Otter Rock Seeks County Tourism Funding, Faces Challenges

A grassroots effort to secure county room tax funding for the unincorporated Otter Rock area has hit a roadblock, with local business owners struggling to obtain promised financial support from Lincoln County commissioners. Rebecca Lutz, owner of Cliffside Coffee and Sweets, has spearheaded the initiative. She has been working with other businesses in establishing a nonprofit organization representing businesses from Whale Cove to Moolock Shores.

The group aims to promote tourism and regional marketing for the area. According to Rebecca, County Administrator Tim Johnson verbally promised $20,000, before he resigned, in funding if the group formed a legitimate nonprofit organization. The initiative seeks to address what organizers see as a lack of representation for unincorporated areas in county tourism funding. After investing nearly $2,500 of her own money and successfully incorporating the organization Visit Otter Rock, Rebecca has encountered repeated challenges in securing the committed funds.

"We've sent letters, attended meetings, and made multiple inquiries, but we've received virtually no response from the county commissioners," Rebecca stated. At the July 2nd meeting of the board Rebecca spoke during public comment asking about the promised funds and asking where the county's Transient Room Tax (TRT) funds are going. The initiative seeks to address what organizers see as a lack of representation for unincorporated areas in county tourism funding.

Just recently, Rebecca received a letter from Ken Lipp, the County Public Information Officer inviting her to apply for funding from the Community Economic Development grant in November. At the July 24th County Commissioners meeting, Commissioners approved $280,000 in funding for the Pacific Maritime Heritage Museum in Newport and gave the chambers from the cities of Waldport and Toledo, $30,000 in county room tax allocations.

Rebecca still questions how the county TRT money is benefitting the unincorporated areas of Lincoln County and how tourism is being promoted. In the meantime the group remains committed to promoting the Otter Rock region and securing resources to support local businesses and tourism development.