Connections — Powering Oregon’s Wild Rivers Coast
For Oregon’s Wild Rivers Coast (OWRC), from Langlois to Brookings and inland to Agness, 2026 looks to be a year defined by connection and collaboration — where cities, destination marketing organizations (DMOs), and nonprofits work shoulder-to-shoulder to tell a powerful and unified coastal story. The new year brings a spirit of renewal, complete with new partnerships, shared campaigns, and fresh opportunities for our entire region.
The Power of Partnership
For smaller coastal communities, partnerships are not just a nice-to-have, they are essential. By sharing resources, we achieve a broader reach, create unified branding, and make a greater impact on visitors. This cooperative approach is central to the mission of Travel Southern Oregon Coast (TSOC), and is why OWRC finds value in collaborating with them and other regional and state partners. For OWRC, Miranda Plagge, Curry County Economic Development Administrator, says, “Collaboration isn’t just good business — it’s our superpower on the South Coast.”
Shared Stories and Coastal Storytelling
One of the most effective ways we work together is by promoting a compelling and cohesive story. A great illustration is the cooperation between OWRC and TSOC for the “Eat, Drink & Be Merry” holiday campaign. By co-promoting economic development, we highlighted the incredible local businesses that make our coast a vibrant place to visit during the winter. Similarly, OWRC’s work with the City of Brookings on the “Paws-Port to Adventure” campaign showcased our region as a premier destination for travelers and their furry companions.
Infrastructure & Trail Initiatives
Partnership extends beyond marketing to the infrastructure that makes our destination accessible and enjoyable. OWRC’s trail redevelopment project in Gold Beach, a joint effort with the Trailkeepers of Oregon and TSOC, is a prime example. By pooling resources and expertise, we enhanced the outdoor recreation opportunities that draw so many people to our coast.
Events as Community Hubs
Local events and festivals are vibrant hubs of community and teamwork. They showcase how tourism, dedicated volunteers, and local governments can come together to create unforgettable experiences. Multi-organizational support powers OWRC events like Legends Fest, the Azalea Festival, and Nature’s Coastal Holiday Festival of Lights. Organizers frequently highlight how this cooperative spirit leads to higher attendance, increased visitor engagement, and stronger community pride.
Tourism Workforce & Economic Alliance
A thriving tourism industry depends on a skilled and passionate workforce. OWRC-sponsored projects like the Wild Rivers Workforce Job Board and the Curry County Career Fair focus on aligning tourism with broader economic development goals. We also invest in our people by training frontline hospitality staff with Travelability. This program helps create a more welcoming and empathetic environment for travelers with accessibility needs, ensuring our destination is inclusive for everyone.
The Impact of Working Together
The results of these mutual efforts are clear and measurable. We see increased visitor engagement across our digital platforms, higher attendance at community events, and improved destination awareness. More importantly, we hear it directly from our partners, who consistently report on the benefits of our joint efforts. These testimonials confirm that by working together, we are not just launching campaigns — we are building a more resilient and prosperous regional economy.
Deepening Connections in 2026 and Beyond
OWRC, together with TSOC, now shifts focus from simply starting new projects to deepening the collaborative momentum we have built. For 2026, OWRC is intent on working with TSOC to strengthen regional partnerships through several key goals:
Foster Cross-Promotion: Encourage continued collaboration among DMOs, ports, and chambers to tell a unified coastal story.
Support Cooperative Marketing: Maximize limited budgets through smart, cooperative marketing efforts.
Expand Shared Insights: Guide a smarter regional strategy through shared data, such as visitor trends, lodging tax performance, and campaign analytics.
Encourage Brand Alignment: Reinforce the coast’s collective identity through shared messaging and assets.
Grow Workforce & Educational Alliances: Continue to align tourism with economic development to build long-term capacity.
Let’s Make Collaboration Second Nature
Ultimately, the objective is to build stronger relationships and systems that make working together second nature. Together, we are building a coast where collaboration isn’t an initiative — it’s a way of doing business.
Won’t you join us in creating a future for the Southern Oregon Coast where strategic partnerships lead to coastal-wide success?
