic vitality with a historic preservation lens, have activated and reactivated communities of all sizes, in every county of Oregon. As of 2021, the work of the Oregon Main Street program and partner organizations have resulted in $134.6 million total economic impact while offering free technical services for local programs, revitalizing downtowns and awarding millions of dollars in grants to communities across the state.
 

Currently, there are over 100 communities in Oregon participating in the Oregon Main Street Network which includes the following tiers: Accredited Main Street, Designated Main Street, Affiliated Main Street, Rural Regional Main Street, and Connected Communities. There is not a fee to participate in the Oregon Main Street Network.
 

Oregon Main Street is a program of Oregon Heritage in Oregon Parks and Recreation Department.
 

For more information on Oregon Main Street visit www.oregonmainstreet.org.
 

# # #

Kuri Gill, Oregon Heritage grants and outreach manager
503-383-6787, Kuri.Gill@oprd.oregon.gov
www.oregonheritage.org

| Oregon Parks and Recreation Dept.
Mon. 03/09/26
Ocean Shore Permitting process Rule Advisory Committee extended
Oregon Parks and Recreation Dept. - 03/09/26 9:00 AM

SALEM, Oregon—Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) will extend a Rule Advisory Committee (RAC) convened last fall to review ocean shore permitting and update rules to implement HB 2925 (2025). The committee will continue to discuss topics including application requirements and processing, emergency and general authorizations, enforcement and fees.

 

Rule Advisory Committee meetings began in December 2025 and will now continue through July 2026 (remaining meeting dates/times below). The public can watch the livestream on YouTube on OPRD Director’s Office live channel.  A recording will be available after each meeting.

 

OPRD will be updating rules relating to the ocean shore alteration permitting process for the first time in over twenty-five years. Topics will include application requirements and processing, emergency and general authorizations, enforcement, and fees.

 

Staff will review feedback from the committee, amend the draft as needed and then open the draft rules for public comment in fall 2026. Staff will review public feedback, amend the draft as needed and then present the rules to the Oregon State Parks and Recreation Commission for adoption in the spring of 2027.

 

Additional information and recordings will be available on the agency’s rulemaking website. https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/PRP/Pages/PRP-Ocean%20Shore%20Alterations.aspx

 

Anticipated meeting schedule:

 

  • March 20, 1 - 4 p.m.
  • April 24, 1 - 4 p.m.
  • May 15, 1 - 4 p.m.
  • June 5, 1 - 4 p.m.
  • June 26, 8:30 a.m. – noon
  • July 28, 1 – 4 p.m.

 

 

 

 

 

Katie Gauthier, external relations manager
503-510-9678
katie.gauthier@oprd.oregon.gov

Kevin Herkamp, Ocean Shore coordinator
971-376-1509
kevin.a.herkamp@oprd.oregon.gov

| Oregon Parks and Recreation Dept.