OOA Programs

Thanks to the Small Business Trade Show Program, my artisan jewelry business was able to find some financial relief from the high cost of attending trade shows. For small, self-manufacturing businesses like mine the rising cost of raw materials, staffing and operational expenses can make budgeting for expensive trade shows nearly impossible. Having the support of OOA programs allows me more breathing room to focus on the quality of my product, the satisfaction of my staff and customers and the manner in which I can show up for our community.

Receiving the SINGER Heavy Duty 6800C through this grant has been a game-changer for my company, Giddyup Gear, LLC, and for my flagship product, the Giddyup Glove™. The machine’s speed and heavy-duty capabilities have dramatically improved my production process — especially with the eyelet function I rely on and its ability to handle thicker fabrics. Compared to my old 860 SPM machine, this one has already increased my capacity, reduced frustration, and given me confidence in scaling production to meet growing demand. More than the machine itself, the support behind it means the world. It reminds me that I’m not alone in this journey — that people believe in me and in what I’m building with Giddyup Gear. I’m incredibly grateful for this grant and excited to keep moving forward.

The Luno Crew is incredibly grateful to be a recipient of the OOA grant. The support has already helped us make meaningful progress on initiatives that were previously out of reach. From the application process to the ongoing check-ins, the OOA team has been thoughtful and communicative, making the entire experience that much smoother and more motivating.

Tyson and the Oregon Outdoor Alliance has been incredibly helpful and supportive to our team at Minimal Gear. They’ve provided knowledge and resources to get us connected with grants, trade show and event opportunities.

This year’s support from the Small Business Trade Show Fund and Oregon Outdoor Alliance made a real difference for our brand. It allowed us to attend more shows travel further than we could have on our own and share our PNW brand with customers as far away as the East Coast. Those opportunities to showcase our products connect with buyers and build lasting partnerships have already created real momentum for our business

Ocean Cowboy Outfitters, based in Portland, Oregon, is a startup gear company for the freediving and spearfishing community. That makes us niche even by the standards of specialized outdoor gear that our region is known for. With the center of gravity for our sport placed understandably at more southern latitudes, namely California and Florida, it’s important to be able to travel to those areas to share our products, meet new vendors and customers, and get community feedback about what we can do better. With the support from the Oregon Outdoor Alliance, we’re able to travel to one of the largest industry events for freediving and spearfishing to build new partnerships and show how far we have come as a company. We’re incredibly grateful to OOA for its support of idealistic upstart companies in Oregon, and we look forward to putting our state on the map as a hub of freediving expertise and innovation.

OOA’s support was instrumental in enabling Puffin Drinkwear to attend the August ’25 Ace Hardware Show. The event was highly successful—both as a writing show for retailers and in building relationships with the HQ Buying Team and multi-door operators. With OOA’s backing, we were able to strengthen our presence in this key growth channel (Hardware, Farm & Ranch). We’re grateful for the partnership and for OOA’s simple, straightforward grant process.

As a small but growing brand, the high costs of tradeshows can be a real barrier. This grant makes it possible for me to show up on a bigger stage, gain visibility, and build credibility with key decision makers across the outdoor industry—from buyers to reps. Opportunities like this are critical for leveling the playing field and helping to emerge brands like mine break through.

The Oregon Outdoor Alliance has been a great community to be a part of here in Central Oregon with their continued support of local business. We couldn’t be more grateful to be a recipient of the Small Business Trade Show Program as we aim to increase brand awareness through trade shows and work with more retail shops nationwide.